Another Health Guarantee Question
 

I've read several health guarantees breeders give to new Yorkie owners. Each is different. Some simply guarantee the health of the puppies at the time of purchase while others offer a 1-year guarantee against genetic diseases.

What is the absolute minimum guarantee I should accept? Can a breeder actually guarantee that a dog won't develop a genetic disease?

I'm not sure if they can, but I'm sure the breeders on here will know.

Some health guarantees aren't much. It is great that you are doing your homework!!!! There are some breeders you may want to talk to right here on YT! Some of them have gorgeous yorkies!!! (plus you probably can talk to another YT member that has already purchased one of their puppies if you need references).
There are some tests that can be done BEFORE you purchase your puppy also....... you may want to do some research on livershunt, too!

No they cannot guarantee that they won't develop a genetic defect. But they feel sure enough about it that they will offer to buy it back if one does develop.

Most do offer a one year guarantee against genetic defects. And they guarantee that the puppy is healthy when you get it. You need to take it to your own vet within a specified time, and if your vet says it is healthy, that part of the guarantee has been fulfilled.

They do not guarantee against any other illnesses or parasites, and if it is deemed to have died from a genetic defect, they will require an autopsy at your expense.

By the time you go to all that expense, you could have bought yourself another puppy.

Pretty much the guarantee is only as good as the breeder. Research your breeder thoroughly. It is more important to find the right breeder than it is to find the perfect puppy.

too many buyers get hung up on 'size', they just want a tiny one, so they will buy from anyone that has one, such as Jeff Dane.

Mine are both one year. So I would atleast say 1 year, maybe 6 months. If its a good breeder I would think they would give atleast a year.

There are a lot of reputable breeders that have lifetime guarantees against genetic defects. They do this because they know their lines and do all the necessary genetic health testing so they can almost 100% guarantee that the puppies will not develop something genetic. Of course, wierd things happen sometimes and nothing is ever 100% guaranteed because genetics is pretty complicated. Usually the breeder will refund the money of the puppy, pay for part of the vet bills, or give a replacement puppy (not requiring you to return the current puppy). A one year health guarantee is not long enough in my opinion. One reason reputable breeders wait until two years of age to breed a dog is because some genetic problems don't show up until then. I didn't find out that Lacy had luxating patellas until this year (at 2 1/2 years old). Genetic issues can develop over the lifetime of the dog

Thanks for all the responses. A local vet and his wife breed Yorkies. I have stopped by their office on several occasions, and their older puppies (the ones that they are keeping) are often there to greet visitors.

I have presented them with two different "contracts." One doesn't stipulate a time frame for the detection of genetic defects. The other says "within 2 years." When I first mentioned the idea to them, they were open to signing something and asked to look at the contracts. The last time I was there, she said she had skimmed the first one and would look over the second. I'm not sure they will sign these. However, the wife did tell me that they returned a purchaser's money after a puppy was diagnosed with a heart murmor. The owner's got to keep the dog, and he ended up living 10 years anyway. They have said more than once that they want the puppy owners to be happy with their dogs so that they can provide good referrals.

We are going to go look at the puppies Monday, although they are not ready for homes. I have seen the father and will see the mother Monday. They are too young to come into the office, so I will go visit them in the vet's home.

I think they may agree to some form of guarantee, but I was curious as to what's the least guarantee I should accept. Most breeders around here, even those who offer only a guarantee that says the puppies are healthy now, charge $1200 and up for a puppy. The vet I'm buying from charges $700 for males.

Tell ya what I think. I think YOU shouldn't have to present THEM with a contract. If they are reputable, they should have one for you to sign not the other way around.

I've never heard of a buyer presenting the seller with the contract. Reputable breeders have their own contracts. The very minimum health guarantee I would except would be a one year

guarantee
 

I would not buy a pup without a one year guarantee against genetic problems such as Legg Calve Perthes (LCP), Liver Shunt etc..both usually show up in 12 months, but are not always detectable at selling age...
A 48 hr to two week guarantee is only good easily detected problems present at the time of the sale...plus, some vets can miss things the first visit if it is not severe..

They are fairly new to breeding. They are not doing this to get rich or for a business. They are actually hoping that those who purchase their puppies will become clients (breeder is a vet). They have never been asked to offer a health guarantee.

I understand what you mean to an extent. I think that if they are willing to work with you on a signed, binding agreement, then that is a good sign. :) With our past litters, we have placed a few dogs with people that are friends that we have known for a long time and that we see on a regular basis. With those new owners in particular, there was no written and signed agreement. It wasn't needed in that case. If that is the case with this breeder, I understand why they *may* not have one.
What it comes down to is are YOU comfortable dealing with them.:)

No reputable breeder is in it to get rich or for a business. I've never heard of a reputable breeder (or really any breeder) not having some type of a contract. The contract should include the breeders and buyers name and information; the sex, breed, birthdate, registration number and price of the puppy; requirements that the breeder has for the puppy's home such as living indoors only, receiving vet care, etc; the breeder should be willing to take back the puppy if at any time you can't keep it anymore during the lifetime of the puppy; some type of health guarantee; the amount of time you have (usually 48-72 hours) to have the puppy checked out by your vet to make sure it is healthy; spay/neuter clause. Contracts protect the buyer and the seller.

I will never trust someone imposing me a sale contract .

I don't understand this comment. Are you saying that as a breeder, you would never trust someone asking you to sign a contract?