Please Advise: Still no Puppy. Breeder's Reasons
 

It's been awhile since I've visited here. We are still waiting for our puppy. The vet/breeder was to release the puppies (3 in the litter) at 8 weeks, but when I called to see if I could pick up our puppy, I was told that the other two in the litter were having low blood sugar problems. The little girl actually passed out. The puppies' parents are small...each about 4 lbs. The vet said our puppy (who weighs 18 oz) is the only one who has not had problems. I have lost count of how many times I have been told to call to check on whether or not they will release our puppy, and then when I call, I'm told they are going to hang on to them all a little longer. Even though ours is supposedly OK, they want to keep him "just in case." I was supposed to pick him up last Wednesday. When I called before going to get him, they said wait until Tuesday. When I called Tuesday, they said wait until end of this week. When I called yesterday, they said sometime next week (maybe Mon.). I'm about to give up. The puppies will be 10 weeks Sunday. I don't think we are ever going to get him. I know the breeder's wife is attached to them, and I can't help but wonder if they are stalling us, hoping to frustrate us and send us looking elsewhere. Maybe I'm just being too pessimistic. Of course, I don't want to get the puppy before he's ready. Is it normal for Yorkies to have low-blood sugar? The breeder's wife said they are not eating enough during the day to get them through the night and wake up weak and wobbly.

What do you think?

Usually people get their yorkies at 12 weeks, not 8. Even at 12 weeks you have to watch for hypoglycemia....

It will be better in the long run if you wait a couple more weeks....don't you think?

good luck.

deb

I think it crazy that this breeders was going to let them go at 8 weeks She is doing the right thing I would personally wait till they were 12 weeks old and hopefully healthy and eating on there own. Hypoglycemia is common in small dogs but it is NOT NORMALl .It is a bad thing. So don't feel bad, feel blessed that the breeder does care.

I am no expert, but from what I have learned on here, 8 weeks is rather early to separate a pup from his mommy ... I thought 12-16 weeks was more advantageous ....
and yes, babies can have low blood sugar, (hypoglycemia) and it needs guarded attention for a while ....

hope when you get the pup, he is healthy .....

She sounds like a very caring breeder. I would be patient and wait

I would not give up, it is common for breeders to keep toy dogs longer because of hypoglycemia.Most wait till 12 weeks of age.

My breeder lets hers go to their new home at 12 weeks. She advises to have a tube of nutra-cal handy just in case because small dogs can have spells of low sugar if they skip a meal,or are stressed in any way too.

If it goes beyond the 12 week, flat out ask then what is going on. I would not be rude about it but let them know that you want to know if they attend to keep the puppy so that you could search for a new one. I hope that they are just waiting to release them at 12 weeks, Good luck!

i agree with everyone here. it's too early to be letting them go from the mom so soon.

you should tell the breeder you'll come to pick it up in two weeks from now. that will stop the back-and-forth and it will guarantee that your pup will be ok when it comes home with you.

keep your hopes low so that you aren't expecting so much. then when the day comes, you'll be really happy!

my exact feelings. i would give it 12 weeks. some people do not release the babies until 16 weeks.

As everyone has already said 8 weeks is way too young, especially for a small baby. If she is now only 18 oz. and is 10 weeks then I personally would allow the breeder to hang on to her until atleast 12 - 14 weeks of age. I really would want her to hit 2 lbs. before I picked her up. Hyperglycemia is dangerous and these little ones are prone to it up until age one. The tinies are especially prone to it. I think by you pushing the breeder may feel pushed and end up letting you get your girl earlier then she's ready and certainly earlier then the breeder is ready to let her go. Perhaps you can go visit with your pup? This may make you feel better about the situation. Please, don't push to get her. She's really not ready and I'm glad the breeder realizes this. Elaine

Maybe she really is concerned for their welfare. I'd just ask her nicely if she still wants to sell you the dog. See what she says.

Be patient -- Yorkie pups really shouldn't go home until after 12 weeks. I brought mine home at 12 weeks and 1 1/2 pounds and he STILL came down with hypoglycemia twice (the first time just 2 days after I brought him home). Yorkie pups are fragile -- I think your breeder is doing what's best. I understand how anxious you are to get your little one home -- but better be safe than sorry. Good luck!

I have to agree with everyone else here....waiting is in the pups best interest....if no one is home through the day it is especially dangerous, the pup could have an hypo. reaction....the breeder held on to mine a couple extra weeks because of his size and he was 1 1/2lbs, I was very disappointed but it was for the best. ......are you close enough to visit?......he'll be home soon ;) ...

I got my puppy at 8 weeks only because I was home all the time, I would never be gone for more than an hour...so the breeder released him and gave me a tube of nutrical in case of hypoglycemia. I sometimes wish I wasn't so excited and waited until 10-12 weeks because he was SOOO fragile still at less than 1 and a half lbs, and they still are kind of wobbly/clumsy walkers at that age. I spent every waking moment worrying that something was going to happen to him. I feared he was going to get stepped on, he would knock over a lamp, closed in a door, chew on electric cords, eat a plastic bag, get dropped by a young child. The anxiety is sooooooo not worth it. I would suggest you wait, having a good sturdy puppy come home would be best for everyone. Thought you should hear it from someone who got a puppy so young. Hope this eases your stress.

puppy
 

Find another vet/breeder...! There is no way I would buy a "wobbly" puppy...you do not know heartache until you get a sickly puppy.

Well to me... I'd be concerned. If those pups are having problems, thats not a good sign at all... and they seem uncertain as to what the problem is or how to take care of it, which is why they keep telling you different days to pick up your pup.... Somethings not right there - and I personally wouldnt want a pup thats already having issues or thats coming from a litter with issues...

You're very lucky that the breeder did NOT send the puppy home with you at 8 weeks, especially only being 18oz! Honestly, from your comment asking about yorkies and low blood sugar, it sounds like you have no idea about hypoglycemia. It is extremely common in yorkie puppies, and even more so in tiny ones. An 18oz puppy could die from hypoglycemia if not taken care of. It's very serious. I suggest you read up on it before bringing your puppy home so you'll be prepared. Buy some nutrical to have on hand in case your puppy starts to become hypoglycemic. Moving to a new home can be very stressful for a new puppy and a lot of times they don't eat well at first so be prepared.

Be patient and wait until the vet and breeder think it's the right time for the puppy to come home. 12 weeks is really the best time to go to their new homes, no earlier than 10 for sure.

I have to agree with everything said here. 12 weeks at the earliest is best. When I brought Sunshine home at 12 weeks, she was just 1 1/2 lbs and that was rather scary for me. And another reason to wait until 12 weeks is the mother is socializing the puppies right now. Even though it may seem like they are ready, the mother is using this time to teach them about thier place in the pack, how to submit, how not to bite, etc etc. The lessons she teaches now, you will be thankful for later.

I think the only "issue" they are having is low-blood sugar. Its very common and is in no way a representation of the health of the litter.

The OP didn't classify the puppy as being "wobbly", those were my words. By wobbly I meant they jump around and get under your feet and don't care about what they're running into. I'm sorry if this confused anyone.

Don't worry :( the breeder knows best, if the wife is attached it's just because she cares. It's a good sign that she wont just give you this pup thay may become hypoglycemic. Best of luck and all in due time:)

problem
 

You want to know something...I have had dozens of tinies and never one episode of hypoglysemia...many will not agree, but many will..I find a genetic componement...some lines are prone to it.
I do not think I understand how theya re reacting..wobbly or active???

I agree with the others on here that say you should wait til 12 weeks. (This is a SMART group of folks!) It sounds like the breeder is definitely a good breeder and just doing whats best for the puppies. If you are concerned with further health issues, be sure to take your baby to your vet to have him checked out right away. GOOD LUCK!!! ( Just remember good things come to those who wait!) :)

she sounds like a very caring breeder to me and yorkies and other small breed dogs do suffer from low blood sugar when they are young so she might not be stalling

The breeder said the other two in the litter - not our puppy - were having the low blood sugar problems. But I don't think our puppy is eating well enough yet. I feel like I'm missing out on an important training period having to wait until he's 12 weeks old. It seems to me like 3 months of no housetraining would make housetraining the puppy difficult. Of course, I don't want the puppy to leave his mother until he is physically able. Mostly, I have just felt skeptical about the whole situation because I know she is very attached to the puppies and hates to give them up. Now I'm almost frightened to bring him home, but I will certainly get the Nutrical.

You don't get much potty training accomplished until about 12 weeks anyway. 8 week old puppies go when they feel the urge..they basically don't have much bladder and bowel control. I'd much rather have an older puppy because it would be easier to potty train. The breeder should be working with them somewhat with potty training anyway. From 8-12 weeks your puppy will learn a lot from its mother and siblings like socialization and bite inhibition. It really helps later in life because your puppy will have learned acceptable and nonacceptable social behavior from its mom and siblings. Of coarse you have to continue socializing once the puppy is brought home. Also, even if your puppy isn't having blood sugar problems at the breeder, you're saying its not eating super great right now. Well the stress of going to a new home will most likely cause the puppy to eat even less and then you will have blood sugar problems. Just be patient and do what's best for the puppy.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Very well said! I can tell you from EXPERIENCE that a 12 week old puppy is SO much easier to train and to care for as a whole! Maddie was my first Yorkie (from a BYB) and I got her around 7 1/2-8 weeks at 1.5 lbs. She never had a sugar drop because I took off 2 weeks from work when I got her, but I had to put sugar in her water a few times to stimulate her to eat her food. She was OBVIOUSLY waaaayyyy to tiny, fragile, and young, and she should have still been with her mother. She just slept and ate most of the time, and there was no chance of potty training for at least 4 more weeks.

Then, after I became much more informed about Yorkies, I decided to get Sophie. Her breeder kept her until she was 13 weeks old, and it made ALL the difference. She had been using one of those puppy mat potty training pads that are washable since she was 3 weeks old (the breeder simply divided their living area into three places: potty, food, and sleep). Even though she said that puppies almost never start using the pad immediately, over time they begin to understand that the areas are separate...and so when I took her she understand that concept already, I just had to transfer it to grass. She was potty trained, I kid you not, in ONE week. Of course she still has the occasional accident, but it's usually at night, and I ALWAYS find that crate training during the night works wonders. They sleep in the crate until they're not having accidents for about 6 hours, then they can slowly get bed privledges...lol. Of course, I have to take Maddie and Sophie out once in the middle of the night, but they have TINY TINY bladders and truly can't hold it like a large dog could. Sophie was also very alert, smart, and playful, and she was very interactive with me and with Maddie right away. She already had A LOT of personality!

So...sorry to have rambled, but I hope this helps. Everyone here is RIGHT! Let her keep him until he's AT LEAST 12 weeks, and eating well. That's the #1 thing. =)

We are waiting for Gabby to come home to us, I am very afraid to bring her home before 12 weeks. We got Skippy at 10 weeks, he was 4 pounds, and he had one episode of hypoglycemia! I'm going for a visit to the breeder tomorrow to see the pups, she's very nice about letting you see the pups anytime. She also would not let us have her anyway until 12 weeks or 2 pounds for the safety of the puppy! So...it's hard to wait, but for the best!;)

My words exactly!

Thanks for all of your replies. You have really helped me quite a bit. With this new knowledge I have gained from you all, I can be more patient :)