New Puppy and older Yorkie - HELP

[tortuga]

I have been busy, so I haven't been able to post. We are still searching for the perfect companion for Abby. So far, we have visited with a few rescues and the end result was not successful.
So, we are now looking at Yorkie breeders not rescues. We have a two potential breeders that live close by. One is just miles from our home and the other one is only about an hour and half away. We are planning a visit with the last one on December 28th. Both of the Yorkies are Parti chocolate. We didn't intentionally looked for them. One of them is 4 months old, the other one is 6 months old. I know they are both puppies and it will be a bit harder on us and Abby. We haven't been able to find older ones that fit our household.
So, as I said previously, once I find our buddy, I will post photos of him.
Wishing all of you a Very Merry Christmas!

[matese]

Good luck and
a Merry Christmas to you and your family

[tortuga]

Hi there,
I am currently looking at a 3 year old Yorkie that a show breeder is trying to place. He is not neutered. I have spoken with a few experts that say it is best to neuter. We negotiated a price but the breeder wants me to neuter him.
I want the breeder to do it as it less expensive where she lives.
Most breeders that are selling older dogs, neuter the dogs and even do dentals before they place them.
What are your thoughts about this?
Thanks.

[matese]

I am speaking for myself. If I really liked the dog and really wanted him I would have him neutered myself, but that is me.

As far as breeders when placing / retiring their dogs I haven't heard of them doing a dental. They will neuter the dog if he is show quality and want to make sure he is not used for breeding. It's obvious this boy is not show quality so the breeder doesn't care if he's used for breeding.

[tortuga]

Hi there,
I am talking with the breeder about the adoption and price. She actually tried to show him, but he is a bit timid for the ring.
He is three years old. She also has a 6 year old that she wants to retire. He has been shown as well. She is an AKC breeder of merit.
I think we want the three year old vs the 6 year old. My Abby is 6 years old.
The price is a bit high but I expected that. She is going to have him neuter and do a dental as well.
I would appreciate your input.

[matese]

If this breeder has agreed to neuter and do a dental I think you did a good job in talking her into doing this. I would have suggested the 3 year old above the 6 yo. If you really like this dog, if you feel a connection with this dog then go for it. You are getting what you asked for, to neuter and have dental done for the same price she wanted with no neutering or dental and you are getting him from a breeder not a shelter or a rescue. This boy is coming to you with no past history that no one knows about.



I will say this about reputable breeders that breed for their next champion. Most reputable breeders will check both the male and mating female generations back to insure there are no genetic issues that will be passed down to future puppies. In breeding for their next champion the mama is given good, high quality food to ensure healthy puppies. If the breeder is reputable and breeds to better the breed in most cases you will get a nice healthy puppy.

If this dog was used as a stud, breeders will either get pick of the litter or charge a fee for stud service. So you don't know if this dog was a pick of a litter or if the breeder purchased him to be used for stud service.

I would also ask for vet records on this dog to make sure he doesn't have any genetic issues. If you decide to purchase this dog take him to your own vet within 48 hours (24 would be better) for a wellness check up. If this breeder can give you his vet records bring them with you for the wellness check. If you cannot get the dogs vet records, get the name and phone number of the vet, this can be given to your vet, your vet may be able to get the dogs records.

[tortuga]

Thanks for your input. The challenge will be stopping the marking inside the home as he is 3 years old. I read that sometimes neutering helps, but it is a hard habit to break.
She uses diapers or belly bands. I don't want to do that. I want to train him not to do it. He is a beautiful dog. He currently weighs 5.7 pounds.
Are we still in private messaging mode?

[matese]

Neutering at 3 years old I doubt very much he will stop marking, it's now become a habit, and as you know in humans, habits are hard to break, in dogs it's even harder. You must have a lot of patience when taking this on, it's not the dogs fault that he marks. You may never be able to stop the marking and will have to use belly bands, are you willing to live with that. If I were you, I would think very long and hard about this. I have had 4 female yorkies going back to 1982, raised them from 8 week old puppies. I wanted females only because I cannot take that leg hiking. My last girl left me in 2013 she was 17 years old. 6 weeks after she passed my vet called me, she had just gotten in a surrendered male, 2 1/2 years old and neutered, not an abused dog. I really wasn't ready for another dog, I didn't know if I wanted another dog but didn't know if I could live without a yorkie in my life, I love the breed so much. Losing my last girl nearly killed me, I didn't want to feel that kind of pain ever again, I was still grieving her loss when my vet called me. I never wanted a male dog. My girl had urinated on every carpeting in this house when she was 17, not her fault, at the time I didn't know that dogs get incontinency, the carpet shampooer was on stand by 24/7. When she passed I had the entire house professionally shampooed. Humans cannot smell anything but dogs can smell if another dog has urinated someplace. That was a very big concern for me in thinking if I wanted another dog. I gave my vet all the reasons why I wasn't sure I want another dog especially a male dog. My vet said in a neutered dog some will may mark, some will not, she kept insisting to "just come and see the dog". Because my vet thought of me when she got this dog and out of respect and to appease my vet I went to "just see the dog" knowing I would never have a male dog. When I saw him he was (and still is) 12 pounds, tiny to me since my last girl was 17 lbs, no fat, just a big girl. I met him the techs lunch room with my vet, I just sat there watching him interact with the techs that were coming in, he was running to them like he was saying, are you my new mommy. I felt so bad that someone can just toss a tiny tike out of their lives, thinking on the fly I said to myself, what if in 3 weeks you need to have a yorkie, where would I get a full bred one. (I had not found Yorkie Talk at this time) knowing I could give this pup a good home, he came home with me that day. I am blessed to have this boy. He has never peed in the house, he was house broken when I got him, he squats to pee and only makes outdoors. He is the most perfect yorkie I have ever had and extremely smart. I am so grateful to my vet for thinking of me when she got him.
I tell you my story about my experience with my first male but, he was neutered at 8 months old. For myself I don't think I would like to have a dog that needed a belly band on 24/7. You also have to be careful they do not get urine scald on them, like a baby rash from being in a wet diaper for a long time. Again I say, think long and hard that you may have to keep him in a belly band if you cannot break the marking. It's a roll of the dice, if you are a gambler ..........

[tortuga]

Thanks so much for the extensive information. We are going to visit with the breeder on the 28th. I will get a chance to ask more questions and observe his behavior. She did say that the dog uses the doggie door as well.

[matese]

There is a thread "Yorkie Pee Bands ???" on that thread you wrote the breeder suggested you use the Belly Bands. We are not talking training a dog that uses pee pads only and you are going to train him to make outside, that's an easy fix. We are talking marking when he's in the house, which is not an easy fix, it "may" be do-able but there is no guarantee that you can break him out of a 3 year habit just because he will be neutered. Males are not neutered at an early age so they do not learn to hike their leg / mark, they are neutered to eliminate testicular cancer down the road thus a longer healthier life for the dog, neutering also reduces / eliminates a males testosterone level which eliminates aggression towards other male dogs. Neutering at an early age does help, even reduces leg hiking / marking. Neutering at 3 years old will eliminate testicular cancer, testosterone, aggression, these are a given, but not a guarantee marking will be eliminated. I just want to make sure you understand marking may not be able to be eliminated, I do not want you to be disappointed if this cannot be trained out of this dog.

I by no means am trying to discourage you from getting this little boy, I just want you to be very aware that marking in the house may not be able to stop or control.

Using a doggie hatch only means that the dog will potty outside, it does not mean because he peed outside he will not mark in the house. There is a big difference between peeing and marking. When a dogs pees he empties his bladder, you will see a nice size puddle, when a dog marks it's a small dribble of urine, so, a dog can pee outdoors but still mark in the house, if you see it's just a small amount you will know he is marking.

When I walk my boy he marks every 3 feet lol, you can see just a few drops coming out. Good luck on your visit.

[tortuga]

I totally understand the difference. It is a like throwing a dice. I read an article from Cesar and others about training the dog not to do it.
When you catch him you use an intimidating voice and say the word NO.
Abby knows that word so well that when she is doing something she is not supposed to do she stops in her tracks.
Neutering is definitely better for the reasons you mentioned.
The dog checks most of our boxes, so I am most likely going to take a chance. We trained our Abby not to jump on the couch. I have not dealt with marking with my two males that have passed. This will be a challenge.

[matese]

God bless you and big big hugs, you have done your home work, and seems you are the pack leader, meaning, the dog does not rule you, you rule the dog, and with yorkies the humans must be firm with them, they are strong willed and want to rule the house lol. You already know what you may be up against and that is what matters.

See if you can get the vets records or the name and # of the vet, and line up that wellness check. Now I will be on pins and needles until the 28th lol.

[matese]

If you do get him, keep him confined to one room, do not give him free roam of your home, always have him in your sight because he is coming into a home that has a dog in it, he will want to mark every thing, I am sure you already know this but I had to throw that in

[tortuga]

Toby.jpg

[tortuga]

Can anyone see the photo for Toby.jpg?