Looking to Adopt a Puppy Yorkie

[Rhetts_mama]

Take your time when looking for a pup. If possible, find a local breeder because you want to be able to see what kind of conditions they were raised in. Beware of someone who wants to meet you some place else, as they may have something to hide.

Look for a health guarantee that is comprehensive. If you see one and have questions about it, feel free to post a link to it here and the very knowlegable people will help you decide whether or not it's worth the piece of paper it was printed on. You'll find in your search that the cheaper dogs have "guarantees" that don't really cover anything.

Get familiar with puppy lemon laws that are available in NJ (you are lucky to have them!) New Jersey Pet Lemon Law

Beware of anyone who advertises "teacup", "minature" or "pocket pups". First of all, there is no such thing, it's a marketing ploy. Second, the smaller the dog, the higher the vet bills tend to be. If someone is breeding females under 5 lbs, stay away! Also, no one can guarantee how big the pup is going to be when it's still 10-12 weeks old.


I am dead set against buying a dog off the internet from ebay, puppyfinders or classifieds. You are rolling the dice on the health of the pup and truthfulness of the person on the other end, IMO. In general, the cheaper the dog, the more shortcuts the breeder took. But that doesn't mean the most expensive is the best either!

Check out the stickies on the main page and in the library about choosing a breeder and a dog.

I second the option of looking in to rescues. I've got 2 rescue babies and they are the loves of my life.

What ever you do, take your time, do your research and avoid pet stores, BYB's and puppy mills. You'll be rewarded for your effort with the best and healthiest dog for you.

[Britster]

I see a lot of times here on YT of purebred AKC yorkies who came from good reputable breeders getting sick all the time, having LP, etc. So personally, while I def. agree on finding a GOOD breeder for other reasons such as good socialization, temperament, etc, and it's important to support ethical breeders and not BYB's or puppy mills... nothing is a guarantee. I don't think a $2000 puppy is any better than a $500 puppy. I would prefer to spend only $500 on the dog itself and then be able to spent the extra $1000 I might have paid on things going towards the dog, like initial vet visits, toys, food, clothes, etc. Just because someone can't or doesn't want to pay over $1000 for a dog doesn't mean you can't afford a dog throughout its lifetime. and You can actually find reasonable breeders out there who care more about the placement of their pups than price. but please don't just go and get a dog from the papers or from a puppy mill! Good luck in your search!

[xoxJuliexox]

im sorry some people are discouraging you, save up if thats what you really want, adopting is also great because your helping save a life i myself am not made of money, and while it is expensive maintaining one i do just fine i promise you once you find "the one" it will steal your heart! Keep us updated or if you have any questions!

[Reese1]

I wanted to add. You might be sent private messages from breeders here on YT or even have replies in your posts. Please do NOT think just because a breeder is on YT that means they are reputable.
You still need to do research on them the same way you would any breeder.
There are breeders that come on YT for no other reason then to sell their puppies. I just wanted to point that out in your search!

[margaritaville]

We are not trying to discourage you, just trying to let you know there are a lot of hidden coats to being owned by a yorkie. We understand you are just setting up your home and trying to get settled in life.
Years ago owning a dog was cheap-we had a Cocker Spaniel-we took him to the firehouse for her rabies shots and got flea powder at the general store.
Thank heaven we can afford Bubba and Sissy. The vet costs, the heartworm medicine, the flea and tick solution once a month. Not to mention the dental bills yearly as they are prone to dental problems and of course rug shampoo as they occasionally forget where outside is.
As for the pros they love is unconditional and the kisses are soooo sweet.

[vanessa210]

Im also looking for a Yorkie for my daughter for Christmas ! if you find any in our area please let me know !

[boopster]

Vanessa, while getting a puppy at Christmas sound wonderful, it's probably the worst time for a puppy to join a family. All the noise and confusion, and distractions could be distressing for the puppy and you might not be able to devote the time a new one needs to feel safe with you. Not to mention all the ribbons a d gifts the puppy might have tantalizingly available. And the potentially fatal amount of sweets and snacks it could get into.

If your daughter is very young, you might want to consider a sturdier breed.

If you are still sure you want a puppy for a Christmas gift, consider a note from Santa that the puppy will arrive after the Christmas madness is over and a gift card for a nice pet store where you can shop with your daughter for the things the puppy will need when it comes home. Then you can leave the puppy with the breeder until your household is ready. The days between Christmas and getting the puppy woul be well spent talking with your daughter about how to care for a little one and could actually be a good bonding experience for the two of you.

A lot of breeders won't place a puppy during the holidays for the safety of the puppy and having this kind of plan could show the breeder that you are putting the safety of the dog you hope to adopt first.

Whatever you decide, I hope it's a good experience for your family!

[gemy]

Yorkies are a gorgeous breed, but they do come with a fair share of health concerns. Seeing as there are now two posters on this thread thinking about adoption; I thought I'd post this here.

Let's talk about Yorkie Health, and tests that a reputable breeder does to help insure that their breeding stock is as healthy as possible.

Please note these are NOT the regular check ups that we all do on our dogs with the vets

CERF - this is a test done annually to check for Progressive Retinal Atrophy It is a genetic condition and if your dog has PRA eventual blindness is the result. This test is performed by a board certified veterinarian opthamalogist. For this organization's website www.cerf.org

BATS - Bile Acid Test is testing liver function. Breeding sire and dam, should be tested and their ranges within normal. Liver Shunt puppies can require surgery, and do require special diet and care for the rest of their lives. Furthermore the breeder should be very aware if LS has cropped up in her breeding line.

OFA certainly for knees to evaluate for Luxating Patella (LP). Dependent on the grade or severity of LP this condition can require surgery. www.ofa.org. An Xray is done and sent into OFA for evaluation and the knees are graded. Hips is another area a breeder might want to Xray. Although HD is certainly not as common in Yorkies as LP

Heart Thyroid Full Blood Panel and testing for STD's.

Beyond these tests, the breeder should offer a health guarantee that is worth something and have a reputation for honoring her/his commitments to the puppy buyers. You want your breeder to support you in your concerns, be there for you for the lifetime of your puppy. Health problems can crop up in any breeding, the litmus test of the breeder is how they will help and aid you, should this happen to your pup.

So in part this is what is meant that Yorkies can be an expensive breed to own. Should a health concern crop up in your pup, how will you meet the financial and care requirements for your pup?