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Should I buy a yorkie from pet store? The yorkie has...

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Answer by Jeff
Submitted on 12/28/2003
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Go for it!!! The puppies in the pet store are just as good. I have a friend that breeds them and is very good. She sells them to the pet store only because she is a nurse and don't have the time to to meet with people when selling them. Her puppies and the parents are very well taken care of!!! Lets get real if you didn't have these people doing this then what would happen to the pet stores. Also if you buy from a very well known pet store like pet land you can't go wrong. They offer a better warranty then any breeder. Pet Land have their own vets and even gives you the first visit for free. we took ours to their vet then took her to our own vet and they both said she was in very good health. It makes me so mad when people put down the pet stores. Yes I agree with not buying from the small Mom and Pop pet stores but you can not go wrong with it at a big pet store.

Answer by William
Submitted on 2/2/2004
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All Yorkie enthusiast know that buying a dog from pet store may be risky business. These people are not selling a dog for quality. It is all about the Benjimans $$ to them. They have no idea the genetic history of the dogs family. Infact most times you may have to send for the dogs history after you purchase it. You haven't any idea what the parents look like or what health defects may be in the line they were bred from. Also the big warning is that the puppy is 9lbs at 6months when a Yorkie should range anywhere from 4.5 lbs and never exceeding 7lbs. All dogs deserve a good home,but as a consumer it is your right to get a quality pet that meets that standard and not have to worry about illness with such a young puppy. A breeder is always the way to go!! Good Luck

Answer by Tim
Submitted on 2/9/2004
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I forgot to add that Petland, as someone mentioned above, is notorious for their puppy mill dogs. If you look on the net you will see they are being sued by many owners of sick puppies, and many animal organizations (not just the crazy peta people!) inc. the Humane Society of the US are very upset with them and are investigating them. PET STORES DON'T CARE ABOUT DOGS, THEY CARE ABOUT MONEY, and that's ALL. I totally understand how people want to "rescue" these poor puppies from the pet stores, but what you are really doing in the long run is keeping these horrible people in business. And who CARES about the pet stores who sell puppies- they SHOULD go out of business if they continue to involve themselves with the misery and abuse of these animals!

Answer by Tim
Submitted on 2/9/2004
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I feel horrible for the pet store puppies, and that's why I agree with the fight to end the puppy mill business. Those pet store pups deserve a loving home like any other dog, and that is why it is so sad. But, You can't save every puppy and that is the sad truth, but that is certainly not the people's fault who are fighting the end of puppy mills! The ONLY way for this to end is to NOT put money in the pockets of these greedy people. If you buy from a pet store, YOU are condemning the mother of the puppies to a life absolute misery, and let me tell you, the mothers and fathers of those pups do not face an end as peaceful as euthanisa. They either die of neglect, starvation, a shot to the head, or are beaten. And guess what another thing those wonderful pet stores do- those pups are sold often to labs for experimentation if they cannot be sold. And plenty of those pups die WHILE they are in the store, you just don't know it. There is a website on the net set up by an ex-employee of a pet store, who said this, and also said the pups were neglected and fed very little, in oder to make them smaller and more pitiful looking to the customers, so they are more inclined to "save" them. This should make you angry at the pet sotres and puppy millers, NOT the people who are trying to stop this business!

Answer by Tim
Submitted on 2/10/2004
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yes, very often pet stores charge even more for puppies than great, reputable breeders. before you check out another pet store, please do a search on the net for pet store dogs and puppy mills, and you will see what the debate is about! It is not just about the puppy mills and the horrible things that go on there, it is really in the customers best interest to go to a reputable breeder or rescue. Your chances of finding a healthy, behaviorally sound dog are much greater. Pet stores are in it for the money, period. I went to one once and good grief, the people working there did not know a thing about the dogs they were selling. Plus many of the puppies were obviously sick. Puppy mills and backyard breeders do not test for ANYTHING in their bredding dogs, so IF you spend a few hundred less at a pet store (which is unlikely anyhow), you will most likely make up for it in the years to come. Pet store puppies have a laundry list of health problems because of indiscriminate breeding, and many of those problems will not show up until later in life anyway. Good luck in your search for a new dog!

Answer by Jennie
Submitted on 2/13/2004
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I feel that my postings have been read to the wrong side. I am against puppy mills in every way, but I did buy my yorkie puppy, Kody from a pet store. The pet store that I bought him from was very knowledgeable about the breed, the woman who helped us really knew and cared about the dogs. Granted, Kody did cost a good deal more than I had wanted to pay for a dog, but I fell in love with him, and actually waited a few days to purchase him, he was not an impulse buy. I am so glad that i got him, because he was worth every penny, he is the best puppy in the world, in my eyes. I am not condoning puppy mills in any way, the though of them makes me sick, I just feel that you can find your perfect dog in a pet store, if you are careful and don't buy on impulse.

Answer by lori
Submitted on 2/17/2004
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Never buy a puppy from a pet store. No matter what they say 99% of the puppies are from puppy mills. When they say they come from top breeder or that the kennels are USDA approved that means nothing. The USDA does not have the manpower to shut them down. I do feel bad for the puppies in the stores, it is not their fault but if people continue to purchase puppies from pet stores they will never go out of business. Another new scam I have found out are people who are fronting for the mills. I recently went to look for a yorkie for my dad and the women had only puppies, when I asked where the parents were she said she didnt have them, that she was dealing with top breeders around the country, that is a puppy mill. When I confronted her she didnt know what to say.

Answer by Kari
Submitted on 2/24/2004
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Guys, let's talk about the word STANDARD first. Of course a pup in a pet store isn't likely to meet standard in some way. In fact, MOST puppies aren't likely to meet standard, as standard means IDEAL. The standard on a breed is what the kennel club states is ideal for that breed. Are you also aware that most of the kennel clubs differ greatly in their "standard". SO what does it mean really? Nothing. Second, I am not condoning puppy mills whatsoever. My definition of a puppy mill probably differs greatly from the vision you have in your head. I consider about 98% of the "private breeders" you see in the classifieds puppy mills as well. Reason? They don't have a CLUE what they are doing. They don't know their breed, their health problems, when vaccinations are due or why, they let them go to young, and they never learned WHEN or HOW to breed properly. Their main concern, was they spent alot of money on that cute dog when it was a pup, so if they produce cute pups they'll get it back. But most of the detrimental comments and articles about pet store pups have to do with health. I would like for you to take a second and visit this site: http://www.americananimalwelfare.com/petstore.html It is the website of the American Animal Welfare Society, and it quotes an Article from the American Veterinarian Medical Association. Seems they don't agree with those anti-pet store sites on health issues. I have 7 dogs, 6 are pure-breds bought at pet stores ranging in age from 1 year to 11 years. Guess who has hip displasia? The mutt I rescued. None of my other dogs have ANY problems. Lets face it, a great deal of health issues have to do with care, though breeding is also a factor. If you feed your dog crappy grocery store bought food, and don't try to keep up to date, you are more likely to have health problems. I have been in the animal industry for 10 years, and have seen some unbelievable things.I live to educate myself, not tear others down.I have worked everywhere from groomers, to training, to yes, pet stores, and even as a vet tech. There ARE good pet stores. There are also bad ones. I just don't think that they should be the only ones taking the heat. Why isn't anyone posting sites about 10 reasons not to buy from a private breeder in the newspaper? The fact is, it wouldn't be financially sound for the store to deal with that breeder for 5 years if the breeders pups weren't known to be healthy. And what about AKC? They promote line breeding. Line Breeding=In breeding. They SUGGEST that you breed dogs within 4 generations of each other. Anything BUT brother and sister. Anyways, I'm sorry, but I had to vent.

Answer by gh
Submitted on 3/4/2004
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YORKIE OWNER I could not disagree with you more-though I respect your opinion. I had two yorkies for 15 years. They died about a year and a half and two years ago at the age of 15. They were like members of the family. The sweetest dogs ever! They were well trained and great pets. I would NOT suggest them for a household with children, tho! I just got another as a birthday gift from my husband and kids. He is so adorable and almost completely litter trained now so I have the option of taking him or out, or not. Since they are so small, they are perfect for that. I have no children in the house anymore so he is a great companion to me. Has a car seat and everything! It sounds like you had a really bad experience and I feel you really got ripped off on the price of your puppy. That's one of my biggest complaints--people are supporting these over priced breeders!!! I got my guy for 800.00 and that's with a 100% LIFETIME genetic guarantee. He came from a private breeder. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. I would LOVE to take yours off your hands for you! They are , in my opinion, great pets for adults--just be very careful what you pay for them. If we stop overpaying, they'll stop over-pricing. Part of their reason for the over-pricing is because they breed smaller and smaller females, and then have to recoup the cost of a c-section, etc. Those tiny females should never be bred in the first place. And then they attach fancy names, like teacup, et. A yorkie is a yorkie. Don't fall into the trap!!!!

Answer by Dana
Submitted on 3/10/2004
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I bought my Yorkie puppy from a reputable breeder. He was AKC and cost $600 and will be 4-5 lbs when fully grown (judging by the size of his parents). I like going to a breeder and meeting the dogs parents, sitting with them, playing with them before choosing a puppy. I also sat with the breeder for about an hour so she could inform me on how to take care of him, she showed me how to brush him, what to feed him, what time to feed him etc... She also showed me his lineage, pictures of his grandparents etc... She breeds her yorkies no more then once a yr if that (sometimes once every two years). She sells the puppies as companion animals only. Also she asks that I keep in touch with her to let her know how he is doing, send pictures from time to time etc. That to me is a person who CARES about the dogs. I highly recommend going to a breeder. It took me months to find one that wasn't selling yorkie'sfor less than 1,000 dollars, to spend that much in my opinion is ridiculous. I also don't recommend going to a pet store. In the past I have worked as a dog groomer and one dog I used to groom came from a pet store. The owner loves her to death but paid well over $5,000 on medical care for her. A health defect showed up in this dog around the age of 4 or 5, the "one yr health" guarentee from the pet store was no help to her then. I have a maltese and a yorkie and they are my two favorite breeds of dog. They are so full of personality and they are just the sweetest dogs.

Answer by Pet Counselor
Submitted on 4/9/2004
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If the dog is in good condition find out how long the pet store has been in business. The fact is most pet stores DO NOT get their puppies from puppy mills, that is a bad rumor that got started in the late 80's because of Dr. Pet and breeders who are jealous of the lost business. In a Pet store there should be blood lines, papers, vet approvals, shots, de-wormings, bordatella treatments, and much more. Buying a pet from a pet store can be an over all good experience. I breed Havanese..which are more rare and more expensive than any yorkie...and I would have no problem selling them to a reputable store like PetLand. If you are looking to buy a yorkie DO Not BUY T-Cup..they are very sickly and are sold by breeders wanting a quick expensive sale and are sold much to young. Oh and as far as American Eskimos go...who would want one anyways...

Answer by Li
Submitted on 4/16/2004
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No reputable breeder of any breed will ever supply a pet store, auction house or broker with puppies or dogs. It is against the Code of Ethics for any members of the American Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel Club or any of the breed clubs a reputable breeder can belong to. Breeders do not have to be members in good standing of clubs to register their dogs. Just because a puppy is registered does not mean it has come from a reputable breeder. Your job is to research what a reputable breeder is and to find one before purchasing a puppy. All puppies that are sold by someone reputable are sold directly to the buyer after meeting them, interviewing and discerning suitability of the home and owner for that breed. They are not shipped ever. Pet stores always get their puppies from puppymills or puppymill types who are just breeding and do not want any buyers on their premises. The registrations, pedigrees etc you get from a pet store puppy or any puppy are only as good as the info the breeder has given. If a breeder is willing to sell through a third party to parties unknown, how do you know where that puppy came from, the conditions, or whether the paperwork is worth the paper it is printed on. You still have to be careful when buying directly from a breeder but at least you have the opportunity to meet them and decide for yourself if this is someone who seems reputable. In purebred dogs, reputable breeders are breeding their show quality dogs to hopefully produce the next generation of healthy show quality excellent representatives of the breed, dogs. Not all puppies are show quality for various reasons but are still very healthy pet quality that will go to a pet home for the right buyer. They are sold under spay/neuter contracts, registered with either the American Kennel Club or Canadian Kennel Club in Canada, vaccinated with health guarantees. Genetic guarantees of 6 months or one year are pretty useless as the two genetic problems that can show up in Yorkies, liver shunt and Legge-Perthes, may not show up until the dog is 5 or 6 years old. When buying your pet puppy from a reputable show breeder, you are buying a pet not a show dog. But these breeders know their pedigrees, know the breeders and the dogs that are in that pedigree for many generations back, know that those lines are clean and have not produced genetic problems. There is still a chance that a mating could produce a problem but it is greatly lessened when dealing with breeders who know their lines and of course, if a problem does occur, they will stand behind their guarantees. Breeders who are just breeding to make money have no idea who those dogs are that might be in the pedigree. Always keep in mind that a good quality show male or female from a reputable show breeder will cost about $3000 - $5000 US, comes with all the guarantees including that it is show quality. If you are new at it no reputable breeder will sell you a dog like this outright, it will be coowned by you and the breeder. Don't ever pay those kinds of prices for a pet. Unfortunately, in buying from a pet store you may think you are rescuing a puppy but in fact, you are condemning 100's more to the puppymill fate. As long as puppymills have an outlet to market their wares they will stay in business. I would love to see it become illegal everywhere to sell live pets of any sort from pet stores. Pet stores should only be carrying pet supplies, not live animals. If a breeder has caused a new life to be created in the animal world let them take the responsibilty to sell it to the proper home and to be forever responsible for that life should the buyer not be able to keep it. Throws a wrench into the puppymillers and those in it to make big bucks. Sorry, pet counselor, I totally disagree with you. Any reputable breeder will never put a puppy into the hands of a third party to sell it for them. They ALWAYS take the responsibility of selling to a good home themselves. Did you know reputable breeders will provide a clause in their contract that the puppy or dog is to be returned to them at anytime in its lifetime if the buyer cannot keep it? And they live up to that contract. Contracts are only ever as good as the person you are entering into the agreement with. If you misjudged, do you really want to end up having to sue someone? Reputable breeders do not produce an over abundance of puppies in the first place, don't have high profile advertising and have many inquiries from people looking for puppies or older dogs. Pet stores can't do that because their bottom line is the all mighty dollar. As a professional pet groomer, any of my clients dogs that came from pet stores mostly had horrendous vet bills not long after purchase and often continuing health problems. Most puppies in pet stores are way too young having been removed from its mother way too early. Yorkies should never be sold under 12 weeks of age, older if particulary small. YorkieOwner, it breaks my heart that you have kept this Yorkie when you obviously don't love it. Find it a good home or turn it into a Yorkie Rescue if you don't want it. There are so many people that would absolutely love to have your dog. Whoever sold it to you obviously did not inform you much about Yorkies so you would know what you are getting into. For all kinds of excellent info on Yorkies and for Yorkie Rescue go to www.ytca.org that is the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America in existence since 1952. Read their site especially Frequently Asked Questions. Li

Answer by ma
Submitted on 5/6/2004
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Li--You sound knowledgable about the breed. I have a question that was debated on another faq site. You say no reputable breeder will sell to a third party--I AGREE. How about this-what is your opinion of breeders (I see MANY on-line) that only offer a one year GENETIC guarantee on their puppies. You say a reputable breeder will always take the puppy back if problems arise. But I have done some research and genetic problems can come up years later in a dog. I have a yorkie with a lfetime genetic guarantee, , which I see someone on another site also has.Why would anyone settle for less? If a breeder is confident in their puppies and not running a "mill", wouldn't they offer that , especially at the outrageous on-line prices?

Answer by ma
Submitted on 5/7/2004
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Candy--I agree with you. My 4# yorkie was 600.00--with a lifetime genetic guarantee. I got papers to register him but I'm not going to. I know pet stores are not good places. I wonder about these on-line breeders with their fancy ads and outrageous prices...they offer only ONE year genetic guarantees in most cases and that's not nearly good enough..especially with the outrageous prices they want. I just wonder why people would buy on-line and not demand a decent genetic guarantee-I keep on "harping" on that--but it makes no sense to me that a breeder that is sure of the quality of his puppies is afraid to cover them for their lifetime. I guess they just hope people don't do their homework and realize that a dog's genetic problems may not show up for years!! Especially when they sell them so small--that's a real danger!

Answer by Li
Submitted on 5/9/2004
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Hi Ma, glad to see you on this board. I have no idea why someone who says they are confident in the health of the puppies they are selling only offer a one year genetic guarantee, or even 1 year congenital birth defect guarantee. The only thing I can think of is that they know there can be problems after one year but aren't going to let anyone else know that in their search for a puppy especially if they buy one from them. There is also in some states, what is known as the 'lemon laws'. If someone buys a puppy that does have a very real problem the breeder could be liable for Vet costs as well as return purchase price. Most breeders prefer you bring the puppy back with full refund or replacement as some Veterinarians see a pet owner coming and see their summer home paid for if you get my drift. Usually a good breeder has a very good Veterinarian that also knows they can't use that breeder as their new contributor to that new car or summer home. Some of these people selling very tiny Yorkies for 3 4 or 5,000 dollars aren't going to be very interested in returning that kind of money even if the puppy is healthy and it grows up into a much larger Yorkie than was wanted. I never guarantee size but I do genetic and congenital defects-for a lifetime of the dog. Li

Answer by Li
Submitted on 5/9/2004
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Candy, you are wrong about the registration on a 9 lb Yorkie. The AKC will register the 9 lb. Yorkie no problem. The breed standards are there for breeders to try to aim for in their breeding program. In all purebred breeds, you will get the comfortable ideal size whether by weight or height, and you can get either end of the spectrum, undersize or oversize. these are sold for pet under spay/neuter agreements. These are all registerable as long as the parents have full registration or limited registration if sold for pet purposes only, with the only bona fide purebred registration body, the American Kennel Club in the US or the Canadian Kennel Club in Canada. The CKC in the US is the Continental Kennel Club and is not verification of an authentic purebred as they register crosses and those of dubious backgrounds. They do not have the stud books on file for their dogs registered with them. The registration application or registration certificate issued by the AKC does not ever have a spot for the size or weight of the dog except for thost specific breeds that have varieties in their size as part of their registration. An example is the Toy, Miniature and Standard Poodle. These are considered to be totally separate breeds with the Toy Poodle being shown at dog shows in the Toy Group, the Miniature and Standard Poodle are in Group 6. An oversized or very undersized representation of any breed will never be sold for breeding purposes by a reputable breeder, but under limited registration only. Any of these that the new owner buys may unethically go ahead and breed anyway, will not be able to register puppies only because of the limited registration filed by the breeder the original puppy was purchased from, never because of size. In Yorkies, the ideal size a reputable breeder will keep for breeding/show purposes will me males about 4 - 6 1/2 lbs, females are usually no less than 5 lbs up to about 6 1/2 lbs. If a breeder is not breeding toward the breed standards backed up by showing their dogs, they should think twice about breeding. In Yorkies, any reputable breeder aiming for that middle of the road size will still get both ends of the spectrum. It is the undersized that we have to be careful about. Usually a puppy that makes a finishing weight of say 3 1/2 to 4 lbs is pretty small but you have a far better chance of having a healthy dog of this size than one that is maximum maybe 2 or 2 1/2 lbs full size. 3lbs can be precarious, less than that is downright frightening. I am not saying in anyway that ALL of these very tiny ones are not going to have a very long lifespan, what I am saying is what the reputable breeders know and therefore avoid these small sizes, the smaller the full grown Yorkie, the more likely there is a problem. Li

Answer by Li
Submitted on 5/9/2004
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Ma and anyone else reading this board, the only way to stop these breeders from selling and breeding for these tiny ones and to force lifetime guarantees for congenital and genetic problems, is to stop buying from them. Stop buying online sight of the puppy, breeder, parents etc unseen. Go to dog shows to meet breeders, look for dog breed clubs, check with the AKC lists of breeders that show their dogs. Ask at Vet clinics, grooming shops. BUT do all this very cautiously. Just because someone shows their dogs, they can still not be reputable. A Vet or groomer may not know enough about purebreds to know what should or shouldn't be bred. Use the Internet to research for information on your breed only. It does have some good info there. Li

Answer by ma
Submitted on 5/9/2004
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Li--things got pretty nasty on the other board that you posted to--between gh and yorkiepup and the buyers that he called in to speak for him. I'll tell ya--if I ever did think of buying on-line (which I DIDNT)..he sure would have changed my mind. Can't people see how he avoided answering the questions by turning things around on gh. WHO is the professional here???? I stopped reading the posts after my last one was put on--I didn't want to get into a sparring match with these poor uninformed people. I just hope their puppies never have problems..THEN, when it's too late, they'll realize what is being said here!! I wouldn't pay 5,000 for ANYTHING without a decent guarantee-especially a LIVING creature!!!!!

Answer by Li
Submitted on 5/9/2004
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Ma, that's what I am afraid of, there will be an unwarned tragedy when this tiny dog is not healthy after all, That's why any reputable breeder will not sell a puppy that is particularly small until it is at least 6 months old or more. Now there is available some advanced testing, that can be done by the breeder and will be before it is even sold. I am talking about puppies no smaller than 3 1/2 lbs full size. Something smaller than that full grown, is never sold, given to family, friends, someone who already bought one from that breeder if they want it. On the other board the inference from these characters was that we have many of them. No we don't. I have been breeding/showing for 8 years, haven't had any under 3 1/2 lbs. A small group of breeder friends I know has had maybe two or three in total amongst them all -- in about a five year period. No point in going back and explaining, they don't read anything just launch into another tirade. Li

Answer by Li
Submitted on 6/2/2004
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Yep, doing well. Unfortunately, in most cases as with the on-line breeder, it is a buyer beware world. That's partly why it is not a good idea to buy from the Internet with pups being shipped or in some cases, not. The Internet might be a tool to find a breeder you can go visit for yourself. From what I understand, the only recourse may be what the State laws are for people selling puppies in that particular state. Some States will require that breeders give full refunds in some circumstances for example. Better Business Bureau is another option although usually it is not much use other than as a warning to someone else. If the Internet breeder is listed on a website of lists of breeders, often complaining to the webmaster might get them off that breeder referral. Personal lawsuit depending on whether the situation is worthwhile might be the only other option if there was a substantial money loss. If it is AKC registered, complaining to the AKC may be some help. Other than that, research your breeder Before you buy. Still trying to find info on that heart condition. Have a couple of very old time breeders I can ask, and a very good Vet that I haven't talked to in a while. Li

Answer by gh
Submitted on 6/12/2004
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Li--I have been trying to go back there. He posted I LOVE "HIS WEBSITE NAME"(which I don't want to advertise for him)--but you know what I mean. under MY s/n about a hundred times--you know how he does it. Ever since then it's been messed up. I even contacted him privately to let him know I was sorry people were attacking him under MY s/n. Sent sympathy on death of a puppy he talks about on his website. He is NOT a nice man! Not a thanks, no hard feelings, NOTHING. He's a real piece of work. I wouldn't buy dog FOOD from him..much less a dog. Have no other way to reach heart murmur lady...they'll take good care of her, I can tell they are nice people! Take care...gh

Answer by Li
Submitted on 6/16/2004
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gh, Yorkies will mature a little differently in accordance with lines they come from. However, by the time it is about 10 months, it usually doesn't grow a lot more. It may still fill out especially the males. Males sometimes tend to be kind of skinny and gangly until that age. Ball park is usually take the weight at 12 weeks and double it for mature size but it is not always accurate. There can be a variance of a pound or more either way. Some Yorkies will grow quickly and reach full size even at six months. This size thing is why I never guarantee size on any of my puppies except for a ball park size. By the way, gh, if you want to see some interesting stuff, plug 'our friends' name into your browser. You will find some real interesting postings on some real interesting message boards. Sue and Ben have a lot to say, none of which is too good and have posted on several boards. Oughta keep certain people busy finding them all. Lol LOL. Li

Answer by gh
Submitted on 6/17/2004
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Li, Funny you said that because my male has seemed kind of skinny and gangly to me..not cuddly, ya know what I mean? But I've been saying lately that he's getting FAT. Maybe he is filling out like you said. He is supposed to be 4#--he IS 4 # now at 8 months. So he'll probably be a little bigger. He was 2.8 pounds at 13 weeks when I got him. thanks for the info--I was just curious. I'm considering getting him "fixed". What do YOU think are benefits, other than the obvious--no puppies? LOL Thanks for the "other info" HAHA...Funny that the other board went dead when "our friend" saw the UNHAPPY customers starting to post. I'll look for that message board. Take care.....gh

Answer by Maya
Submitted on 6/17/2004
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I have a female yorkie. I asked Li a few questions about my dog several weeks ago then I deleted the page by mistake and could not find it. My yorkie is now 6 months and one week old and she weighs 3lbs and 6oz. I don't know how much bigger she will get but it does not matter. She looks a little fat to me. She did not eat her own food for a while. Now she eats it again after I made her understand that if she did not eat her own food she would eat nothing. However, I have to soften the kibbies with chicken broth. I feed her her kibbies in the morning and evening and give her my food at lunch time. I listened to Li's advice and would not have her spayed until she is 7 months old. I bought her from a breeder and saw the father who was 2 1/2 lbs. I was told the mother was 6lbs and as the owner of the stud she had the right to choose which puppy she wanted to have with each litter. I hope my dog will be healthy and will not have any kind of genetic diseases when she is older. Right now she seems very healthy. Maya

Answer by gh
Submitted on 6/17/2004
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Maya--Sounds like your yorkie is about the same size as mine. Maybe a little bigger. Mine is 8 months old and weighs 4 pounds. I haven't had him neutered yet. I'm still deciding. But my vet said the same thing--not before 6 months. I've heard some vets say 4 months!! Our yorkies are not what some people mistakenly call "teacups"--so they should be fine and healthy. That's not to say that "standard" size yorlies can't have problems. I had a 3 pound yorkie that was 15 years old when he died. But breeding them to be that small ON PURPOSE is wrong. Over 4 pounds is a good size for a yorkie. The novelty breeders that are breeding these tiny puppies are really doing a diservice to the breed. My yorkie is VERY spoiled--eats too much people food and I know that's not good for him!! LOL Good luck with your puppy!!

Answer by Li
Submitted on 6/21/2004
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Hi Maya and gh. gh, I would say yours will be somewhere between 4 and 5 lbs. Maya, I am delighted yours is doing fine and hit the size she has at the age she is. Likely she will finish between 3 1/2 and 4 lbs. That's pretty good and i am much happier seeing that size than smaller. She is cutting adult teeth so soften the food, make sure she is eating. Her small size does not leave much reserve and can go into hypoglycemia very quickly. gh, if you are not showing your male at dog shows I wouldn't advise using him for breeding as he would just be 'making puppies' and I don't think you want to do that. Definitely, have him neutered. Without neutering, he is at increased risk for cancer of the testicles and rectum, and even in dogs, prostate gland and urinary tract problems. An unspayed female or unneutered male can also get into marking territory problems. They are also very much more cuddly when spayed/neutered. Li

Answer by gh
Submitted on 6/21/2004
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Li--Hi--that's interesting what you said--a little more cuddly when neutered...why is that? I've heard it before. Just a little less aggressive and "frustrated" ? (LOL). Vet weighed him--8 months and 2 weeks old..3# 10 oz. So, we'll see. He thinks he won't get much bigger but you never know. I agree, making more puppies is an unnecessary "evil"..there are enough people (should I mention names? LOL) making puppies for profit!! Looking at some of those websites and imagining buying a puppy, sight unseen, stiil is unbelievable to me!! Oh well. I was interested in the experiences of the people that posted their bad experiences with a certain breeder and e-mailed them, but got no response. Thanks for your opinions...take care...gh

Answer by Li
Submitted on 6/22/2004
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Hi gh, the males or female dogs left unspayed/unneutered have hormones that affect their behaviour. Once the altering is done, the hormones settle right down and they become just the little pet you wanted in the first place rather than having hormones drive their instinctual behaviour. I had a call tonight from someone who had two yorkies shipped from overseas at about 3 months weight 2 lbs 3 oz. I had a hard time explaining it is not a reputable breeder that would ship that small overseas, buyer unknown virtually. One was shipped on to someone else in another State. I was phoned as they were looking for a good Vet that knows Yorkies. Hope it turns out okay as I am sure a good price was paid. Both pups had open fontenals, about the size of a pencil eraser head. It could close but not smart to sell/ship like that. Why don't people listen? Your pup could gain a bit but not necessarily. Only time will tell as each line and/or individual dog can mature a little differently. I would be very happy at that size at that age as it isn't real itty bitty and less likely to have problems. Li

Answer by gh
Submitted on 6/23/2004
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Li-- Shipping state to state is bad enough!! But OVERSEAS!!! I just can't understand buying a puppy you don't " "bond" with before purchase--just proves it's all about the novelty!! I think my guy will get bigger--he is still in the gangly stage you talked about. I hope he's about 5 pounds--they are much more cuddly than the tiny ones..my 3 pounder was adorable but he was so little--I like some fat to rub, ya know!! LOL I definitely will do the neutering...when finances permit!! lol I hope the best for those little puppies, too. Why do people buy a living thing, sight unseen? and put them through the torture of a plane ride or in this case, overseas trip? Just imagining them shaking in those crates, scared to death breaks my heart! I bet those same people wouldn't buy a SOFA sight unseen!!!!!!

Answer by Maya
Submitted on 6/23/2004
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Hi gh and Li: I have not been on the computer for a few days because of the visit of my grand-daughter. She is now in a summer art school and will not get out until the middle of July. She loved to play with my dog who loved her. I have a question. My dog's head hair now has the color of salt and pepper. It looks like the lower part of her head hair is white (like gray white) and the upper part is black. The hair at her ears and around her mouth are still dark tanned. I am wondering what color will her head hair be. I am trying to brush her teeth but have a hard time to do so. I have been trying to do it early in the morning when she just wakes up but she becomes very alert when she sees the toothbrush. Usually, when I hear her cry in the morning I pick her up from her crate and put her on the paper, then she yawns and lies on her back waiting for me to rub her belly for a few minutes and only after this she gets up and goes pee-pee. But whenever she sees the toothbrush she gets up quickly and runs away. If I hold her she wiggles and tries to get away. Is there an easy way to brush her teeth?. My two daughters bought the dog from a breeder they found on the internet to give to me as a present. They looked for a breeder who lived within a driving distance from my place (300+ miles) and I drove there to pick her up. They did not tell me how much they paid for her and I did not ask.

Answer by Erin
Submitted on 8/28/2004
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Good God, no. Petshops always buy from puppy mills, and aside from the cruelty of it, there are a LOT of reasons not to want a puppy mill dog. For one, the constant inbreeding usually creates a dog that, if it isn't suffering from any one of a host of genetic diseases, is mentally unstable. Second, the huge stress of taking a pup away from its mother and often its littermates as early as three weeks and then shipping it across the country is a wonderful way to give a pup disease. That's not even addressing the huge cruelty factors, as I said earlier. Frankly, my advice is not to buy anything from a shop that sells cats or dogs, except PetsMart--their shelter program is awesome because it gives pets that might otherwise be put to sleep a chance at finding a home. Personally, I'd go to a rescue group or, if I REALLY wanted a pup, a breeder. Oh, a word to the wise on breeders--if they breed three or more breeds, they're usually either puppy millers or raising really bad quality dogs. Most of the truly good ones raise maybe a litter or two a year.

Answer by Laura
Submitted on 9/14/2004
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Even if all the puppies coming from pet stores were from reputable breeders (a very very VERY big if), it's still not a good place to get a puppy. Why? Because during the period of time that is most crucial to a puppy's socialization (6-12 weeks), that poor pup is sitting in a cage. Oh yeah, I know that the first thing that will pop out of some of your mouths will be ,"But the pet stores have socialization programs!" Well, maybe they do. Maybe customers do come in and ask to hold the puppies. But think about it. Most pet stores have about twenty or thirty puppies at a time. How can those twenty or thirty puppies possibly be able to receive the love and attention given to one litter by a small, dedicated hobby breeder? Even if each puppy received a whole hour of time playing and socializing with the customers and staff (which, let's face it--NO pet store puppies have it that good), what are they doing for the other twenty-three hours of the day? They are sitting in a cage. They certainly aren't learning how to interact with other puppies, to accept and enjoy human touch, to grow accustomed to household noises and sounds, or to eliminate outside, all of which a reputable breeder begins teaching his puppies at this age. And back to the "eliminating outside" issue--pet store puppies are notoriously hard to housebreak. This is because they're freely encouraged to eliminate in their cage. Therefore, crate training is impossible, because crate training is based on the natural instinct that all dogs have of not wanting to soil their "den." My friend's dog, who is a pet store puppy, is six and STILL has accidents! I hate it when people say that a puppy from a breeder is "too expensive," then they turn right around and buy a puppy from a pet store. As commercial establishments, pet stores are required by law to sell to anyone who can pay. This means that pet stores can and do sell puppies to people who may not be able to handle the breed or puppyhood in general. If buying a puppy from a breeder or pet store is easy, then you should get out of there pronto! It's true that some people buy puppies from pet stores and these puppies grow up to be perfectly healthy pets. It's also true that people can buy puppies from reputable breeders that have health or behavioral problems. But reputable breeders try really, really hard to minimize health and temperament problems. Virtually all pet store breeders don't. If someone doesn't have time to meet and interview prospective owners, then how can they possibly have time to show their dogs, evaluate breeding stock, screen their dogs for genetic health problems, help the mother dog whelp her puppies, and raise and socialize the puppies? Please don't buy your Yorkie from a pet store. They do make nice pets, but it can also be hard to find a reputable breeder because so many irresponsible breeders have been exploiting this breed. "Your Purebred Puppy" is a great book; it helps you find a reputable breeder.

Answer by ChrissieTee
Submitted on 1/13/2005
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ADVICE??? Hey guys, I bought my baby yorkie from a pet store because I'm stupid and I had no idea about puppy mills. My boyfriend and I drove three hours to some pet store in New York promising a "teacup" yorkie. Shes a "teacup" alright, 1 year old and 3 pounds. She hasn't had her period yet, I'm worried about her. She shakes when I leave the house, steps in her own feces, and barks at every moving thing. My boyfriend and I love her like our first born child and she is very spoiled. But I still worry about her and what may happen to her down the road. I know she came from a puppy mill as we could not get in touch with the breeder listed on her AKC papers, just the broker she came from..."Lambriar Kennels". I had her in private training lessons, she can "sit" and all that but it does nothing for her behavorial and housebreaking problems. Anyone else experienced this with their yorkie? Thanks

Answer by karlina
Submitted on 10/7/2005
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Everyone, I just want to clear up some things. You can listen, or not, or agree, or not. First, AKC registered means NOTHING. Just about anyone (even puppy mills) can register with AKC. It DOES NOT mean it is a healthy well-bred dog. Any dog from a pet store IS a puppy mill dog. ANY BREEDER THAT HOLDS A USDA CERTIFICATION IS MASS BREEDING!!!! When you see "USDA" that should be a huge red flag. Everyone is looking for a dog they can afford, well, then don't get one. If you cannot afford to spend the $$$ on a well-bred dog, then you cannot afford to spend the $$$ that it will cost to care for it properly. The best way to go when looking for a Yorkie (because they are so over-bred) is to find someone that shows them as well as breeds them. These are people that live for the well-being of there dogs and breed to IMPROVE. I bought my Yorkie female from a breeder that also shows and both of her parents are champions. Her hips were just a bit small, so she was sold as a pet, but I know exactly where and what she came from. Did she cost? YES, but it saved me the cost of vet care for heart murmur, luxating patella, tiny trachea, kennel cough, and seizures that I know 95% of backyard bred dogs go through. Go to "yorkshire club of america" website, and only purchase from breeders listed here. It is the safe way to go, and will save you money and heartache in the end.

Answer by mary
Submitted on 5/3/2006
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I totally agree about not buying from a pet store!!! I paid 1500 for a tea cup yorkie with a babydoll face, That was ACA registered and wish I had known what I was getting into!!My dog is smart, I taught Prince how to roll over and shake in the same week!! He's a hand full, very sneaky and clever! That's funny that some 1 mentioned and compared them to Rodents!! I was telling my husband thesame thing! Everytime I turn my head hes stretching trying to be sneaky and when he hears or sees me he will run back where hes suppose to be!! He is very stubborn and, disobedient!! I wish i would have researched Yorkies, I would never have bought one!Too spoiled and If i wanted another toddler I would of had one!! UGH!!!

Answer by Mary
Submitted on 8/28/2006
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I wouldn't purchase from a pet store. I got my 3 yorkie babies from the same breeder. I was able to see the mother and father of each baby. Paddy is 7; Seamus is 6 and Quigley is 4. They had no problems and I was able to call the breeder morning, noon or night and ask questions. I never had a yorkie before or any small dog. I grew up with large dogs so I had alot of questions. She even paid for his first examination so I could make sure he was healthy. I know alot of pet stores deal with puppy mills and the animals are not healthy. You are better off to deal with a breeder. It is the best way to go. I still keep in touch with her. She keeps albums of all the puppies she sells and wants pictures of them as they grow up.

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Question by Al Reich
Submitted on 8/19/2003
Related FAQ: rec.pets.dogs: Yorkshire Terriers Breed-FAQ
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Should I buy a yorkie from pet store? The yorkie has papers, and the pet store owner says that he has been dealing with the same breeder in Minnesota for 5 years. The yorkie is about 9 lbs, has wavy hair, and has blue-silver hair. It is 6 months old. Thank you.

Answer by Teresa
Submitted on 10/11/2003
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Hmm.....YES!!!!!

Answer by Miracle Yorkies
Submitted on 10/28/2003
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The most important thing is the health of the dog. If you get a 1 year guarantee against congenital disease, and you are not concerned with the size of the dog, then I guess you could get the dog. BUT, just because the pet store has been dealing with this breeder for 5 years, does not guarantee that the breeder is a good one. She should be researched. To me, no reputable breeder would put their dog in a pet store to sell. Most good breeders of yorkies, want to educate the person who is adopting the dog on its needs and its care. Yorkies should be no more than 7 lbs full grown.

Answer by Louis
Submitted on 11/10/2003
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I wouldn't recommend it. Because you really never know if what they say is true.

Answer by EMJ
Submitted on 12/9/2003
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NO I DON,T THINK ITS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE WITH PET STORES YOU DON,T NO THERE BACK GROUND AND THE BREEDER MAY NOT BE A GOOD ONE,WHEN I GOT MY YORKIE I SAW THE BREEDER AND BOTH THE PARENTS, I THINK IN MY OPIOIN THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT(GOOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!)

Answer by Mrs. Roth
Submitted on 12/20/2003
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NO!!!!!!! I am so sick of people's ignorance when it comes to animals. Go to the animal shelters. Take home a grateful mutt. They have fewer health problems. Many purebreds you want just because they're cute will end up costing you sooo much money in health problems. Plus, think about the wellbeing of the animal. There are about 15 million companion animals taken into American Animal shelters annually, 12 million are killed. Why? Overpopulation. People keep breeding and breeding. Do the right thing and save a life.

Answer by mk
Submitted on 12/24/2003
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Dont! MOST puppies from pet store are from puppy mills and, when you buy from one you are just giving them business to continue.

Answer by Candice
Submitted on 12/31/2003
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No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Does no one here know that pet stores buy dogs from puppy mills? A puppy mill is where a female dogs sits in a cage it's whole life and has puppies. It's horrible! If you want to make more dogs miserable then, fine, buy the dog.

Answer by mk
Submitted on 1/4/2004
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I don't think anyone who really cared for their puppies welfare would give them to a pet store big or small. Because that owner wont know where that puppy will end up. When you buy from pet stores your just giving puppy mills business, so they will continue to breed those poor helpless dogs.

Answer by Jeff
Submitted on 1/6/2004
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I guess everyone has their own opinion on the pets. Well we bought ours from the pet store and I would not replace her for nothing.

Answer by Jennie
Submitted on 2/7/2004
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Pet stores are going to be there no matter what, and there will always be dogs for sale in them. Yeah, you could go to a shelter, but the puppies in the pet stores suffer the same fate if they are not taken to a good home. I got my yorkie from a pet store, and he represents the breed remarkably well, I've had him checked out. A lot of pet stores provide the pedigree and a number to reach the breeder at. Really, if you fall in love with the puppy, whether or not he is from a pet store, he's right for you.

Answer by LT
Submitted on 2/9/2004
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We just returned from a pet store with a pretty upset child. We were verbally quoted a price for the yorkie and after spending 1 1/2 hours with her, the two really connected well. That's when the store clerk said she misquoted us and the price went up another $100. The owner came in and said the clerk misquoted and his price went up another $200! The price of the yorkie was beyond what I could afford but what was most upsetting was the disappointment of our child who has been searching for 2 months now. Buyer beware wherever you go. This store, Pets, Pets, Pets was definitely in it for the $$$.

Answer by jojo
Submitted on 2/11/2004
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I raise yorkies, but when I was younger we bought a cocker span pup($600) at a pet store in the mall, when we were ready to breed her, we went in search of a male. We found a stud and the woman of the male did her research and stated to us that there was not a chance that she would allow her dog to bread to our female. Most of the puppies in the pet stores they ask several hundred dollars only to get a mutt because they are not purebred. I bought my first yorkie for $500 and the pet store is asking about $900 for one that is not even purebred or of standard.

Answer by Ann
Submitted on 2/15/2004
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I don't think anyone who buys a pet from a pet store is a bad person. I understand how people feel they need to rescue the dogs in there. And I believe the people who say they think puppy mills are bad, and still got their dog from a pet store. But unfortunately the bottom line is that if you give money to the people and business you think is awful and buy one of their pets, you are condoning it. They don't care what you think or say, they care that they get your money.

Answer by Jill
Submitted on 3/3/2004
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I am a college student and I have a part time job. I've been thinking of getting a Yorkshire Terrier. I keep going back and forth as to if I should get one or not. My boyfriend is going to buy me one for my birthday if I decide 'yes'. Anyone have any advice?

Answer by YorkieOwner
Submitted on 3/4/2004
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Please don't! they are extremely cute but make horrible pets. In addition, to get one without health and behavioral problems from birth you will need to spend 2k minimum for a decent yorkie. Study don't waste your time with one of these dogs. These little dogs act like rodents, not companions or friends the way real dogs act. These dogs are way overbred. I own a 4lb. one that we bought for 1800 last summer. I would like nothing more than to get rid of mine. I have had sporting dogs all my life. They make good pets. Yorkies DO NOT. Please do yourself a favor and Study instead. If you have and questions please contact me personally.

Answer by tiny
Submitted on 3/19/2004
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go ahead!I belive you should your just giving an inosent puppy a good home!!! thats what is all about.

Answer by Desiree M
Submitted on 3/21/2004
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Wow, such harsh words about the Yorkie.Poor pup,I have a family friend who has a yorkie and that dog is great.And she loves everyone,especially children.I myself have an American Eskimo,and soon we will have baby Eskies.NONE of which will be sold to a Pet Store!

Answer by tim
Submitted on 4/14/2004
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you think petland is reputable?? Do you know how many times that chain has been sued by disgruntled puppy boyer's There is proof those dogs are puppy mill dogs....

Answer by Real Havie Fan
Submitted on 4/27/2004
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God forbid anyone gets Havanese from that "Pet Counselor" person! A good breeder prefers to be able to be in contact with the people getting their dogs. Anyone who just sells to a store to do the selling for them is just in it for the money. Pet stores will say whatever they need to to make a sale! Could this be the sort of conditions your puppy came from -> http://www.columbusdogconnection.com/images/Yorkiepups.JPG Why risk it! Don't go for the cute face imediate purchase, research the right breeder!

Answer by ma
Submitted on 5/5/2004
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I agree with everyone saying DO NOT buy from a pet store--I would stay OFF-LINE also. Go in person and pick out your yorkie and be sure it's OVER 4 pounds full grown--the littler ones are prone to health problems and it's not fair for these breeders to be making money off of these little pups--LOTS of money unfortunately!

Answer by Candy
Submitted on 5/6/2004
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Hello, I would not recommend buying a yorkie from a pet store. First off, if it weighs 9 pounds, it cannot be registered. At least not w/a "real" registry. Yorkies cannot exceed 7 pounds. Also, if you buy from a pet store, you are most likely going to pay twice what you would somewhere else for what? A yorkie that is not really a yorkie? I paid $600 for my Yorkie and she weighs 3 1/2 pounds, and I bought her from a great breeder. My other two yorkies are not registered, but I only paid $150 apiece for them and they both weigh under 4 pounds. All are very healthy and absolutely gorgeous. Be very careful

Answer by pweety kitty
Submitted on 5/10/2004
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well i belive that american eskimos are the best breed ever so who ever said that they would never want one is an idiot i myself have one and is beautiful and one of the most intelligent of all the dogs i ever had and and whoever said that is a mother f***er thank you for your time

Answer by Katie
Submitted on 5/18/2004
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Hey.. CANDY--Where on earth did you get a yorkie for $150? Or for $600 for that matter? Please let me know. Thanks!

Answer by gh
Submitted on 5/21/2004
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Li--do you know anything about bilateral hear murmur--someone on other message board needs opinion on whether or not to purchase a 10 week old yorkie with the condition. Thought maybe you could help.

Answer by Li
Submitted on 6/1/2004
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Hi gh, glad to see you again. Bilateral heart murmur. Well, the only pup I knew that had a problem with the heart didn't make it past 3 years old but I am not sure if that was the condition. I can check with some friends of mine that know a lot more than I do about that and will post you what they say. I have been away working and showing and got back yesterday so had a lot of catching up to do. Li

Answer by gh
Submitted on 6/3/2004
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Li-You pretty much said everything I suggested--except the AKC notice.. Not sure if the puppy is registered or not. I hope you don't mind--I told her I thought you might know what to do and hoped you could help. I'll pass along your advice on AKC notifying AKC. thanks Li

Answer by Li
Submitted on 6/4/2004
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Hi gh, well I talked to a few old time breeders and it seems that given the young age of the puppy is has a good chance of outgrowing the murmur. The new owner actually does have quite a heart of gold wanting to rescue this pup and not bad if the breeder didn't charge much. It may work out okay. Li

Answer by gh
Submitted on 6/7/2004
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Thanks, Li for checking into that. The owner hasn't been posting--but if I see her again, I'll pass your message on. She said the puppy was playful, eating, and they never would've known about the probelm if the breeder and the breeder's vet hadn't been honest with them. So hopefully it'll turn out for the best. But the little girl has a great home it sounds like. Thanks again...take care.

Answer by Li
Submitted on 6/10/2004
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gh, the lady with the heart murmur puppy could maybe have it checked again later. They will check it with each vaccination as a normal vet check. She could have it checked again at 6 or 8 months if it was still there at the last vaccination. By the way, stay off the board that got nasty. I don't know what 'our friend' did but it isn't displaying properly and if you try to read it, you will get bombarded with virus attacks on your computer. I have good protection so am okay. Just don't go there. Li

Answer by Li
Submitted on 6/13/2004
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gh, there isn't much you can do for the 'heart murmur' puppy lady anyway. Either the pup will outgrow it or not. Could have a normal lifespan or not. It's a wait and see. Too bad that board went bad like that. It was interesting. Oh well. Li

Answer by gh
Submitted on 6/14/2004
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Interesting is RIGHT!! LOL "He" sure got p.o.ed when confronted! There were unhappy customers starting to post--that's when board went bad. Oh well. Hoping the best for the heart murmur puppy--I could tell that the people really love her. later...

Answer by Katie
Submitted on 10/28/2004
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Yorkies are great. Dont buy it from a pet store. Find a breeder. It might be a little more exspensive. But you will save money and heartbreak in the long run. Trust me.

Answer by Dee
Submitted on 1/5/2005
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NO. I recommend buying from the breeder. Usually breeders take better care of the pups than the vet. Also, the pups in vets often get fevers.

Answer by Bunny
Submitted on 1/18/2005
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No, alot of pet stores don't take care of their dogs like they should. my family got a dog from a pet store. He had alot of things wrong with him, which led to alot of doctor bills. Also, at the pet store I went to, the dogs are cramped in small cages together and not socialized.