Puppy Inquires

Buying A Puppy

If you are interested in a Yorkie, contact me for availability in 2008 or for information. Interviews for suitable home placement will apply. I retain right of refusal of sale of any puppy or dog considered for home placement.

You have seen many Yorkshire Terriers and they are cute and cuddly. There are many things to consider before purchasing a puppy.

The Yorkshire Terrier has been bred down in size to be a companion and is no longer used in ratting which is what it originally was bred for beginning about 100 years ago. However, it is still a Terrier first and has the personality and behaviour of a Terrier. They are a good little guard dog, they will let you know if someone is prowling around. They are loyal and often will bond very closely to one member of the family if there is a family that owns it and of course, if it is a single person type of home, that person is their new best friend. As such, you will require the time to spend with your new friend.

Time commitment for any dog is a large commitment. This means you have to make time to spend with them even after holidays are over or until you get that job you are now looking for. I don’t recommend this breed for people who are away 8 hours or more 5 days a week.

Owning this breed is a commitment of 12- 15 years. Moving is never a good reason to surrender a dog. That is something you should consider before you purchase, that if a move may come up, that you are willing to make whatever sacrifices would be necessary to be sure the dog will go with you.

You have friends, family, a social life that you interact with others on a regular basis. Your dog has only you to rely on for its interaction whether that is in your home or if you take it with you when you go somewhere, go for walks, take it on holidays.

If you have small children or are planning on starting a family, this is not the right breed for you. The Yorkshire Terrier does not enjoy the company of children under the age of about 10 years old. Grandchildren visiting your home usually are not much of a problem as the children are not there 24/7 year around. But you must be very careful that neither the Yorkie nor the child gets hurt when they interact. Never leave children and dog unattended together. If you are busy, put the Yorkie puppy or adult away somewhere safe where the children do not have access to it.

The Yorkie as with many Toy breeds, can be difficult to housebreak. It takes a lot of time and diligence on the part of the owner to be successfu. It is not unusual that you cannot expect it to be housebroken until a year of age at least and then be cautious. If you have a lot of carpeting and this is an issue for you, this is likely not the breed for you.

An older Yorkie that is currently housebroken will still need some training when it comes to your home. You won’t be necessarily getting a dog you can trust to potty where you want it to go. It will still need some training although if you go about it the right way, it won’t take long to adjust.

I do not recommend doggie day cares usually for the Yorkie. Most Yorkies are too small compared to other dogs visiting these day cares. I have seen temperments of Yorkies ruined because of doggie daycares. You are also exposing your dog to anything the other dogs may be carrying.

PET PUPPIES

Care of the Yorkie as with any toy breed of dog will include proper dental care. Brushing with a little toothbrush and dog toothpaste can help teeth and gum health just as regular brushing is undertaken with you and your children. However, it is sometimes required that your Yorkie will need professional dental care from your Veterinarian including scaling, cleaning and polishing. My puppy pack includes a little toothbrush and a little bit of the toothpaste and a demonstration of how to clean the teeth.
Improper care of the teeth can lead to gingivitis, abcesses, severe bacteria buildup even bone loss of the jaw. This situation can contribute to kidney, liver and heart problems from the bacteria in the system coming from the teeth.

The expense of proper dental care is something to keep in mind before you purchase your puppy or dog. Teeth cleaning by a professional Veterinarian is something you will have to consider as part of proper health care.

Any puppy you may want to purchase for pet only, must also come with registration papers if it is being advertised as a purebred. In Canada, under the CKC, we are required to provide the registration on the puppy or dog we are selling at no extra cost to the buyer. The Certificate of Registration will verify authenticity of purebred status. In my experience, most puppies sold as purebred with no papers, are not purebred or the breeder is not abiding by a nonbreeding contract when they purchased their puppy and are now breeding it. Do you really want to do business with someone who had no regard for contracts they signed when they purchased their puppy?

Your bill of sale for your dog or puppy should include the statement that registration papers with the Canadian Kennel Club will be provided prior to 6 months from the purchase date. As it costs less than $50 per pup to do the litter registration, individual dog registration and transfers, it is not a large capital outlay to the breeder who is a member in good standing with the Canadian Kennel Club.

If you are looking for a nice pet, a reputable show breeder will interview you to determine that you are a suitable new owner for a Yorkie. You will not be buying a show dog but a very nice pet representative of the breed that the breeder has determined is not something they wish to have for breeding/show purposes. Respect their judgement and the contract you will be required to sign, and have it spayed/neutered if it already hasn’t been done at the time of sale.

As part of the Code of Ethics of breed clubs, breeders are not to sell any puppies less than 12 weeks of age. I also will not sell puppies less than 2 lbs at the time it is going to a new home. My puppies are usually 4 -5 months of age and sometimes older before they go to a new home.

SHOW DOGS

If you want to buy a puppy for breeding, get into showing as well and immerse yourself in the breed. Breeding pet quality to pet quality will only perpetuate poor representatives of the breed that over time will barely look like a Yorkie.

If you are interested in showing/breeding, go to dog shows, meet the show breeders, see what it is about. If you can, find a breeder willing to mentor you. A reputable show breeder will not sell you a puppy outright, it will be co- owned and it will likely be a male so you can prove yourself and your intent.

I hope you find this information helpful in your consideration of purchasing and sharing your life with this particular breed. These are issues you need to consider before you make your purchase.

I don’t often have anything for sale but I welcome your enquiries. I interview and will consider the suitability of a home before I will agree to a sale. I reserve the right to refuse sale at my discretion.