Thursday, June 12, 2008

Yorkie 101: Yorkshire Terrier Breeders

Pet stores used to make their money by hoping that you are an impulse shopper. That was why there were puppies in the shop window – to break your heart and open your wallet before you realized what you were doing. Thankfully, this trend is changing, but not fast enough. There are still pet stores unscrupulous enough to sell puppies to impulse buyers, especially Yorkshire Terrier puppies. No reputable Yorkshire Terrier breeder will send their puppies to a pet store!

If you don't know any basic Yorkshire Terrier information, then that would be like moving to a country where you don't speak the language or know any of the customs. After the cute stage wears off, the Yorkshire Terrier puppy often turns out to be a lot more work and a lot more money than the impulse shopper bargained for. The puppy then gets sent to an animal shelter, where he has a fifty percent chance of being euthanized.
A pet store is one of the worst possible places for a puppy to grow up in. Puppies learn best between the ages of seven to fourteen weeks of age. After that window, it is harder to teach the puppy basic manners and commands. And yet, when are puppies placed into pet stores? Right at the time they need training the most. So puppies from pet stores are often uncontrollable.

You get a lot more for your money by getting a Yorkie puppy from a Yorkshire Terrier breeder. Yes, you pay more but you also are assured of a dog that will be suited to your lifestyle and personality. Yorkshire Terrier breeders often pay for the first worming and inoculation shots of their puppies. They also give the puppies beginning training. And they get a lot more individual attention than pet store puppies. This makes for a better-behaved puppy and a lot less stress for you.
You also are free to ask a lot of questions to a good Yorkshire Terrier breeder that you just can't ask a pet store clerk. You get access to years of experience living and training all kinds of Yorkies. A good Yorkshire Terrier breeder will be a bit possessive about their puppies. The money is not that important to them (although they will expect you to pay when promised). They want to be sure their "babies" will not end up abandoned or abused. And, unlike pet store puppies, you usually get to see the parents and the parent's health certificates.

Take your time finding the right Yorkshire Terrier breeder that you can get along with and has the dogs you can get along with. You can find them from the American Kennel Club, from the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, any proud Yorkie owners where you live, your vet or your local animal shelter. You can also look on the Internet for Yorkshire Terrier rescue groups which will have older puppies as well as adults.

Finding honest Yorkshire Terrier breeders is a bit like finding honest used car sellers. This author is currently writing a book about dog care, including a section on Yorkshire Terrier information.

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Yorkshire Terrier Information