Ok so most of you that hang out here in the lounge know that I am looking for someone to put me on the list for a yorkie puppy for Christmas. I have called around to some that were on the net here in Kentucky. I am on 2 lists so far so hope these pan out for Christmas, BUT....I talked to a lady that said she had 2 that would be in heat in July, which would be perfect for Christmas puppy. There was a catch....Hers were 1800.00!!!!!! I want one of these puppies so bad (had one when I was growing up), but really don't think I can save another 900.00 for this dog before Christmas (I usually start my Christmas shopping by now because we have 3 kids and its sooo expensive). I am sooo disappointed and scared that I won't be able to find one that is reasonable AND of good quality. We wanted to be able to visit the home where the puppies are raised and see the parents ..etc...just to make sure the other dogs are taken care of. I can't even think about asking DH if he can work any more then he already does to help pay for this dog...and I am a SAHM who only does a few cakes a month...so I am of no help. Anybody have any suggestions on what to do?? I am sure a lot of you are saying "Why in the h*&* is she starting now for Christmas" but I always have and I know that if I don't Christmas will be very small...as long as I start now it is like a toy store and the kids are very excited...but if my plan of having this puppy doesn't pan out I will be screwed!! Because this was going to be the only present besides clothes and stocking stuffers....what do you all think I should do???
Thank you for your input
Have you checked your local humane society? My son fell in love with puggles (pug/beagle mix) and they were over $1000. No way. We decided just to keep checking the humane society for another option and one day there was our little puggle! You never know what you are going to find.
I completely agree with Cake_Geek. I know that there are good, reputable breeders out there who honestly care about their breed, but there are soooo many more who are only looking to make a buck & then dump their dogs at shelters to be killed. If there is a Yorkie rescue in your area, you could put in an application now and explain what you are looking for, why, and when. That way once you are approved, your name will be with them for when they get a dog in that will work with your family. We do that quite a bit with people who have cats (most Siberians can not live with cats, so the few we do get in go out quickly). There are also rescues who work only with pregnant & nursing mothers who would obviously have puppies. Shelters will also get entire litters dumped on their doorsteps.
I guess my whole point is (other than rescue first!) is that breeders are not the only places to find a certain breed. Also, just because a dog costs a lot of money that doesn't mean it's a healthy pup. I'm sure you have done your research, but you want to check the health certifications of the parents if you do go this route. I personally could not justify spending that much money to buy a dog when I could adopt one and save a life instead. JMHO 
-Lisa
Don't believe her for one minute because I just googled "Yorkie Rescue Kentucky" and got a bunch of search hits.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Yorkie+Rescue+Kentucky
You're welcome!
I want a Yorkie too someday, but hubby doesn't want a small dog just yet. My 7 year old son would want to play with it like he does with Grandma and Grandpa's dog, who happens to be a spaniel/golden retriever mix. Those two play and roughhouse with each other like they're brother and sister.
Don't know if you want to travel to northern Indiana, but my best friend occasionally breeds her gorgeous Yorkie and she will sell the pups for about $500-$600 last time I checked with her. I'd like a Yorkie as soon as my OLD cats go to kitty heaven, but DH says no dogs in the house!! Now that I do the occasional cake, I'm not sure I want anymore inside pets, BUT that is a whole other can of worms!!
Depending on the size of the parents, yorkies go for $2000 and up in southern California. Dogs are such a fashion accessory around here that the smaller the dog, the more people are willing to pay for it.
I don't know about Kentucky, but here we use Petfinder.com a lot. There are tons of rescue dogs listed on there . . . you can get your application and home screening done ahead of time so that you are ready for a dog closer to Christmas. You don't often find young puppies in rescues, but there is still a chance.
Either way, it sounds like you know what to look for. Be careful . . . there are so many shady people out there!
(A few years ago I bought a boxer for my then-boyfriend. I was calling breeders and made sure to ask all of them if the mother had a fecal exam that was negative, if everyone was dewormed, if the puppies had solid stools, etc. One koo-koo actually told me that the puppies had diarrhea but that was perfectly normal. His story was that puppies always have diarrhea until they are at least 6 months old. After he said that I told him I worked for a vet and he was crazy . . . then I sent the local Humane Society out to check on him. Ugh.)
I can't pay 1800.00, I wanted to clear that up for people...for one we can't afford that ...we are a one salary family (another issue), but we spend close to 1000.00 on all the kids for Christmas...I am more willing to go 500.00 which is about as high as I want to go..if that...I know..a purebred...probably not gonna find one...and if I could find a puppy at a rescue I would be fine with that. I just hope that I could. Thank you all for the useful information. And It IS VERY USEFUL, because I was told by a lady who raises them that there wasn't such a rescue for yorkies in Kentucky..so I guess, being the trusting person that I am...should change that...not be so trustworthy 
...Isn't that awful? That you can't hardly trust anybody now a days? Oh well that is another topic anyways huh?
nearly 5 years ago my DH and I researched and researched what kind of dog would be good for our family....I didnt want to constantly be at the groomers, have problems with tons of doggie hair etc....so anyway we settled on a French Brittney (smaller version of the American Brittney).....at any rate, we found a breeder in Oklahoma (I am from kc, Mo) that had an orange and white female (many of them are black and white)........for $400.....which to me seemed INSANE.....at any rate they told us how great of breeders they were etc etc.....and we drove 4 hours down there to pick up our new dog and she was a 4 lb skin and bones pup who couldnt harly walk without her head end being so heavy that her butt end would end up in the air.......I asked to see the kennels (which they previously told us they would gladly show us) and they gave some lame excuses for why we shouldnt go that day....at any rate, I got the impression that this was not a reputable breeder......but at that point I grabbed the pup and ran (felt like I was saving her)........let me tell you I LIVED at the VET the first few years..........she had the demidex mites (I know I am spelling that wrong---basically mange)........and had to be on a liquid medicine for almost 2 full years.....thankfully she grew out of it, but my Vet said more than likely she was the result of poor breeding....she is now 5 years old and I hope to have many more good years with her....but never again are we doing the "pure breed" thing.........pound puppy here we come!
I just want to let you all know how the purebread dogs are raised. Espically the puggles and designer mix dogs that are so popular now. My inlaws raise these type of dogs to sell on the internet and I do not think it is humane. Iam am from a farm family and I understand livestock raising and stuff, but in my opinion dogs ARE NOT cattle and unless you want serious behavioral issues you should not buy a pup from a pet store , kennell or over the internet, espically the internet. Some are surley good breeders but not the ones in my area nad they are my family! But that is another story. Any way the mothers are in a very small cage, not enough room to hardly turn around, They are bread continsouly for years untill they are so poor that they get a bullet to the head or go to auction to who knows what, Yes there are kennel inspectiors but there are ways to get around all of the regulations and rules. The puppies are not played with, and basically have no human touch except for shots, etc. I just want people to thing twice befor paying exorbant amounts for a designer mutt that will have behavior issues befor they buy. Please tell everyone that is considering this about what I have tould you all here. And please PM me if you have any questions. I feel very strongly about this because proply 60% of all dogs sold over the internet are raide din my area. It discusts me and I waold be so happy if they all went broke!!!
Sorry so long I got wound up!!
Oh I understand Missy....And it is a shame because there ARE really good breeders that get mixed up in that stereotype...I was on the net till about 3 am this morning looking .... Not a good thing. BUT the Lady that raised my childhood dog (she still raises Yorkies and she is 80 ) keeps all hers in her living area in her house. She loves all of them..and she probably is an exception. I would NEVER buy a dog without seeing #1. where they were raised.... #2 I do want to see the parents...AND if possible at least one grandsire... #3 I will check with their vet...get references and make sure that all her/his dogs have been checked regularly. All the bad that you talked about happens way to often and it makes me sick. It really does. I did talk to the Yorky rescue yesterday and they said it was VERY rare that they ever get a puppy in. And if they did they have a list so long that it would take years to get to me
I hate to also say I would probaby love to have an older dog...but not my kids. For 1 they are a little harder to get used to kids...because they are a smaller dog they attach themselves to 1 person first...and if they have been in a bad home they might not like kids at all. They might not have anything to do with the kids...and for that fact I can't get an older dog.
But yes it makes me sick how some "breeders" (which now they have a name for it PUPPY MILLS) just dont care how they raise these or any beautiful living creatures.
Very true...I just can't see paying 1800.00 for a dog...even if it is pedigree...I don't want a "show" dog or even one to breed...all we want is a pet
I am looking in the surrounding states...because my DH works and he wouldn't let me go alone (and nowadays I don't blame him for worrying) to a further state. We are looking in Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee.
Good luck on your search Christi. I'm sure whatever you eventually end up getting will be loved by the kids.
We had gotten our dog from the Lost Dogs Home when he was 6 weeks old. He was an Irish Wolfhound crossed with a German Shepherd. Boy did he grow up to be a BIG dog but the kids just loved him. Unfortunately he had to be put down three years ago because he was very sick. I haven't had the heart to go get another dog yet but the kids have been pestering for one. We'll see.
My daughter volunteered at the local humane society as part of her service time needed to complete her Bronze Award for Girl Scouts. we saw so many cute little dogs there. They kept your name on a list if you were looking for a certain type of dog to come in. When we were ready for a new dog we got our there. He was a stray puppy brought in. He was about 10 weeks old and no one called to claim him. He's part Akita and part something unknown. He has been the best "pound puppy" we have ever had.
Try having your name put on a list at your local humane society - it might work out for you.
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