Pet stores used to make money hoping you would be an impulse buyer. That’s why there were puppies in the window: to break your heart and open your wallet before you knew what you were doing. Fortunately, this trend is changing, but not fast enough. There are still unscrupulous pet stores selling 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 the basic Yorkshire Terrier information, it 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 buyer bargained for. The pup is then sent to an animal shelter, where he has a fifty percent chance of being euthanized.
You get many advantages by getting your Yorkie puppy from a Yorkshire Terrier breeder. You get a contract, usually with a limited health guarantee on the puppy. You can see in what conditions the puppy will grow. You can see the puppy’s mother, which will have a lasting impact on the puppy’s temperament. You also get the reassurance that your pup is a purebred Yorkshire Terrier, so you know that he is getting his money’s worth.
Don’t just go to the first Yorkshire Terrier breeder you come across. Since the breeder of the Yorkshire Terrier will have a profound impact on the health and training of your puppy, you should choose the breeder with the same care as the puppy. You can find licensed Yorkshire Terrier breeders from your veterinarian, from dog magazines, from dog shows, and from the Internet. You can also ask the American Kennel Club for help.
You also have the freedom to ask a good Yorkshire Terrier breeder many questions that you simply cannot ask a pet store clerk. You have access to years of experience living and training all types of Yorkies. A good Yorkshire Terrier breeder will be a bit possessive of their puppies. Money is not that important to them (although they will expect you to pay when promised). They want to be sure that their “babies” will not end up abandoned or abused. And, unlike puppies in pet stores, you can usually see the parents and the parents’ health certificates.
Take your time to find the right Yorkshire Terrier breeder that you can get along with and have the dogs that you can get along with. You can find them at the American Kennel Club, the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, any proud Yorkie owner where you live, your veterinarian, or your local animal shelter. You can also search the internet for Yorkshire Terrier rescue groups that have senior and adult puppies.