Yorkie Buyer Beware
What I am about to expose is happening far too often here in Northern California. I will give you some tips to help protect yourself and tell you some warning signs you should look for and what to avoid when you are searching for a yorkie puppy to adopt.
Please don't buy your yorkie on impulse and know who you are buying your puppy from. You will save yourself both money and heartbreak.
Never Buy Your Yorkshire Terrier from a Parking Lot!
1. Ask for I.D. You have no idea if the person is who they are claiming to be. I have heard from so many people, they bought a yorkie and were given a fake name. They had no recourse to find who really sold them their very sick dog.
1. Never buy your puppy from a someone that wants to meet you in a parking lot or says they will deliver the puppy to you. If they refuse to let you into their home, DO NOT buy a puppy from this person for any reason!
They will come up with a number of excuses such as:
A. My house is really hard to find, you will get lost trying to find it. I will meet you or deliver the puppy so you won't get lost. They will act like they are doing you a favor and will kill you with kindness.
Reply with: It's not a problem! I may get lost, but I'll find my way. I call you for better directions if I do get lost.
B. I am afraid of letting strangers into my home and people targeting my yorkies for theft. I only meet people away from my home. It's for my safety and the safety of my puppies.
Reply with: That is a understandable concern, I can either show you my I.D or we can meet at the local coffee shop. We'll chat for a bit and if you feel comfortable that I am not a yorkie thief we'll head over to your house so I can see your puppies. If you don't feel comfortable with me, I respect that and no hard feelings, but I will look for my puppy elsewhere.
C. I'm not home but I just happen to have the puppy you are interested in with me! I will meet you at such and such place. It will save you on your drive time!
Reply with: I am in no rush. Why don't you give me a call when you get home and we will make arrangements for me to come see your yorkies.
(Let me point something out in the above scenarios. They all involve a Yorkie breeder willing to take under vaccinated puppies outside and expose them to Parvo. My puppies never leave my home unless they are going to the vet! Any responsible Yorkshire terrier breeder will agree with me and also will not risk their puppies health and well being.)
Why these people selling yorkie puppies don't want you to come to their home can pretty much be narrowed down to 3 reasons and if 1 applies, all 3 usually do.
1. They know that they very often sell sick dogs and don't care. They have zero intention of backing their guarantee and don't want you to know where they live. If you can't find them, you can't serve them with court papers or show up on their door step for reimbursement.
2. Their house, backyard or garage is pretty much filled with puppies and they are kept in substandard conditions. These people purchase sick puppies dirt cheap from puppy mills and resell them. They don't want you to see how many puppies they have or how unkept they are, so they don't allow people at their house.
3. Animal Control! If no one knows where the puppies are being kept, animal control can't be tipped off to check them out or shut them down. Their livelihood depends on staying as far away from animal control as possible!
Must Know tips!
2. Write down their licence plate number and a description of their car. You at least have some information on this person if they do sell you a sick puppy. Without any information on this person it is nearly hopeless to try and get your money back.
3. Before buying a puppy from someone, do a Google search of their name, then do another search or their buisness name, then their phone number. Doing these Google searches will return Yelp reviews, Facebook profiles, Rip Off Reports and many times, tons of shocking information.
Please take the time to do your homework before buying your puppy and don't make an impulse purchase. Take your time and visit different breeders and play with different litters of puppies. A yorkie puppy is a long term commitment. You want to get it right the first time!