Yorkshire Terriers, Yorkies for short, are a joy to have around and make great and well-loved family pets for many homes. For these reasons, the popularity of the breed has seen phenomenal growth over the past few years. Currently, the Yorkshire Terrier is the breed to have and buy for many families looking for the perfect canine companion. But before you get caught up in the rush to buy one of these adorable puppies, there are a few things to consider to ensure that you buy the best puppy that you can possibly find.

Generally, the Yorkshire Terrier is a lively and hardy breed, but just as with all purebreds, they can be prone to developing certain health and behavioral conditions which can make them hard to deal with and expensive to care for. By doing a little research and taking a few precautionary assessments before deciding which puppy to buy, you can greatly reduce your chances of purchasing a puppy that will cause you a lot of heartache down the road.

The most important thing to consider when buying a puppy is the breeder. Before even looking at puppies you should have a good knowledge of the breeder and several referrals indicating that he or she is a top of the line breeder with the best interests of the Yorkie breed at heart. If you have any qualms about a breeder, do not buy a puppy from him or her, regardless of how cute or healthy a puppy appears to be.

Here’s why: A good breeder is conscious of the inherent characteristics that are common in the Yorkshire Terrier breed. A competent breeder will not breed all of their dogs just because they are registered and pedigreed; they will select only the best Yorkies for breeding to minimize undesirable traits, both health related and behavioral related, and to maximize desirable traits. Certain congenital birth defects are also a result of careless breeding. So, choosing a competent breeder increases your chances of having a healthy and happy Yorkie.

A good breeder also invests in the proper care for all of their new puppies. Yorkie puppies are extremely fragile when born and do not really become self sufficient or able to be separated from their dam until they are 3 months of age or older. Before this time they are very susceptible to health conditions such as hypoglycemia and allergies to vaccinations. For these reasons, it is important to never buy a Yorkshire Terrier puppy younger than this age or before it has had at least two of the three required rounds of vaccinations. Any breeder who wants to bypass the waiting period and sell their puppies earlier than 3 months does not have the health of the puppy in mind and would likely not be the best breeder to deal with.

Another must have when dealing with a breeder is a sales contract and a guarantee. If a breeder is not prepared to guarantee their puppies’ health in writing, then you may end up with an expensive puppy that only lives a few short months. A good guarantee will replace your puppy or refund your money for any congenital defects found within the first year.

Also have a thorough knowledge of the AKC standard for the Yorkshire Terrier breed before going to look at puppies. By following the AKC standard, you will have a good idea what to look for in certain puppies. Considering that most reputable breeders only have a limited number of puppies available, and then they are available only occasionally, it may take a lot of puppy shopping before you actually find a puppy that meets all of the standards. If you are planning to show or breed your dog, your wait may be even longer. So, be prepared to not find your Yorkie on the first go round, actually expect it. Then you won’t be disappointed.

Do not be fooled by breeders trying to push “miniature” Yorkies. There is no such thing as a “miniature” Yorkie, just Yorkies that are smaller than others. In most cases, very small Yorkie puppies passed off as “miniature” are actually the runt of the litter and prone to health problems such as thyroid disease.

Remember to keep all of these pointers in mind when looking for your new Yorkie. By doing so, you will ensure that your new puppy is a happy and healthy addition to your family.

The reported sales for Yorkshire Terriers is phenomenal. Over the past few years, the popularity of this breed as a family pet and as the dog to breed has seen tremendous growth. In fact, the requests for adorable Yorkie puppies is greater than the supply. This fact has many Yorkie owners wondering if they should look into the possibility of breeding their pet.

While breeding Yorkshire Terriers is a worthy goal, it is not for everybody or every dog. There are many things that should be considered before making the decision to breed your Yorkshire Terrier, the least of which regards whether or not you have the time and space to devote to breeding the energetic Yorkshire Terrier.

Many experts reserve the right to breed dogs to the professional breeder, and they will discourage anyone who has a idea to breed Yorkies from doing so. Though this may sound manipulative, there are good reasons why they discourage casual breeding. While I believe that there are many people who should not even consider breeding their Yorkie, I also feel that there are many intelligent people that can incorporate breeding into their lifestyle responsibly. To find out which category you fall into, consider the following points.

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So you have decided you are going to buy a West Highland white terrier, otherwise known as a Westie. Westies are great little light-hearted dogs. They are quick to learn, and as a rule they are very self sufficient, and have wonderful, unique personalities. Most Westie owners will tell you that their dog possesses a “big personality.” They are lovable, but will never be mistaken for a lap dog.If you are looking for a cuddly lap dog, a Westie may not be the right breed for you. They are notoriously independent, and won’t tolerate being held for very long periods. They like to be in close proximity to their owner/families, but they need their space. As a rule, when a Westie chooses a sleeping area they will find a private space. Away from the family, this sleeping area will most likely be somewhat protected on three sides; they also like to “cover their backs” when they sleep. Naturally there are exceptions to the rule. If the dog is taught to be a bit of a lap dog, they will most likely be a lap dog. But the Westie is not a natural lap dog. They like to call the shots, so to speak.

The Westie likes to be taken along with the family whenever possible. They are friendly, and love people in general, especially children. They are very loyal to their families and prefer being with their owners/families whenever possible.

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Key Facts:
Size: Medium
Height: 53 - 64 cm (21 - 25 inches)
Weight: 22 - 30 kg (48.5 - 66 lb)
Life Span: 12 years
Grooming: Easy
Exercise: Medium
Feeding: Medium
Temperament: Fearless & lively
Country of Origin: Hungary
AKC Group: Sporting
Other Names: Magyar Vizsla, Drotszoru Magyar Vizsla

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Key Facts:
Size: Large
Height: 60 - 80 cm (23.5 - 31.5)
Weight: 36 - 51 kg (80 - 135 lb)
Life Span: 13 years
Grooming: Fairly demanding
Exercise: Demanding
Feeding: Reasonable
Temperament: Friendly & alert
Country of Origin: Italy
AKC Group: Not registered
Other Names: Spinone Italiano, Spinone

Temperament:
The Italian Spinone is hardy, affectionate and gentle-natured. Italian Spinones are docile, patient and love children. They have a good reputation as all-purpose gundogs and as family companions. Italian Spinones can have a mind of their own which can cause difficulties for training, but they do want to please their owner so long as too much isn’t asked of them. The Italian Spinone gets on well with strangers, other dogs and household pets.

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The head collar has become an increasingly popular dog training tool in the past couple of years. Two of the most well known brands of head collar on the market are the Gentle Leader and the Halti, but there are many other brands that incorporate the basic head collar concept.

Many people find the Gentle Leader easier to fit than the Halti, and in addition the Gentle Leader is designed to fasten around the Shih Tzu’s neck. The advantage of this design is that even if the Shih Tzu is somehow able to wriggle out of the muzzle, it is still wearing a collar. This safety feature is very important, especially during training outside or in novel situations. On the other hand, the Halti offers better control of the Shih Tzu.

Training a Shih Tzu with a head collar has a number of advantages over training with a traditional or training collar. For one thing, head collars are often easier to use for beginning dog trainers than are training collars. Head collars are also quite effective at preventing Shih Tzus from pulling, or controlling and retraining dogs that tend to pull.

Head collars can also be quite effective at controlling Shih Tzus in difficult situations, such as controlling a Shih Tzu that wants to be with other dogs. Most owners know of some situations in which their Shih Tzus are difficult to control, and head collars can be quite effective at controlling these volatile situations.

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Bringing home a new Shih Tzu puppy is always an exciting time. Introducing the new Shih Tzu puppy to the family should be fun for both yourself and your Shih Tzu puppy. One of the first challenges, however, to the excitement of the new Shih Tzu puppy, is curbing inappropriate Shih Tzu puppy behaviors.

Preventing biting and mouthing Biting and mouthing is a common activity for many young puppies and dogs. Puppies naturally bite and mouth each other when playing with siblings, and they extend this behavior to their human companions. While other puppies have thick skin, however, humans do not, so it is important to teach your Shih Tzu puppy what is appropriate, and what is not, when it comes to using those sharp teeth.

The first part of training the Shih Tzu puppy is to inhibit the biting reflex. Biting might be cute and harmless with a 5 pound Shih Tzu puppy, but it is neither cute nor harmless when that dog has grown to adulthood. Therefore, Shih Tzu puppies should be taught to control their bite before they reach the age of four months. Shih Tzu puppies normally learn to inhibit their bite from their mothers and their littermates, but since they are taken away from their mothers so young, many never learn this important lesson. It is therefore up to the humans in the Shih Tzu puppy’s life to teach this lesson.

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Shih-tzu the best lap dog period. The Shih-tzu is mostly known for its vibrant beauty, abounding energy, and imperial attitude. In fact, the Shih-tzu has become one of the most popular breeds among consumers searching for the unimaginably cute and playful puppy.

The Shih-tzu originates in China. It is believed that these tiny dogs originated in Tibet and then were brought to be bred in the City of Peking. The Shih-tzu quickly caught the eye of the Imperial Chinese court and were guarded protectively by their benevolent owners. Members of the Chinese royalty were so protective of the breed that it wasn’t until 1930 that the Shih-tzu debuted in Western civilization.

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Although disease affects all different breeds of dog, certain breeds are more prone to certain ailments than others, due to their particular anatomical structure, genetic make-up, or other factors. In this article, we will briefly describe some of the most common ailments that affect the Shih Tzu.

Eyes and Ears: Because of the anatomical structure of the Shih Tzu’s head, their eyes are especially vulnerable to being injured. This can be caused by collisions with foreign objects, encounters with other animals, rough play, etc. Eye injuries are probably the most avoidable of all ailments that affect the Shih Tzu and can be prevented to a large degree by providing a safe environment for the dog to play in, with special care taken to removal of potentially injurious objects. Shih Tzu should always be supervised when interacting with other animals and should discouraged from rough play. Another important preventive measure is to keep the eyes and eye area as clean as possible. Avoid allowing crustiness or dirt to accumulate. When grooming, it is recommended that the hair covering the eye area be left at a reasonable length as it protects the eyes from dirt and debris.

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It is one opinion in Shih Tzu History documentations that the Scandinavian imports were nearer to the direct imperial line, although those who brought the first Imperial Shih Tzu to the British Isles did so at about the same time. These early English and Irish fanciers acted according to the best knowledge available to them and went to very great trouble to secure the finest possible specimens of the breed. However, noted throughout Shih Tzu history, is the fact that a Danish couple were able to bring home a “palace-born” Imperial Shih Tzu.

A Shih Tzu named Lung-Fu-Ssu was one of the first three Shih Tzu to have been brought to Europe from Peking. A woman by the name of Miss Hutchins brought the black and white dog to Ireland in 1930 and exhibited him at the Cheltenham Show in 1933.

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