A SPECIAL HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Hello all. Today is not only April Fools Day but also a very special day for my dear friend Judy. Judy is my web administrator and she is responsible for making my website and talking me into using this BLOG. Without her, I dont think we would be where we are today with sharing our yorkies and information. ((remember Emma?)

Join me in wishing her a very Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DOG SHOWS

The dog show season is kicking off. In April there are 2 shows in Springfield MA and in May there are shows in Maine. Visit www.infodog.com, click on the state and look for the shows. Confirmation shows generally have an AB at the beginning of them and O stands for Obedience. This site has allot of good information. I hope to see some friendly faces at some of them. I will be showing Key in Springfield on April 5th. Holly

OUR NAMESAKE GETTING SO BIG

Here is our beautiful granddaughter and of course our namesake., "Taylor" playing with the pups on Easter day.

BASKING IN THE SUN

See mom........we can be quiet and good sometimes!! We are here.......soaking up the sun..........

SPRING HAS SPRUNG???

Hi all, they say spring has sprung but to be honest with you it sure doesn't feel like it or look like it up in this neck of the woods!!! We still have tons of snow and the weather is COLD! I can remember many years that we had easter egg hunts in the field in front of my parents house but I have been up there recently and the only place you could hide eggs right now would be in the plowed driveway! Eventually the snow will melt and warmer weather WILL arrive.

Soon we will hear and see all the new birds returning and chirping and flowers peeking thru the earth. And GREEN GRASS instead of white snow. I can't wait and neither can the dogs.

Of course spring comes with additional work...........clean up. It is important to clean up all those little doo doo's that were left out there in the cold. We also treat the ground with some lime as well to help neutralize the area. Just be sure if you do it as well that you keep the dogs off the area until you have had a good rain.

Spring also brings the hatching of ticks. We have allot of ticks in our area. Mostly wood and deer ticks. Be sure to check your puppies if they have been outside. I have had a few reports that ticks are out already..............they must be getting hungry since winter is lasting so long!Remember to use your Frontline, a topical application on the skin.

Another thing to avoid is standing water. Standing water can harbor disease and problems for your dog. Never let your dog drink from mud puddles or standing water. Lepto and giardia are two diseases you dont want.

Now that I have put you all on alert.........LOL.........lets all try to enjoy spring.........the mud........and of course the good weather. Holly

THE SWEETEST EASTER WISH

Miss Lulu and her mom sent me this darling picture as an Easter wish. I would like to pass it along to all of you. Isn't she just a doll..........or is that a stuffed yorkie......... ??Lulu is the daughter of Abbie and Grady.
HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE!!!!!!! Holly

KELSI'S BIOPSY NEGATIVE

What a relief. Doc called me and Kelsi's biopsy from the mass they removed from her mammary tissue was benign and negative. It is not cancer. Thank you so much to everyone who showed their support and kept us in your thoughts and prayers. Holly

SECRET AND HER NEW MOM

A few weeks ago TMY made the decision along with Secrets first mom that she was going to stay too little to show and eventually breed. At 7 mo she barely weighed 3 lbs. Of course this decision was difficult. Secret has certainly been a breath of fresh air here at TMY. She is a fiesty, outgoing little girl. Right when we needed it, the very best MOM came thru our door. Carmila lost her beloved yorkie of 12 years a few weeks ago. Since that time she has longed for that forever love and companionship again. We were so happy that she found us and as you can see...........they both look extremely happy. Our blessings and hugs go to them both. HOlly

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KEY, ROSIE, MAX, JASPER AND ZACH!!! ONE YEAR OLD TODAY. Mom is Abbie and dad is Grady. WE LOVE YOU.........

KEY IN HIS JAMMIES.....

I had to take the pics quick. Key was not happy to have his picture taken in his satin jammies......actually it is called a wrap coat. It protects their show coat inbetween baths. He is so cute!

TOBY

Do any of you remember Toby? He is the son of Libby and Grady born November 2006. He has 3 sisters, Emma, Tia and Maddie. Such a handsome boy!! My understanding is that he just loves the snow. Toby resides with the O'Reileys and his half sister Rosie (Delia babe) in the Portland area. I just love getting updated pics! Holly

ANOTHER KELSI UPDATE

Kelsi is doing fine and seems to be feeling much better. Although she hates to "rest", I am making sure she does. She is eating well and the drains seem to be doing their job. Thanks again for all your support and prayers. Holly

JEORDIE AND DAD

Here is a picture of Jeordie and his new day outside. He lives in southern Maine. Jeordie is the son of Abbie and Grady born Nov. 23rd, 2007. Isn't he just the cutest ever.......!!!! Holly

KELSI UPDATE

Kelsi is home with us now. She tolerated the surgery and flew through it with flying colors. Although she is in quite a bit of pain this evening she is really doing well. She has 2 drains in and tons of staples from one end to the other. Doc had to take more tissue than expected. He called it a hyperplasia.........and hopefully it will be benign. The biopsy will be back in 8-10 days.
I am keeping a close eye on her and will give her some protein treats tonight for supper. Thank you to all who sent well wishes and kept her in your thoughts and prayers. I think I needed it more than her..........but tonight we both feel better. Hugs to all........Kelsi and Holly

KELSI SURGERY TODAY

About a week or so ago we noticed a mass on Kelsi's ribcage. We had it checked and she needs to have it removed. We are truly praying that is won't be cancer but we won't know until after the biopsys. Her bloodwork was excellent and her chest x-ray perfect, so today Kelsi is undergoing surgery to have the mass removed. They are calling it a mastectomy because of the mammary glands involved. Please keep Kelsi in your thoughts and prayers that the surgery goes well and that her recovery will be quick. Kelsi is 11 years old and there are many risks associated with her age, however her "young" attitude and good health should aid her in her recovery efforts. Thanks for your support. Holly

THEY DO GROW UP!!

I just can't believe how much they change and how beautiful they are. This is little Fenway. He was born in June '07 via C section to Delia. He was the smallest pup in the litter and just adorable. Look at him now..........9 mo old and a beautiful silk coat and handsome as can be!!!!!!!!! Thanks Meghan and Brad for the pic. Holly

MY NEW ADDITION!!!!!!!!!!

For my faithful readers, I know you all have been following my Blog and several times I mentioned about waiting on a new arrival. My Michigan trip was a huge success and I am ready now to tell you about it.

Anna has been working with me for 2 years to have a boy for me. Yes, my search has been for 2 years. Many breeder/show folks wont even consider you if you already have a breeding/show program up and running. Anna is 84 yrs old and has been breeding Yorkies, Maltese and Peke's for over 50 years. She has produced many many champions in all of her breeds and is such a wealth of knowledge. Several months ago she thought she had a little boy for me but his bite went off. I think I wrote about this in my Blog, but I had already booked a flight and visit out there so decided to go anyways to spend the week with my mentor. Anyways, to make a long story short, Anna had a 15 month old boy that she was showing. After spending time with me, she decided that she would sell him to me to carry on her lines. She also was truly happy that I will show him and try to finish him to his championship. You see I have some of her line in my girls. I AM SOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!! I have "Sutton" at home with me now. He is a complete doll and I am so happy with him. He has a beautiful rich dark steel blue coat and many confirmational attributes. I can't wait to debut him at some up and coming shows possibly in April. As soon as I get some great pictures of him I will put him on here. For now, here is one that shows his beautiful color. Holly

ECLIPSE OF THE MOON

Did you see the eclipse last week. We did and here are a few shots of it.......

OZZIE STYLING........

Ozzie is sure stylin' in his little coat. Mom, Lori is sure doating over this little boy and we don't blame her. Ozzie is the son of Ruby and Grady, and what a handsome boy he is!!! Enjoy. Holly

DELIA HOME FOR A VISIT

Delia has returned back to TMY for a visit. Her new dad is traveling due to work so when he has to be away she comes home. Delia hates the camera so it is really difficult to get good pictures of her. Delia is one of our moms who has produced some beautiful babies. She has a nice silk coat and awesome color. We will be breeding her again around May as she has been on sabbitical since her last litter in June 07. Delia was placed with Mike because she wants to be the "only" dog in the household, however, she is being pretty good tolerating everyone this time, but I bet she will be happy to return to her one on one time with her new dad..........Holly

BATH DAY-PRETTY PUPPIES

Saturdays is always a busy day for us. It's "bath" day. I would love to have a group picture taken when they are all clean, combed and spiffed up........but as you can see........right after they are spit shined they rub and mess themselves back up again........LOL In the first picture some of them are sleeping after their grooming apointment. Enjoy

OUR NAME: TAYLOR MADE YORKIES

When we decided to raise yorkies we also had to decide on a name. My husband "has the nack" and can think of great names for businesses. When we selected "Taylor Made Yorkies" a few things played into our decision.
1. The first thing was that my first grandchild was named Taylor. Since we had so much love for her and she brought us such wonderful joy, we thought it fitting to name our kennel after her.
2. The second thing that came to mind was that a "tailor" never mass produces anything. A tailor refines his intricate work and piece by piece creates a masterpiece. One by one, step by step hard work, dedication, creating something that everybody wants. A tailor hand picks each and every piece of fabric or leather he might be working with.........and with love, expertise and knowledge creates something beautiful. That is how we feel about our yorkies. Each and every one is hand picked, loved and nurtured .............. a beautiful masterpiece created to share.

Hence the name we chose. Now, on occasion I use TMY instead of typing out Taylor Made Yorkies..........but it is who we are and we are proud of how we selected our name. We will not be changing it. HOlly

WHAT SETS US APART-PUPPY MILLS PART 2

I think now is a good time to talk about what sets TMY apart from most breeders and especially puppy mills? It is hard to find a reputable breeder and one who will be there for you after you take your puppy home. I hope you find the following information valuable, and even though you might make the decision to buy your furbaby from someone else, be sure to ask them if they do the following things:
1. Our yorkies live in our house, are part of our family and are treated as such. In fact just recently we purchased a king sized bed as the bed was getting too crowded.......lol. We do have kennel cages that are used for naps, nighttime with some of our younger pups and for segregation and safety if needed. They need to be kennel trained and know that it is a safe place. It also helps with potty training.......
2. We only have yorkies, no other breed. We have had them for 11 years, but started our program about 5 years ago.
3. All of our dogs get exquisite veterinary care. They go as needed, are immunized properly and have what they need. Our vet is So. Maine Vet Care. Feel free at any time to call and speak directly to Dr Hutchins if you would like. 207 499-7244.
4. We do not breed our girls every season. We evaluate their health, weight and look at the size litter they had at the last breeding and determine whether or not we should breed them, what they call "back to back". We call their rest time when they are not going to bred "on sabbitical".
5. We provide a written health guarantee for a full year, however, we want to know if anything comes up for health issues as we feel strongly want to support you and will help you with whatever we can. We have never had any congential or heredity issues such as livershunt. Hopefully we never will, but if it did rear it's ugly head, we would certainly evaluate the situation and help you either by refunding your money or taking the pup back. Each situation would be treated appropriately.
6. Every pup that leaves TMY is sold on a spay/neuter agreement. We never want our pups to end up in a puppy mill or be abused. Would we ever sell with full rights? Yes to a reputable show home with contingencies.
7. Our pups are not sent home with new parents until they are totally weaned and well socialized. In fact, there have been pups we have kept until 16 weeks to ensure their ability to tolerate change.
8. We screen and decide if YOU are a candidate to purchase one of our pups. We want to be sure that you will be a great home and that our pups will have the best. We just don't sell to anyone....
9. We show our best in AKC confirmation shows to promote our dogs and to gain experience in the breed. I also belong to the York County Kennel Club and am very active in it.
10. We are here for you 24/7 with issues, problems or otherwise regarding your puppy. Just call or email me.
11. We assist others with finding good information on issues as well. I have also assisted other folks to find reputatable breeders in their area.
12. Every preganancy we do an x-ray after 54 days, not to find out how many pups we can sell, but to look at size, positioning and to know how many in case birth issues arise or a long delivery happens. If my girl needs a C -Section we are on top of it and SMVC remains on call in case.
13. We have a Yorkie family reunion every year when we invite everyone who has one of my pups or dogs to come home and have a day of fun.
14. We believe in and follow the AKC standard. In fact, in any breeding program a reputable breeder will evaluate what they are doing, the outcomes etc and make necessary changes. Hence the reason to "travel" and purchase new dogs to add to their show and breeding program and work to improve what they are doing and the pups they are producing. A puppy mill is not going to spend hard earned money to go out of State to evaluate a dog before bringing it home or buying it..........
15. I network with other Yorkie breeders and show people to learn and to provide support. I have had a mentor for 5 years now and she has been breeding yorkies for over 40 years.
16. All dogs and pups are put on NuVet vitamins and stay on them their whole life. We also provide great nutrition for them, feeding Royal Canin 30, 33 and adult Yorkshire Terrier and Purina One.
17. We have a huge fenced in area of lawn for our dogs and pups to play and exercise.
18. We do not provide stud service for outside breedings at this time.
19. We want you to come and visit us, to meet the dogs, meet us and for us to meet you. Just give us a call........
20. WE LOVE OUR DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could go on and on but I think all of you get the idea on why TMY has a great reputation and is being so successful. Did I tell you..........WE LOVE OUR DOGS!!!! Give us a call and come to see us. You will fall in love too. Holly

NEW POST BELOW ON PUPPY MILLS-PLEASE READ

PICS OF MY GIRLS

This is my little sunshine "Daizie" daughter of Grady and Abbie. She is very outgoing and full of pee and vinegar.........

Miss Sierra listening to her mom telling her to pose pretty.........
Fallon, daughter of Ruby and Grady is in the front, with Daizie in the back.........so cute!!!

DURSEY GRADUATED!!!

I just heard from Monica and Dursey graduated from Advanced Basics on Monday night and also won the Lil' Competition on Stays!!!!!!!!! Congratualations Dursey and Monica!!!!

DURSEY UPDATE

Do you remember Dursey? Dursey is the son of Grady and Delia from her 2007 June litter and he went to live with Monica and Gia down in New Hampshire. I just receieved a wonderful update from them. Gia is a sheltie who is a registered Pet Partner and a READ certified therapy dog. They both take such good care of him. Dursey goes to school and has graduated from puppy kindergarten and is almost done Advanced basics and will soon be starting puppy agility classes. ( He loves this part)
I am told he just loves school!!!! At this time, Gia is helping him get ready for the CGC exam. He can heel, sit, stand and down. His stays are up to one minute. I am told he loves everyone and has the "Gift of Happiness".
What a nice letter I received and I am so happy that he is doing so well. We will keep you posted as he becomes certified and advances in his training......... Holly

ROULEAU TESTIMONIAL

Dear Holly,

I wanted to write you a note to let you know how thrilled we are with our puppy Ozzy. Having six years experience in the veterinary field as a vet tech I know the importance of responsible breeding and socialization. I had witnessed the fallout from puppy mills and pet store pups first hand and it was heartbreaking. When we started our search for a puppy well over a year ago we knew that we were going to be tough customers when it came to picking our breeder. When we first met you last year at the Breeder Forum in Saco I remember that you made everyone who touched your puppies sanitize their hands first. I thought that was amazing! No one else there had asked for that and it showed such a high level of detail to the health and welfare of those pups. All the puppies and Ruby were so friendly and had such wonderful dispositions I thought..”Ok here is some one who cares about her dogs.”

When the time was right we filled out your questionnaire and were so happy we were approved to get one of your puppies. When we made our visit to your home we fell in love with all of your dogs and was amazed at how clean and organized your home was. It was really great to be able to see Ozzy’s Mom Ruby and meet his Dad Grady.

Ozzy has been such a joy to us. I get stopped by people who comment on how beautiful, outgoing and happy he is. We seem to have avoided so many of the puppy problems because you took the time to work with each of those pups before they went to their new homes. He stands quietly for his bath, nails, brushing and clipping. He sleeps through the night in his crate and we are well on the way at 12 weeks to being fully housebroken. He has already learned to sit and we’re working on the come command.

Everyday we wake up to that happy little wagging Yorkie tail and think how lucky we are. In a day when so many people breed dogs just to make money it is so wonderful to see some one who does it for the love of the breed and the desire to produce quality puppies. I would recommend to anyone who was looking for a puppy to contact you. We are already looking to add to our Yorkie family in the future and will definitely be requesting one of your puppies! If anyone is interested in one of your puppies and would like to contact me for a reference please feel free to give them my email address: lrouleau67@hotmail.com


Sincerely,

Lori & Paul Rouleau (and Ozzy!)

Thank you so much Lori and Paul. Yes, this is a time when even responsible breeders are being scrutinized and "accused". Your thoughtful comments and testimonial just make it all better! We are so happy you are part of our family now, for the welfare and perfect homes for my puppies is top on my list......and little Ozzie has one of the best!!! Holly

WEBSITE DOWN

We recently have had server problems with the website. If you can't bring up the home page, type in Taylor Made Yorkies on google and click on the blog title and you will be able to get in. I will be checking on it later today to see if it has been resolved. Sorry for the inconvenience. Holly

SULLIVAN TESTIMONIAL

“Holly is one of the nicest, warmest, Yorkie-loving people that I have ever met. Her home is full of gorgeous, well-groomed, and obviously, well loved Yorkies. Our new puppy is an absolute DOLL! Today was his first vet visit and the doctor was very impressed with the paperwork received from Holly and the care he had been given. He commented that he was a perfect specimen; a happy, healthy, well socialized little guy. When (not if) we are ready for our next Yorkie baby, we’ll surely call Taylor Made Yorkies”.

Thank you to the Sullivan family for finding us and for the nice quote about out Yorkie family. We look forward to seeing them again at the Yorkie family reunion this summer! Holly

PUPPY MILLS-PUPPY FARMS-PART 1

Recently Maine has raided and rescued hundreds of dogs from 3 puppy mills that were in deplorable conditions. My understanding is that these animals were in horrible condition, many were sick and uncared for. Thin, starving, parasite infested and some near death.........For the life of me, I cannot imagine how anyone could ever do this to any type of animal. Those people responsible deserve nothing less than Jail and fines and they must lose their right to ever own an animal again......... I would like to see the State seize their property to pay back the thousands of dollars it took to care for these animals after they were rescued.

New legislation is in the works here in Maine. My own Club (YCKC) is helping the State with those new regulations. The Federation here in Maine is also highly involved. I believe that new regulations are needed along with input from those of us who care. It must be carefully constructed so that it does not impose impossible aspects for breeders who are reputable and truly care about their dogs.

I have asked myself, what consitutes a "puppy mill"? The State does not have a definitive answer........ Wikipedia on the web has a wonderful write up on the subject. Below are some excerpts from it:
"Puppy mills (also known as puppy farms outside of the United States) are large-scale dog breeding facilities that operate under substandard breeding conditions that provoke the development of chronic health problems, temperamnet issues, and hereditary defects. They are overcrowded and kept in unsanitary conditions. They usually do not receive adequate food, water or veterinary care. Females are often forced to breed every time in heat to increase profits. Mill dogs are weaned from their mothers well before 8-10 weeks of age. While puppies may come with pedigrees, the pedigree itself is neither an indication of quality nor authenticity. The pups are poorly socialized and often have disease are sick and have hereditary defects. They often will also have temperment problems. The vast majority of puppy mill dogs are sold to pet stores by "dealers"." However this is not always the case, nor do some mills even breed more that one type of dog.........


I think all of this is valuable information. I think all of us need to realize that Puppy mills do exist and that we need to think about who we sell our dogs to and who we are buying dogs from. I think that we all should realize exactly why one should never buy from a petstore.......as it just supports these puppy mills. Find a reputable breeder..........

More to come in: Part 2 Holly

PRICELESS

"IT'S TIME TO GET UP MOM!!!!!!!! HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SO MUCH YORKIE LOVE IN ALL YOUR LIFE???? This is priceless..........love you Les!

DO YOU REMEMBER?

Do you remember Dani Lynn?
Do you remember Brie? Dani Lynn's sister?
Here is Lulu.........she just went home with Norma a few weeks ago.

LAYLA GOES HOME

Little Layla (not sure if i spelled it right) went home today with her new mom and dad. She is not going to be far from me so hopefully I will be able to see her every now and again. We just have the BEST families coming into our lives.......thank you so much!!! Holly

I AM SO AMAZED!!!

Just when you least expect it, the amazing happens again. This wonderful family found me through chatting on a yorkie chat site. I was told TMY was spoke highly about and this is why they called me. Our last little boy, now named Riley is in his new home and already has a new friend Crosby the black lab.

Thank you so much to all of you who have faith in us as a Yorkie breeder and as a Yorkie lover. I have said it over and over........sharing these little guys with the right families gives me so much happiness and makes it all worth it...........Holly

ARE WE SOCIALIZED???

Socialization is a major part of raising your pup. If we think about it, there is more to it then just playing with your furbaby. Socialization and exposures can make the difference between your puppy being scared with every new exposure or even being able to take him/her with you in the car. While your pup is little, introduce him to other people. Let them talk to him, hold him and play with him. After his 3rd set of shots, puppy kindergarten is a great place to go to expose him to other dogs and puppies. In the meantime, take him in the car with you, and carry him around in pet friendly stores such as the pet stores. Allow people to see him, touch him but i would recommend not putting him on the floors until he is immunized fully. When the weather gets better and again he is protected, the mall is a great place to go. Walking outside in the parking lot on a leash where there is sounds and other vehicles, the airport, dog shows etc. If you walk your pup on the sidewalk in your neighborhood, be careful with approaching big dogs. Often a big dog will not tolerate a smaller dog and dont forget, your yorkie is bred to be fearless and you don't want something to happen .......one bite could be devastating. Expose him to new sounds, lawnmowers, snowblowers, clanging pans, construction sounds. The more you do and the more exposures they get, the better they will travel and be socialized. Talk to friends about having a get together with their puppies or dogs in a common place. Be sure all dogs are on a lead to start with and let them sniff and become acquainted. Good luck and if any of you have other ideas let me know. HOlly

HAPPY FAMILIES

Two happy families taking their little guys home. Both are going locally so we are hopeful to see them often and to hear how they are progressing. Best wishes from TMY!!!!

FASHION DESIGN

We had fun in Alabama taking dress up pictures with Staceys dogs. sorry the one is side to but I couldn't get it to turn after it downloaded on here. Holly

ALASKAN DOG CAKE

I just got this recipe and the dogs absolutely love it. Great for mom's when they have just whelped and at shows when the dogs don't eat well. Here is the recipe 1/2 batch. Makes a large pan.

21 eggs 1.5 lb ground beef (can use half ground turkey) 2 Tablespoons salt 1/4 cup dark molasses 4 oz tomato juice 3/4 lb cottage cheese 1/2 cup wheat germ 1/2 cup yellow corn meal 1 cup powdered milk 1.5 cups old fashioned oatmeal
opt. small can of canned salmon 1 tablespoon minced garlic

bake at 325 for 1 hour-90 min in a large pan. Spray pan with cooking oil before putting in mixture.

Freezes and keeps well.

SIERRA

BACK HOME WITH MY SOUTHERN BELLE

Hi, ya'all........three days down in sunny Alabama and I can draaaaawwwwwllllll with the best of them!!! In all seriousness, I had the most wonderful trip. Everyone was so nice and my hostess Leslie was super.......I was in yorkie heaven when I was there. We groomed and shared ideas, ate King Cake (oh how luscious!!) and more. Sierra faired the plane ride fine. We both were exhausted and as you can see in the first picture...she is snuggled up with some of the family sleeping back here in Maine. She is a real sweetie and we love her. She doesn't quite know what to make of the snow yet...... but she will get used to it. I will put on some good pics of her as soon as we have time. The other pics are some of Leslies dogs.