I just need to vent because this is driving me bonkers. My daughter's stepmother bought a yorkie from a pet shop a few years ago that died in 3 weeks. She then went back to the exact same store and bought another one, which became ill 3 months later. She raised holy heck with the pet store owner who begrudgingly gave her her money back and took the pup back. Can't imagine what it's fate was but I'm sure it wasn't good, not to mention the oh so compassionate stepmother who doesn't appear to have gotten too attached! 
She then went to a "good breeder" (can't imagine how she made that determination!) and got another yorkie. She had the brilliant idea she was going to breed it for a while, thankfully someone (my daughter and others I hope) talked her out of it because THE DOGS LEGS ARE SO BAD SHE CAN BARELY WALK AND THEY THOUGHT THE BIRTH WOULD BE TOO DIFFICULT ON HER!!!! 
They now think that the dog's quality of life is so low they may soon have to put her to sleep.
She later bought a shih tzu from another "good breeder". That dog is just over 2 years old and IT'S LIVER IS FAILING!!!!
She also has another young purebreed (can't remember which breed, small though) -- can't wait to see how long that one lasts.
How many dead dogs does it take to get through to this woman that what she's doing AIN'T WORKING?!?!?!?!?!?! And she married my ex, who went through the process of researching breeders and locating a very good Airedale when we were married, so it's not like they are oblivious to what to do!!! Then again, *I* was the one who did all the research and investigation when we got our Airedale, my ex is very much an instant gratification type, so they probably just scooped up the first puppy that caught their eye and wasn't too far a drive from their house.
GGGRRRRRRRRR!!!!! As long as people continue to shovel money into this mess, the substandard breeding and early deaths and suffering of these pups is not going to end! And I hear people at the dog park all the time say "I hope I got lucky with little foo foo, so many of my friends have gotten sick puppies from Pet Store X" which is the exact store they bought from!!! Why are people sooo stupid???? They wouldn't buy a car from a dealership who constantly sold cars that died the minute they left the lot, but they go to the pet shop that is NOTORIOUS in this town for selling pups that don't make it a month outside the store!!!
Okay, thanks for letting me get that off my chest!