Yorkies and small children

[Kari]

I have seen several breeders and people here who post that say yorkies are not good around small children. WHY? This really bothers me......I understand accidents happen and yorkies are small and fragile. Children trip and fall, well so do adults. I know not as often as children but it does happen. So that leaves me wondering the difference between cats and yorkies, they are just as small if not smaller and fragile but yet they go to homes with small children. I guess that has me a bit confused. Then we get to the point where people say children don't understand to respect animals. This goes back to how they are being taught. If they are being taught to love and be gentle then more than likely that's how they act but if they see parent ruff housing the animals then they will.
Yes I am a Momma of 4 amazing children that are all kind and loving children(every moms thinks so) I can't speak for all children but i know mine and i have seen them interact with all breeds of animals and they are tremendous and thought full of animals amazes me at their ages.

I know i may catch some grief for this but this is just my thoughts. Sorry if it upsets anyone.

[Dawn125]

Well as far as cats vs yorkies go, I think cats are much more agile (you know he old story - cats always land on their feet). I know when I first got my yorkie there were a couple of times I bent to put her down and didn't quite bend over far enough and she kinda tumbled when she hit the ground . She is my first tiny dog and I've had lots of cats and I just wasn't used to handling a little dog. Mine isn't all that small (almost 6 lbs) but some of the people on this board describe broken legs from jumping off a bed or couch. Have you even heard of that happening to a cat?

As far as kids go, your kids may be very conscientious and gentle. However, lots of kids are not that gentle all the time and can be a bit clumsy.

[shelbysmom]

Cats don't run and play with children, Yorkies do. Most are too tiny and bones too fragile, they get stepped on and they get killed. If you want a Yorkie, get a big one. Many litters include larger ones and they are less expensive.

[chloeandj]

I have 2 young children and we all do fine. We have never had an incident. To me it has a lot to do with making rules and making sure they are followed. I am a very aware mother. I have seen a lot of parents let their children treat the dog like a stuffed animal. My husband on the other hand needs to learn to walk with his eyes to the ground as he has accidentally stepped on them on occasion.

[Itspuppyluv]

I think it depends on the child. I have a niece that I feel very comfortable letting Gus around. She is such a little lady, always quiet, has to be dressed perfectly, sits and plays. I would not have gotten a yorkie when my own kids were that age. They were pure energy, running around, jumping...it would have been an accident waiting to happen.

[txshopper73]

Depends on the kids. Kids that are well...kids usually play, jump, run. This can scare a pup half to death! Not to mention accidents that could happen.

HONEST TO GOD STORY! Breeder friend sold a pup to a family with a young child...I'm thinking 4-5 years old. ANYWAY, week later, breeder received a phone call and they said the child had strangled the pup and they wanted to get their money back...as if the dog was a toy that got broken! Then, when she told them heck no, they asked if they could buy another pup from her. She very politely hung up the phone.

[Kari]

I guess its the generalization that people make regarding children and yorkies that upsets me. As far as the yorkie we are looking for, yes we are looking for a larger one. I would be a ball of nerves if i had a tiny running around. We have been prepping so to speak our children how to teach a pupy and are laying ground rules. I am a SAHM so time is all i have with them and with the puppy as well. We got a stuffed animal and we are even working with one lil guy showing how to be nic to it. Its so cute cuz if it is laying out he will lay next to it and stroke and giggle.

In my eyes that 4-5 year old should have known how to handle animal atleast i would hope so a 2 year old is questionable but with the proper guidance and parents that are awarei am sure it would be a win win solution.

[Carters Mom]

When my granddaughter wanted a "Carter dog", our concern was not her being a 4-yr-old, because she is a very mature child, but her almost 1-yr-old brother was. With Bryce just having learned to walk, it was a risk with him falling and crushing a potential pet. Yorkies follow kids . . . child stands up in the middle of the room . . . falls back to the ground . . . puppy smashed. We waited until Bryce mastered walking.

We did end up getting them a yorkie of their own but opted for one that is larger than my three. Sebastian is 5 1/2 pounds at 8 months but we really thought he was going to be larger than that. Bryce and Sebastian are the best buddies and are partners in crime. What was supposed to be Jordan's puppy is really Bryce's.

I think it really depends on the family situation. Having a SAHM, in my opinion, is a plus over those situations where there are children and a mom who works outside the house.

[Brutus'mama]

I think it all depends on the family. I had a breeder tell me he never sells his yorkies to kids under 12. It kind of pissed me off since he never even met me or my kids to make such a general statement but on the other hand he told me that he had a family come look at a puppy and the 3 yr. old picked up the puppy dropped him and broke his leg. So I can see where he's coming from.

My kids are very well behaved with animals and they know there's rules. I have a 5 and 6 yr old and they have never even picked Brutus up. When he was small I let them sit on the floor with him to play. But I also have friends with kids who I would never trust alone with Brutus or any animal for that matter. And as for tripping and stepping on Brutus my kids never did but I sure have!

[bosslady]

We always had small dogs when my kids were growing up. Maybe not as small as some Yorkies, but small, ie: poodle, silky, Lhaso Apso, Sheltie. As well as big outside dogs. My children (2 girls & a boy) were taught to love and take good care of our animals and to never hurt them. (We also had cats, long haired Guinea pigs, fish, a bird and other various pets) They are grown now and have given me 8 grandchildren who also have pets. One household with 4 children has a Yorkie and cat. One household has 2 little Pomeranians, and one has 2 cats. My grandchildren love my 2 furbabies and would never hurt them and my furbabies adore my grandchildren and love it when they are with them.

It depends on the children and how closely the parents watch them around the small pets and how they teach the children.
My sister brought her two grandchildren over to my house one day and her 2 1/2 yr old grandson walked over and tried to kick Jasmine for no reason. My husband was furious and really jumped on him. My kids and grandkids would never have done that as they love animals.
I can understand the breeders concern as they don't know how the children will be with their precious babies, but you can't generalize and say all families with children should not have Yorkies.

[hunniebunnie]

i think it is a general assessment that yorkies are not good for small children. not knowing the child and how the child will behave around small animals, you run the risk of the child treating the yorkie like it was as durable as a stuffed animal as opposed to a fragile, living creature.

i think responsible breeders are just acting upon the odds that a small child will not be able to discern the difference between a stuffed animal and live animal, and put the life and welfare of the yorkie at risk. it's even a higher risk when the breeder is not local and cannot observe how a prospective buyer's young child/children interact with puppies. sometimes a parent's claim that his/her child/children will be good with the puppy is just not enough. (kinda like a breeder's word that the puppy is purebred and healthy but with no paperwork to prove it, is just not enough for the buyer).

of course every child and every family is different. i've had my puppy around several little kids before, supervised of course. some are very good and listen when told to pet with an open palm and to be very very gentle. but i also had one who started to pull on bunjee's hair despite being told by her parents to be gentle. bunjee yelped and afterwards, kept barking at the little girl whenever she got close to him.

[bosslady]

I totally understand the breeders concern and would probably feel very apprehensive about letting my puppies go to a family with small children. I would certainly want to know the family and observe them with their children.
Working for a public school for 31 years has certainly taught me that even though there are still many good parents who try to teach their children morals, values, manners, compassion etc., they do seem to be getting fewer all the time.
I can't imagine letting Jasmine spend time with children I did not know or could supervise around her. She is so sweet and trusting with my grandchildren and loves them so much I would hate to think some child would be mean to her.
On the other hand, my children and grandchildren have certainly benefitted from having pets in their lives. It has taught them to love animals and has helped teach them love, responsibility, nurturing.

[SnowWa]

Thought I might mention this ---

Abuse can work both ways (keep this in mind if you have a little toddler).

When my sister's daughter was about 2 years old, they got a little puppy that, of course, went through the teething stage. And, during this time, the puppy was constantly playing with, jumping on, and biting and chewing on the poor little girl. It was hard to keep the puppy away from the little girl and it was torture for this little toddler. For quite a while, the two certainly didn't enjoy the cuddly play that the parents had hoped for. I remember her saying that one of them (either the pup or the child) had to be in the playpen most of the time.

Sometimes waiting until children are a little older -- helps the child!

Carol Jean

[yorkiepip]

I have an 11 year old and a 6 year old and we have no trouble at all.

[Yorkie Mum]

My girl comes to work.
I work as a Nanny- 3 kids under 7 years old. Taken her to a job 3 kids under 8. I have had her with triplets age 7. A Job with two teens it was the teens I had strong words with over teasing my dog.
My girl has her rules and my current kids their rules.
If someone breaks the rules a simple stop in play happens and separation.
As both like being around each other takes once.
My girl listens better to the kids then many adults other then me.
The Kids know the rules are for their safety as well as my girl's safety.
My kids are taught all living things have a job and a right to be here.
To kill a ant or spider stops it from doing it's job.
To hurt an animal is wrong as they feel too.
All living things have a value.
As far as accidents I have stepped on both my girl's paws far more rushing around than any of my human kids ever have.
I have seen adults be far more rough with a animal then I have ever seen a kid. Ever watch a yank and correct trainer and it is called training so it ok.

Joy