Is a Yorkie right for me? Need your input. - YorkieTalk.com Forums

zatorskijoan · 02-27-2006, 01:23 AM

Is a Yorkie right for me?H
Hello. This is my first post. I've come here because I'm trying to find the right breed for me and I need help. Our situation is this:
we have a 9 yr old Cairn Terrier, Max, who has a tumor and may not be with us much long. He's been the "children's dog" --the "children" are now all away at college, except our 15 yr.old son, who loves Max, but understands his health situation. He does not want to be responsible for another dog.
Our two year old CAVALIER King Charles Spaniel was supposed to be "Mom's Little Girl". Who knew she'd fall in love with my husband?! She is clearly his baby...So here I am, with an almost-empty nest, and I really want a small dog to go with me everywhere, to fuss over, talk with, go for walks with. Small Problem: I have a severe level of fibromyalgia, a muscular/neurological disorder. Many days I can only rest on the sofa or bed, consumed by fatigue. So, I need a dog who could easily adjust to some days being at home, as a couch potato, and other days walking in the park, shopping, etc. I know I want a small, very small dog who is very portable...one that can easily go into a carrier and come along with me. I also would like it to be very affectionate and not afraid of strangers. I'd like a happy, receptive, loving personality. Is a Yorkie a dog that would be happy living like this with me? Would my expectations regarding personality match a Yorkie or would my hopes make her feel unaccepted? Am I looking into the right breed for me or should I look elsewhere? I want to make the right decision because I believe a dog is forever. Please help with your input. Thanks. Joan in Arizona

alona1 · 02-27-2006, 01:42 AM

Hi,

Welcome to YT! Im sorry to hear about your problems but you have come to the right place for advice.

I would say a yorkie is very adaptable. Tino doesnt mind what we do, he loves cuddling up with us on the couch and if we are busy, he will play with his toys on the floor.

But also when we go out he loves all the new smells and commotion and new people to kiss and smell. I think a yorkie would be great for you and the affection they give is unbelievable. I say go for it!

Good Luck in your search!

londonteatime · 02-27-2006, 01:50 AM

Hi Joan!!!!

Gosh, I so totally know where you're coming from! I have Lupus, Scleroderma and Fibromyalgia and I had to quit work in December. My only child is leaving for college at the end of the summer and I so wanted a sweet little dog for companionship. I have mobility problems (use a cane or walker) and also suffer from severe fatigue, pain and other issues.

I tried to adopt a Yorkie but the rescues were like "thanks but no thanks" due to my disability. I thought an older dog would be best and I could offer a lovely home to a Yorkie who needed one! I'm still a bit upset that they didn't find me "worthy" just because I move slowly and need two naps every day! The things I can't do -- like lift heavy things, do fine, dexterous tasks like buttons, and such -- have no impact on my ability to care for a small dog!

Anyhow, I went to a pet store just to look on Tuesday and they had a 6-month-old, 9-pound Yorkie they said they hadn't been able to sell because he is "too big and too old." I fell in love with him immediately and they sold him to me for what amounted to an adoption fee. He is beautiful and sweet and healthy!

We are doing GREAT!!!!! He just seems to sense that mummy needs him and he makes me laugh so much! He is full of fun and his tail is constantly wagging! When I take my naps, he is lying right by my side and won't get up until I do. Such a sweet boy! I do put him in a crate at night, though, because I am very unsteady when I wake up in the morning and I want to make sure he is safe and away from mischief until I am ready to let him out.

He's a good size and a good age. I don't think a tiny one would be good because he or she might be scared of my cane and walker -- Bobby isn't fazed one bit. He follows me wherever I go and is always by my side.

I'm sure you have a fenced-in yard for your other babies -- that is so important! Bobby is doing pretty well with his potty training, especially since he was in a cage for most of his life! He doesn't poopy in the house and right now he has maybe two little wee accidents all day. It's coming along great, though!

I say, Go for it! You'll find the right baby and he or she will be a wonderful companion!

Julie

alaskayorkie · 02-27-2006, 01:55 AM

I'm really torn on what advice to give you. I think you'd LOVE the breed. Yorkies are affectionate and loving and smart. But they also have a tendency to be frisky, especially in the first year. I can envision some days when you want to relax and the Yorkie wants to play. I would imagine your Cairn shares some of those traits.

That said, I still think you'd love the breed. Especially if you have anyone around the house who might walk him or give him (or her) a little attention on your worst days.

Good luck! Hopefully others will have better advice.

AsCeNsIoN · 02-27-2006, 01:56 AM

Hello Joan

Sorry to hear about Max

God bless him.

I'm a new Yorkie owner myself, and I'm not sure I'm the best one to answer your question as I don't have a whole lot of experience with the breed yet. But I'll just share my brief experiences with you, as I'm sure the other members will help with some advice too.

I've got a 5 and a Bit month old female Yorkie called Mitzi. She's an absolute joy. I've found her to be gentle and affectionate, and at times a crazy little fur ball

She is the BEST with my little niece who is still only 6 months old. When they visit, Mitzi just sits next to her on the sofa and sniffs her occasionally

On the whole I think Yorkies are very intelligent and adapt to our lifestyles so easily it amazes me. She plays when I have time and she sleeps or plays alone when I'm busy. She loves cuddles and is a little softy

They are such characters, that I'm sure a Yorkie would brighten up your life as Mitzi did mine

I'm sure the other members can help you out with some more factual info, but as for me, I'm just your basic newbie and can only speak from the heart, LoL! Yorkies are the BEST!! I'm afraid I'm biased, LoL!

scrapbetter · 02-27-2006, 02:02 AM

I do not have my yorkie yet...so I am not much help to you...but I have found a TON of great information on this forum that helped me decide what was best for me...
Good luck and welcome!
Brenda

londonteatime · 02-27-2006, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

I'm really torn on what advice to give you. I think you'd LOVE the breed. Yorkies are affectionate and loving and smart. But they also have a tendency to be frisky, especially in the first year. I can envision some days when you want to relax and the Yorkie wants to play. I would imagine your Cairn shares some of those traits.

That said, I still think you'd love the breed. Especially if you have anyone around the house who might walk him or give him (or her) a little attention on your worst days.

Good luck! Hopefully others will have better advice.

I've found that even if I'm not up to actively playing, I can supervise and he loves being a clown and then running over to me for loving before running off to play some more!

I have LOTS of toys and things to do for Bobby -- I have a shallow box with old newspapers and he absolutely loves to step in and dig, dig, dig! He tears around with his stuffed animals and tosses his chewy toys. On pain-filled days, I just keep him in the same room I'm lying down in, talk to him, pet him and watch him play. He does really well!

Julie

Jaspermom · 02-27-2006, 04:56 AM

Joan, I think a Yorkie would be perfect for you and your situation. The only caution I would give is if you really want the pup to be socialable, you will have to make an effort to get him/her around strangers as soon as your baby has had shots. In my experience, Yorkies will sometimes bond so strongly with their human that they will be overprotective and a little snippy with strangers.

Good luck with your decision! Welcome to YT!

bosslady · 02-27-2006, 05:09 AM

I have read others say their Yorkie is not very socialable, but my Jasmine is very, very socialable. She loves everyone including children.
I agree that they probably need to be around people including children at a young age. Jasmine has always been. I bring her to work with me some and my grandchildren are around frequently.

Jasmine seems to adjust to my mood. Saturday I was gone all day but my husband had my grandchildren all day. He said the kids & dogs played all day and had a blast. The dogs let them brush them and put bows in their hair and they had a dog show. Sunday I was tired and was a couch potato all day. Jasmine just laid on the couch with me and Murphy did too.

I think a Yorkie would be fine for you, but prepared to be totally smitten by your little one as Yorkies have a way of doing that.

02-27-2006, 01:23 AM	#1
zatorskijoan No Longer a Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 15	Is a Yorkie right for me? Need your input. Is a Yorkie right for me?H Hello. This is my first post. I've come here because I'm trying to find the right breed for me and I need help. Our situation is this: we have a 9 yr old Cairn Terrier, Max, who has a tumor and may not be with us much long. He's been the "children's dog" --the "children" are now all away at college, except our 15 yr.old son, who loves Max, but understands his health situation. He does not want to be responsible for another dog. Our two year old CAVALIER King Charles Spaniel was supposed to be "Mom's Little Girl". Who knew she'd fall in love with my husband?! She is clearly his baby...So here I am, with an almost-empty nest, and I really want a small dog to go with me everywhere, to fuss over, talk with, go for walks with. Small Problem: I have a severe level of fibromyalgia, a muscular/neurological disorder. Many days I can only rest on the sofa or bed, consumed by fatigue. So, I need a dog who could easily adjust to some days being at home, as a couch potato, and other days walking in the park, shopping, etc. I know I want a small, very small dog who is very portable...one that can easily go into a carrier and come along with me. I also would like it to be very affectionate and not afraid of strangers. I'd like a happy, receptive, loving personality. Is a Yorkie a dog that would be happy living like this with me? Would my expectations regarding personality match a Yorkie or would my hopes make her feel unaccepted? Am I looking into the right breed for me or should I look elsewhere? I want to make the right decision because I believe a dog is forever. Please help with your input. Thanks. Joan in Arizona

02-27-2006, 01:55 AM	#4
alaskayorkie Banning Thread Dictator Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anchorage Posts: 30,843 Blog Entries: 57	I'm really torn on what advice to give you. I think you'd LOVE the breed. Yorkies are affectionate and loving and smart. But they also have a tendency to be frisky, especially in the first year. I can envision some days when you want to relax and the Yorkie wants to play. I would imagine your Cairn shares some of those traits. That said, I still think you'd love the breed. Especially if you have anyone around the house who might walk him or give him (or her) a little attention on your worst days. Good luck! Hopefully others will have better advice. __________________ Mike ~ Doting Dad to Jillie, Harper, Molly, Cooper, Eddie (RIP), Lucy (RIP), Rusty (RIP) and Jack (RIP). Check us out on YouTube

02-27-2006, 01:56 AM	#5
AsCeNsIoN Miss MitZi's Mama Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tunisia, North Africa Posts: 758	Hello Joan Sorry to hear about Max God bless him. I'm a new Yorkie owner myself, and I'm not sure I'm the best one to answer your question as I don't have a whole lot of experience with the breed yet. But I'll just share my brief experiences with you, as I'm sure the other members will help with some advice too. I've got a 5 and a Bit month old female Yorkie called Mitzi. She's an absolute joy. I've found her to be gentle and affectionate, and at times a crazy little fur ball She is the BEST with my little niece who is still only 6 months old. When they visit, Mitzi just sits next to her on the sofa and sniffs her occasionally On the whole I think Yorkies are very intelligent and adapt to our lifestyles so easily it amazes me. She plays when I have time and she sleeps or plays alone when I'm busy. She loves cuddles and is a little softy They are such characters, that I'm sure a Yorkie would brighten up your life as Mitzi did mine I'm sure the other members can help you out with some more factual info, but as for me, I'm just your basic newbie and can only speak from the heart, LoL! Yorkies are the BEST!! I'm afraid I'm biased, LoL! __________________ HeLeN - The DiVa's MuM MiTZi - The DoGGy DiVa!

02-27-2006, 02:02 AM	#6
scrapbetter Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 192	I do not have my yorkie yet...so I am not much help to you...but I have found a TON of great information on this forum that helped me decide what was best for me... Good luck and welcome! Brenda __________________ Two kids, two dogs, a cat and a fish and that's IT!

02-27-2006, 04:56 AM	#8
Jaspermom Yorkies Rock My World! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,721	I vote yes! Joan, I think a Yorkie would be perfect for you and your situation. The only caution I would give is if you really want the pup to be socialable, you will have to make an effort to get him/her around strangers as soon as your baby has had shots. In my experience, Yorkies will sometimes bond so strongly with their human that they will be overprotective and a little snippy with strangers. Good luck with your decision! Welcome to YT! __________________ Glad Mom to Jasper, Wosie & Dreama, RIP sweet babies.

02-27-2006, 01:42 AM	#2
alona1 YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 312	Hi, Welcome to YT! Im sorry to hear about your problems but you have come to the right place for advice. I would say a yorkie is very adaptable. Tino doesnt mind what we do, he loves cuddling up with us on the couch and if we are busy, he will play with his toys on the floor. But also when we go out he loves all the new smells and commotion and new people to kiss and smell. I think a yorkie would be great for you and the affection they give is unbelievable. I say go for it! Good Luck in your search!

02-27-2006, 01:50 AM	#3
londonteatime Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 170	Hi Joan!!!! Gosh, I so totally know where you're coming from! I have Lupus, Scleroderma and Fibromyalgia and I had to quit work in December. My only child is leaving for college at the end of the summer and I so wanted a sweet little dog for companionship. I have mobility problems (use a cane or walker) and also suffer from severe fatigue, pain and other issues. I tried to adopt a Yorkie but the rescues were like "thanks but no thanks" due to my disability. I thought an older dog would be best and I could offer a lovely home to a Yorkie who needed one! I'm still a bit upset that they didn't find me "worthy" just because I move slowly and need two naps every day! The things I can't do -- like lift heavy things, do fine, dexterous tasks like buttons, and such -- have no impact on my ability to care for a small dog! Anyhow, I went to a pet store just to look on Tuesday and they had a 6-month-old, 9-pound Yorkie they said they hadn't been able to sell because he is "too big and too old." I fell in love with him immediately and they sold him to me for what amounted to an adoption fee. He is beautiful and sweet and healthy! We are doing GREAT!!!!! He just seems to sense that mummy needs him and he makes me laugh so much! He is full of fun and his tail is constantly wagging! When I take my naps, he is lying right by my side and won't get up until I do. Such a sweet boy! I do put him in a crate at night, though, because I am very unsteady when I wake up in the morning and I want to make sure he is safe and away from mischief until I am ready to let him out. He's a good size and a good age. I don't think a tiny one would be good because he or she might be scared of my cane and walker -- Bobby isn't fazed one bit. He follows me wherever I go and is always by my side. I'm sure you have a fenced-in yard for your other babies -- that is so important! Bobby is doing pretty well with his potty training, especially since he was in a cage for most of his life! He doesn't poopy in the house and right now he has maybe two little wee accidents all day. It's coming along great, though! I say, Go for it! You'll find the right baby and he or she will be a wonderful companion! Julie

02-27-2006, 05:09 AM	#9
bosslady Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 223	I have read others say their Yorkie is not very socialable, but my Jasmine is very, very socialable. She loves everyone including children. I agree that they probably need to be around people including children at a young age. Jasmine has always been. I bring her to work with me some and my grandchildren are around frequently. Jasmine seems to adjust to my mood. Saturday I was gone all day but my husband had my grandchildren all day. He said the kids & dogs played all day and had a blast. The dogs let them brush them and put bows in their hair and they had a dog show. Sunday I was tired and was a couch potato all day. Jasmine just laid on the couch with me and Murphy did too. I think a Yorkie would be fine for you, but prepared to be totally smitten by your little one as Yorkies have a way of doing that.