Quote:
Originally Posted by NODAK  Why else do people get Yorkies?? Isn't a great part of their appeal how they look?? I find that to be a poor reason to tell somebody not to get a dog. |
I don't think that getting a dog should be based on appearance only. I did TONS of research before I got my male Yorkie, and searched for over a year to find the right breeder. It is alot of work, I am a college student that doesn't work and me and my boyfriend have an apt. I only have classes on Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9-12 and then 1-2, and when I come home after being gone for just that long both of mine are bouncing off the walls (we got a female about 6 months after the male). My boyfriend plays football at the University here, and they both go with me to his games. They are full of energy all the time, they LOVE attention, they LOVE to play, mine LOVE walks we take 2 a day to get rid of that energy, it we don't they are crazy. If it wasn't for my boyfriend who totally supported the idea of buying them in the beginning it would have been a disaster! Potty training, at least for me, took longer than any other breed of dog I've had. We train on puppy pads, they go totally on potty pads unless outside, but like any dog you still have your accidents every once in awhile. But I think that in order to effectively train a dog, I think that you are going to have to be home more than what you are at least for awhile. On the weekends we go home to our parents and they go with me to mine, I have another Yorkie/Mix that stays at my parents because she is a farm dog, but they are VERY Rarely left alone even on the weekends. I've went through the destructive stages from separation anxiety ripping 2 HUGE holes in the carpet, scratching the back of the door to get out, etc. Over all I wouldn't trade our kiddos for the world, but yes it is alot of work, but I LOVE animals I grew up on a farm. As far as just buying one to fill a void to take care of something, I wouldn't suggest a dog. I wouldn't say that I just bought my Yorkies for the way they look, I love their all around personalities. They are treated like kids, everyday. As far as how much monthly we spend, it just depends. I've groomed animals my whole life, so I groom myself. If I didn't it would cost me $25-$30 a month to have them groomed. My dog food last for months, shampoo and conditioner every so often, clothes for colder weather (they don't do cold very well!), treats, toys, leashes, collars, brushes/combs, vet bills (shots/operations/check ups/etc), registration... and on and on... It just depends, on everything. I really can't tell you a monthly price. But this is just my opinion from MY experiences, I know that it takes both me and my boyfriend in order for us having the kids to work. It took BOTH of us to train them to keep them consistent, it took both of us to clean up the messes when they did have accidents. I just wouldn't recommend getting a dog for the reasons that you say she wants one. I know that she/you will do what you want to do, I know I will. Honestly sometimes I'm like what have we gotten ourselves into?! You have to think about vacations/trips/not being home/wanting to go out/etc you have to have a plan for all those times when you have a responsibility like this.