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Erin · 12-18-2008, 11:56 AM

The $1000 for vet bills MAY BE all at one time. And $1000 is on the low end. I just added it up and in the last year I have spent over $6000 on vet visits/surgery, medicine and grooming. For TWO dogs.

Heck just the $135/month I spend on Loki's medicine is $1600/year. EVERY YEAR FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. Yes, his genetic condition is rare and it could occur in any dog but there is no denying that YORKIES ARE EXPENSIVE. Sammy had to get her knees fixed - BAM! $3000. Sure you can groom yourself to save money, but I think the OP is talking about the big expenses that come with owning a dog, any dog, but especially Yorkies.

I think it's interesting that most breeders only take cash, and therefore prevent people from financing their dog like they do a TV... It makes them think about how much they cost.

What I disagree with is how people who just breed their pets think the "going rate" for a Yorkie is $1000. But there are reasons that good breeders get $1000-$2000 for their Yorkies and it has to do with a combination of the expense of vet bills, genetic testing and the fact that Yorkies only typically produce 1-4 puppies. If you had the same costs (say $2000) each time you bred a litter of labs, you would probably have 8-10 puppies to spread that cost among. With a Yorkie you might have 2 puppies. So, while no one should OVER-pay for a Yorkie (don't pay $1000 to your crazy neighbor who's pet Yorkie had puppies!), a quality Yorkie costs that much and there's nothing anyone can do about it...

(I'm not referring to anyone in this thread... we have crazy people around here that just breed because they see $$$ signs and that is wrong wrong wrong!)

12-18-2008, 11:56 AM	#46
Erin Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 3,306	The $1000 for vet bills MAY BE all at one time. And $1000 is on the low end. I just added it up and in the last year I have spent over $6000 on vet visits/surgery, medicine and grooming. For TWO dogs. Heck just the $135/month I spend on Loki's medicine is $1600/year. EVERY YEAR FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. Yes, his genetic condition is rare and it could occur in any dog but there is no denying that YORKIES ARE EXPENSIVE. Sammy had to get her knees fixed - BAM! $3000. Sure you can groom yourself to save money, but I think the OP is talking about the big expenses that come with owning a dog, any dog, but especially Yorkies. I think it's interesting that most breeders only take cash, and therefore prevent people from financing their dog like they do a TV... It makes them think about how much they cost. What I disagree with is how people who just breed their pets think the "going rate" for a Yorkie is $1000. But there are reasons that good breeders get $1000-$2000 for their Yorkies and it has to do with a combination of the expense of vet bills, genetic testing and the fact that Yorkies only typically produce 1-4 puppies. If you had the same costs (say $2000) each time you bred a litter of labs, you would probably have 8-10 puppies to spread that cost among. With a Yorkie you might have 2 puppies. So, while no one should OVER-pay for a Yorkie (don't pay $1000 to your crazy neighbor who's pet Yorkie had puppies!), a quality Yorkie costs that much and there's nothing anyone can do about it... (I'm not referring to anyone in this thread... we have crazy people around here that just breed because they see $$$ signs and that is wrong wrong wrong!) __________________ Erin, Sammy & Loki Sewing patterns and tutorials @ www.dogundermydesk.com Last edited by Erin; 12-18-2008 at 11:58 AM.