I remember before I got Josephine worrying myself sick with all the size related issues she might have, and I have to say most of my worries were unfounded so far. When we first got her she was a tiny (for me at least lol) 2 pounds and very fragile, but as time went on we realized Jo-jo wanted to be treated like a big dog, so we did. 2 and half pounds later Josephine is a very solid terrier despite her size.
It is true however that smaller yorkies have a bigger chance with health issues, which is why we did a lot of research when it came to picking a breeder. We found a breeder who breeds specifically for temperament and health and have so far had no issues with Jo-jo's health. Issues you should be looking for in the smaller dogs is; Hypoglycemia, Impacted teeth, Early tooth decay, Spinal injuries/ruptures, Collapsing trachea and Various intestinal issues.
We allow Josephine to jump up onto couches and chairs, but we don't alow her to jump off and the reason why is not because of her bones, but because of her joints. Jumping off from that high puts a lot of strain on the hips and knees and over time can become a real problem for Yorkies. You can however purchase/make steps three shoe boxes taped together in the shape of stairs works great. Good luck with getting your new baby. =) |