[Vinniedoggy]

1. Before getting a Yorkie (or any dog) make sure you have the time and financial resources to care for him/her. Veterinary care is not cheap and dogs require A LOT of time (I spend about 4-5 hours per day doing various things for my dogs). I spend at least $100 per month on my 2 dogs, often way more if we have vet visits. I am not trying to discourage you; I got Vinnie when I was in grad school myself. Just something to think about.

2. I feel you on the dog phobia thing. All dogs bite, some more than others. I was attacked by a German shephard as a kid and remained relatively scared of dogs for years. What helped me get over it was getting bit as a teen and realizing it wasn't that bad. Vinnie, my oldest yorkie, bites me sometimes and I've lived to tell about it in each instance. Chances are, your dog will never bite you, but if it does, I can assure you the world will not end.

3. Make sure you have access to living accomodations that will accept dogs. Check around your area and make sure that most rental places accept dogs. Also be prepared to pay a bit more in rent.

4. If you travel a lot, DO NOT get a dog.

5. Make sure you are really committed to training and dealing with any health or behavioral problems that arise.

6. Consider your social life. If you like to stay out late, spend the night at a boyfriends/girlfriends house, or just not spend a lot of time at home or in a situation where a dog can be with you, don't get a dog.

7. Consider adopting a dog that is already potty trained. There are so many out there in need of good homes. And a dog that is over the age of 2 or so will likely be potty trained. I adopted Vinnie from a local shelter when he was about 2 and it was so nice to not have to do the potty training thing.

Basically, a dog is like having a kid, albeit one that you can leave at home alone for upwards of 8 hours without CPS arresting you. They are a commitment in terms of time, money, patience, and energy. However, if you love dogs (and I do!) they will pay you back a thousand times over. So, if you've read all this and still want to get one, start looking around at local rescue organizations.

As for breeds - yorkies and other small dogs are prone to being "nippy." And there is rarely a "breed temperament" standard that applies to all dogs of a specific breed uniformly. All dogs came from the same place! You really just need to evaluate each dog on his/her own. I would say that you should probably not limit yourself to a specific breed but rather to some general characteristics that seem important to you (i.e., you want something under 20 pounds with a calm demeanor). Most rescue organizations will then work with your general criteria to find a dog that is right for you.

oh, one more thing - mutts are generally the healthiest, as they are least likely to suffer from breed-specific conditions.