 A few extra pounds ---
Like a lot of us - I got my little Yorkie because I wanted a small dog.
And - I have to be honest and admit that I was a little disappointed when I realized that he was going to be a little larger than a lot of Yorkies are.
His weights have been as follows:
12 weeks - 4 lbs 2 oz.
17 weeks - 5 lbs 4 oz.
27 weeks - 8 lbs 2 oz
However, along the way, I have found myself appreciating the advantages that his few extra pounds are giving both of us.
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1) Health - he has always been a great little eater and has never had a sick day in his life.
2) He can easily get on and off my furniture including my bed.
3) He plays well with small children with only moderate supervision - he can easily get away from them and usually wears them out.
4) He plays well with my other dog and any other dog he meets.
5) He is small enough that I can easily lift him and carry him around in one arm.
6) He is small enough to be easily bathed in the kitchen sink.
7) I'm less afraid to take him outside - and think he might appear less attractive to the small hawks in our area.
8) He is definitely less fragile and my friends and neighbors are far more willing to hold him and play with him. (In fact, they have no choice-he is all over them in a jack minute.)
9) My daughter and her husband are very happy he put on an couple extra pounds. We'll be visiting their lake home a lot this summer, (windy docks and boats and stairs) and they feel he'll be much safer weighing just a little more.
10) I feel much more at ease taking him out and around other people and their pets. I am less reluctant to let other people pet him, play with him, and give him a lot of attention. He just loves this.
My Yorkie is still a very little guy - and he is as cute as a button. I am almost always carrying him, and believe me, he still gets all the "ooooohs and aaaahs" the smaller Yorkies get.
Since he has become a little larger, and I have become increasingly aware of the advantanges with his being a little bigger, I can honestly say that I am very happy with his size - and, since he's only 7 months old, he may well gain another pound or two.
With my short experience owning a Yorkie - I would certainly encourage anyone with children to get one that is a little bigger (8 to 12 pound range) because I know for a fact that they will be a lot safer and everyone can have a lot more fun with a lot less worry. And, believe me, as far as dogs go, they are still very very little.
Maybe this is the reason that little Yorkies come in so many different sizes. The right size can become a delightful, playful, much more worry-free addition for any family.
Carol Jean |