[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by JadeD

I hope you find the perfect dog for your family.

The fact that you and your wife are willing to take on the responsibility is a plus.

I took in a 9 year Yorkie (he is now 11 1/2) and he is wonderful! he still plays and follows me around and is a great companion. If you say the word "treat" he will come running, literally running. I also have a 2 1/2 year old Yorkie mix who is excellent, my trick dog even as I have taught him many tricks and he is a show dog for me who gets to go many places and show off his tricks. I am getting a 6 year old rescue tomorrow (Parti Yorkie) who has seizures and is on medication. I already have the vet lined up for her and I am just to call them Monday and set up her first appointment.

As far as a Yorkie and your child, I think as long as you teach your child how to handle a dog it will be okay.

She should not chase the dog, unless they learn a game together that involves that. My 11 1/2 year old will chase me and then I will run off and hide and he will come find me and then I can chase him and then I run off and hid and he has done this since I brought him home, it is a game we learned together.

She should not carry the dog around, unless they form a bond that allows that after several months and the dog actually enjoys it. I can carry my 2 1/2 year old all over the house (I am an adult of course). She needs to be responsible and not drop the dog of course.

She should not bother the dog while it is eating. A lot of bites happen because a child is pestering the dog while it is eating and it gets snappy. Watch and make sure the dog doesn't growl while it is eating if you pet it. All of mine are trained by myself to not growl when they eat and I can pet mine, but I do this so that if someone else gets near them I won't worry about them biting them. I work with my dogs.

If you get a dog and it sounds like you have enough money to care for a dog then I would highly suggest you contact your local petsmart and sign up for obedience classes immediately (some offer a discount for a rescue dog) and go to the classes as a family. A trained dog is one of the best things you can spend your money on. I have been to several levels of training classes so I can usually teach the basic obedience to my dogs myself from years of owning dogs. I also do trick training with any of mine that can learn tricks.

Approach the new dog as the "family" dog and not your daughters dog. It can love all of you. It will have a favorite, and as most said, the one who feeds and walks it usually. I am that favorite at my house because I do the most with the dogs.

Good luck and I hope you find what you are looking for.

Oh, one more thing. As people said they are not necessarily good for everyone's allergies but my husband and son have Asthma and are not bothered by my Yorkies at all. Two of them currently sleep in our bed at night (soon to be a 3rd when she arrives).

You can private message me if you have any questions or anything.

Very detailed and thoughtful post.