I agree that a big component of wanting to buy a smaller yorkie is a desire to always have a puppy on hand. For many people, having a dog is quid pro quo for having a baby. So, the smaller the dog is, the closer it comes to resembling it.
People marry later than they used to; they decide to have kids after their carrear is taken care of. At the same time, maternal instincts don't wait. Biological clock starts ticking before one is done building their new home and getting this big promotion at work.
Having a puppy always, allows busy people, especially females, to postpone having children without completely burying the idea of being parents when the biological time requires it.
It is fortunate and unfortunate that even the tiniest dogs like mine, for example (she is 2 lbs.), don't require of their owners nearly as much effort and time commitment as a human baby demands.
My Manya eats by herself, sleeps by herself, she can stay home alone when I am at work without much trouble as well as she is potty trained and thus does not require her diapers to be changed. She also does not demand me to leave work and to stay on the maternity leave to account for sleepless nights and breastfeeding schedule with 2-3 hour breaks in between feedings.
So, a small dog like her allows her owner to experience the best element of maternity - the exchange of unconditional love between a smaller living thing and its caretaker - without any huge detriment to one's chosen lifestyle.
This is the most emotionally rewarding experience ever! While one has to wait years before her child is old enough to be enjoyed, ownership of a puppy starts generating emotional reward instantaneously.
So, I believe that our generation's delay in having a family is one of the primary reasons for popularity of tiny yorkies.
I also believe that the fact that their is a huge demand for tinies in spite of their inflated prices is a proof of that. One needs to have a fairly comfortable lifestyle to be able to afford not just buying a yorkie that costs at least $2,500 and more, but to be able to maintain this puppy.
It's good that some people can make their own clothes for their babies because when I wanted to buy stuff for a tiny yorkie, there was not much out there in cheaper chain stores. Petsmarts and Petcos don't sell clothes that fit tiny yorkies. You have to go to boutiques. Even there, I had a great difficulty finding something that would fit her.
As a result, I had to pay top money to get clothes for my baby to be able to keep her warm in winter months. Manya's coats are $ 75 +, her sweaters are at least $ 50, her harnesses and leads are also a special kind that would not only be small enough to fit her, but also be made from the quality material that won't damage her chest and tiny bones. So, it costs a lot to maintain a smaller baby. Therefore, I believe that most people who buy a smaller yorkie, are at the time in their life where they can afford such an expense much easier.
While there are people that consider buying a smaller yorkie to be status symbol, I believe it is more of an exception than the rule. |