How many do you have indoors?

[angelbaby's mom]

Those of you that breed several (more than 2) females, how many total Yorkies do you have in your home? I mean, if you have 3 females and a stud, isn't having 4 dogs inside your home, all underfoot, a little hectic? I have two females, and I am considering getting a male, so I have my own stud, but my husband said he can't imagine having another little one inside like that. I told him that you guys have several indoors, and he just couldn't imagine. We have a 2200 sq ft home, so I think we have room, but he is skeptical.

How do you make it work?

[Latuya]

I only have one, but when looking for my Yorkie I met a breeder who didn't have any puppies at the time but she invited me to go visit her and her "7" beautiful babies. Rosie and Betty will forever be in our memory. They were the tiniest little things I have ever seen. I sat on the floor with a treat and they all jumpped all over me playing & licking,,,, I knew I had to have one!!! She kept all in the house. I asked if she was scarde of steping on one of them when they gather in excitement like that, she said the whole family learned real quick how to walk flat footed. She also had baby gates all over the house. I think it would be a blast with that many!

[YorkieRini]

Haha..Well..I have 12 that are mine (permanat residents). 6 Yorkies and 6 Biewers. My Yorkies are very laid back and well mannered, they only bark when the doorbell rings, not all eat poop, only 1 has accidents, they don't chew. My Biewers are the opposite, they run around at play for hours, the have more accidents off the pad, they CHEW, the bark..they eat Poop!!...So, how many do you want??? ...j/k

My kitchen is where I keep those that have not earned their right to free roam (mostly my Biewers..lol). There are 5 that I feel 100% comfortable to run free all the time and 4 are males, none are neutered!..imagine that.

Because they are pee pad trained the mostly go in the house especially in the winter time. It's hectic in the morning when I have to clean up the pads which I lay through out the house. You really have to accept the vices they have and the more you have the more you have to accept their vices (poop eating, chewing, barking, accidents) otherwise you will go nuts..haha

The only way this works for me is because they are not home alone all day..I would come home to a disaster if they were. 4 hours is the longest they are left alone so the mess is minimal.

I think it truly depends on your and your husband's tolerant level and are you willing to work HARD to keep them socialized, brushed, and bathed? I don't watch sitcoms or the popular TV Shows. I am too busy at the times they are on. I do watch the latenight news, we we go to bed, that's when I have 'my time'.
It's NOT easy maintaining 12..then add occasional diarrieah (sp?) and a litter of pups or two to the mix...it aint easy but it's fun work if you truly love and enjoy it. Keep in mind I do not use crates..Xpens for puppies or bitches that come in heat but otherwise they all stay together..having crates for all of them would make it even harder.

Not trying to scare you but it is a lot of work. Think long and hard before you do this, most importantly make sure your hubby is supportive. If not he can put a lot of strain on your relationship if he's not keen on the idea.

Hope this helps!
Irene

PS. If you get more..you will start saying it's your dogs' home you just happen to live in it and that's the truth!

[shyorkies]

I always say I do not live in a home, I live in a kennel and my dogs let me live here!! My dogs are very good! They are calm for the most part and they all get along.. Right now they are all laying around taking their afternoon naps.. My dogs only bark when there is someone at the door or they are fighting over a toy.. I could NOT imagine not having all these special babies in my home!

Melanie

[hasrv4fun]

I ( WE) have 7 Yorkies and a nuetered Poodle. My husband of 47 yrs and I are retired, have a large house on a large farm in the country. We have a fenced acre off one of the rear decks and there is a doggy door out of one living room onto that deck. All my dogs are totally housebroken ( even the pupsters ) and have access to all the house . 3 sleep on our bed while others have their favorite places. Right now its quiet as they are all curled up in snuggle balls here in my office or the den where I can see them. None are barkers as we don't allow it from puppyhood on.
We are always here or else my grown grandaughter comes and stays at the house so they are NEVER alone. Its somewhat restricting but this is our choice.
We strive to only have 3 or so litters ( if any ) a year as we that breed know, its lots of work !!!!! This year we expect to have 3.
We learned early to do the Yorkie shuffle in our house and advise all guests to do the same as they surely get under your feet.

What I am saying is this--- Think about it long and hard BEFORE you make the committment to increase your family, ( just as you should before a human baby ) as these are not disposable throw away furkids . While some of us can and do thrive with several it may not be for everyone.

I have been places where several dogs lived and it was horrible.

We both brush and comb our dogs EVERY day except Sunday and give baths and trims as necessary. Its nice as we have worked together all our lives and its a very rewarding thing to do together now. However if your hubby isn't supportive ( and helpful ) you better rethink this.
Don't know if this is any help but - This is either something you have a passion and overwhelming love for or you shouldn't have more than just one or two as pets. I could write so much more but this is long enough. LOL

[angelbaby's mom]

Wow, thank you ALL for your replies. Actually, my hubby is ok with it, just a little skeptical. He is VERY supportive. He just wants me to be SURE before diving in. And I know he is right, as are all of you who replied.

12 in the house?!?!?! Holy cow! I think I would move out!! j/k

I look at my baby girls & I can't imagine loving another Yorkie as much as I love them, but I know I thought the same thing during my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies. It's a miracle how God multiplies that love in a mother for each new child. Maybe He would do the same for me & another Yorkie. Ya think?

Anyway, thanks again. I will not increase my canine family unless I am 110% sure.

[Gir & Bing]

It's all territory. The westie takes the beds and couches and high spots the yorkies i have cant reach (head rests on counches), she's sorta like a cat. My #1 yorkie Bing takes the patio and my eldest brother's room and doesnt like it when the new dog steps in my bro's room and he starts squealing. Then Gir just stays in my room and bathroom when I leave. I've had quarrels between Bing and Snowy when they fight over territory. Usaully Snowy wins since its 15lbs. vs. 4 1/2. If your females are territorial don't bother getting another one, if not go ahead.

[YorkieRose]

You haven't lived until you have a legging cocking, peeing machine in the house..you have my deepest sympathy! LOL

[Olivier]

I have 4 girls in the house . I can't imagine them living somewhere else .

[susansmom]

You might check your local laws. We moved from Tulsa about 2 years ago and it seems like in the last 5 years or so they passed a law limiting the number of dogs you can in the city limits to 2, I think. You can have a few more with a special license. Other cities may have similar laws.

[Saragp]

Though I am not a breeder I had to comment on this. I too have a lot of dogs, 6 to be exact. I am over the legal limit by 2. Shhh!! If I were to obtain a kennel license to have 5+ dogs, I would have to have a 1/4 acre, which I don't. But since my 2 chi's combined weight is under 10 lbs. I just don't think that counts. All of mine get along fine, and all seem to not have a problem. They can be under foot at times, especially when making dinner. But they all know 'Out of the kitchen' very well. I do have a baby gate that keeps them in one part of the house, the family room/kitchen area. With dogs that small, you really don't need a whole lot of room. 3 really isn't that bad. After 2, I think they all start to blend! In a good way that is!

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

Well I'm not a breeder but I do have four yorkies inside...but it's all for fun It's extra work compared to when we just had two, but we wouldn't have it any other way You just get used to it. Like another poster said, after two, the rest just blend in

[angelbaby's mom]

That's funny! I had a friend once who got pregnant with child # 6!! When people said "How will you do it???", she would just smile & say, "Oh, you just add one more can of water to the apple juice. Other than that, you can't really tell a difference between 5 kids and 6!"

What a cool attitude!

[yorkiemom1970]

I have 8 adults in my house now, plus 5 puppies...some are allowed to roam freely, and the one's who haven't earned my trust are baby gated to other rooms, but with full view of everything. (you will actually have to step over 2 seperate gated doorways to even make it to my bedroom, lol) I never close doors on them; they like to see what all is going on in all of the house. It can be very hectic, but it has never really bothered me. Well, I take that back...it did bother me when I used to work during the day. It bothered me to have to leave them and the mess was worse when I got home due to not being there to stay on top of things. I said to heck with that years ago and I stay home with them now and Hubby says my job is harder than his. And yes, it can be a JOB at times. I think it just depends on the individual. I am the type that enjoys taking care of them all day and night. It isn't something that can be taken lightly. Vacations and social life are a thing of the past. When I do get to go on vacation I hire a trusted pet/house sitter, and never do i go out of town when we have babies. It takes a really patient, caring, giving person to live with several dogs in their home. Sometimes my patience is tested...but my love for them always over rides any frustration I may feel.

There is only one crate in my home. It's used for one of my girls who actually likes a crate and having her own "den". I use playpens for pups and moms (or heat cycles) and other than that, everyone is out in the open, freely doing whatever they please. I have beds out for all of them, but seldom do they all get used at once, they all tend to pile up in doggie piles in one or two big beds.

I do all of the things that other people do on a daily basis...I watch tv "some", I usually have a few of them with me even if I'm lounging. I go out to dinner, I go to movies on weekends with my husband, I shop, I just have to make sure that everyone is taken care of before I go out. On any given day, I usually make a quik run to the grocery store and I'm right back home with my gang. I understand what Irene said about "my time" hee hee. I have "my time" whenever I'm able. I've been known to be up grooming until 3 am because I didnt have time to do it and make dinner for my family and get all the washing done on a paticular day. I just kinda do things as they come. I'm on no real schedule other than mornings when I definitley do have a routine with them and the things I want to get done.

I have a gift for paper/pad training dogs. Don't know why, but I always have. My yorkies know where they are supposed to do their business. And they also have a large fenced in area right off the back of my house, so they do get to go out and potty, run, play at different times of the day, weather permitting. On the other hand, I do not have a gift for teaching them not to bark at the wind blowing and chewing the feet off of barbies (my daughter has learned a valuable lesson over the yrs that if you leave a barbie on the couch un-attended, make sure it isn't your favorite one) Lets just say she puts them away now!

We actually have the least number of yorkies right now that we've ever had as far as adults. We had up to 11 at one time, and we lost a beloved girl earliar this month which has put us down to 8. To be honest, it feels empty at times even still having our 8. That number is most likely going to rise again this year

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

You haven't lived until you have a legging cocking, peeing machine in the house..you have my deepest sympathy! LOL

[chachi]

Great post. That is funny about the barbies. My dogs have chewed the feet off of every barbie my daughter has. It makes me wonder why they like to do that that much. Anyway I bought her a couple of new ones for Christmas. It will be interesting to see how long they have feet.