General Yorkie Questions
 

Hi there,

i've not yet got my :littleang but was wondering why are some yorkies over 7 llbs when the breed standard is under 7 llb preferrably 4-6 llbs. Is it perhaps because they have been overfed? or just a variation? Will they still be healthy if they are over weight.

To get a yorkie that is between 4-7 llbs how big would they big at 8 weeks about? I want to ensure that I don't chose one that is under 4 llbs or over 7llbs as I imagine it perhaps could be quite unhealthy?

Also Yorkies are stereotyped as being yappy and aggressive "terrier like"; but I have notice that the majority of owners here seem to have really well behaved, loving albeit hyper ;) cuties; how can I ensure my Dog has a temperment similar to the latter description and not to the former. I used to believe that I would have to show the pup who is boss/ leader from the start so it doesn't feel the need to be the leader; but coming on here alot of you guys seem to shower your babies with love, attention and affection but still have beautifully behaved babies.. whats the secret :p :p ???

:animal-pa

Genetics can be quite complicated and tricky...just like people can vary in size, so can our yorkies. The standard is set to 7lbs and under, but there are a lot of yorkies that grow larger than that. Not necessarily because they are overweight (and yes, being overweight is unhealthy) but they just genetically have a larger frame and therefor weigh more than a dog with a smaller frame would. Yorkies were originally larger than they are now and were bred down to the size they currently are. Sometimes there will be an puppy in a litter that will grow to be larger or smaller than desiered..that's just genetics. However, a good breeder that knows their lines well and knows the sizes of their dogs and their pedigrees should be able to predict what size the puppies should end up being...but even then a puppy may surprise you...you really can never be 100% sure what size a puppy will grow to be...can only make a good guess. Stay away from breeders that do not breed to the standard..when oversized dogs are bred, then they usually have oversized puppies. Take your time and find a reputable breeder. www.ytca.org is a great place to look for reputable breeders. Reputable breeders do not let their puppies go until at least 12 weeks of age - 8 weeks is too young. But in regards to your size question - some people will say triple the puppy's weight at 8 weeks or double the weight at 12 weeks to get an estimate of the adult weight. It has been true for some but untrue for others...it's just a decent estimate.

Welcome to YT and good luck in your puppy search!

what a lovely response thank you :thumbup:

Gizmo is my puppy and at almost 10 months he is 7 and a half lbs. At a recent vet appointment we asked if he was overweight and the vet said that he absolutely was not. He is a very healthy weight. What's interesting is that we saw his littermate (only two males in his litter) recently, and he is only a little over 4 lbs. Their parents and grandparents going back two generations were all under 6 lbs. So, it is definitely a matter of genetics and chance to a certain extent.

This is just my philosophy, but I think you can still be the "boss" AND shower your pets with love. I try to be consistent and firm, yet kind. So far it's worked for me. :D

Welcome KissKiss!
 

And let's not forget that some breeders advertise "teacups" (there is NO such thing). They ask a fortune for these tiny ones. The problem is, many of the tinies are prone to health problems. Especially those coming from an irresponsible breeder.
You are a wise person, KissKiss!! Looks like you are doing your homework!! Good luck on finding a sweet little healthy puppy!......... and Welcome to YT! There are many good threads here to read!!...... I have learned so much about the Yorkshire terrier breed since I have joined. There are many very knowlegeable & experienced Yorkie owners here.
Again.......:welcome4: It is nice to meet Ya!

You've already gotten the best advice, I just wanted to say Welcome:D! Good luck in your search. There are many fine breeders right here that you could check out in the for sale sections;)

Aaaaahhhhh, it's so nice to see that you're doing your homework before purchasing your baby. Really get to know your breeder. They should definitely know their lines. Keep in mind that the puppy growth charts are not true for all puppies. It depends on their lines. Also, please don't let size be you utmost importance. Concentrate on finding a healthy, well socialized puppy from a reputible breeder that will stand by the health of their puppy.

Genetics play a huge part in the size of a puppy. The growth chart is somewhat accurate but not all the time. When I sell my puppies, I am able to make an educated GUESS based on parents, grandparents and others in the bloodline. So far my puppies have all been fairly small as adults. Around the 3 to 4 lb range with one or two smaller than that and a couple larger than that. I have one of my own girls and she weighs 5.3lbs and her brother in Texas weighs about the same. So, their litter had all kinds of sizes when grown. daddy weighs 3.5 and mama 4.5. All relatives are about that size also. i have a litter of babies now from the same parents and it looks like it is going to be the same way according to the growth chart. All sizes. You are very smart to be doing all your research now. you will come to see that a nice, healthy cute puppy is the most important thing. welcome to YT.

Thank you, nice to meet you to ;)

Thank you everyone for your responses and warm welcome :) :) :)

:animal-pa

I have two "teapots" as we affectionately call the larger yorkies. One is 8 lbs and the other is between 9-13 lbs. Both are really healthy and I actually prefer them to be larger. There is nothing wrong with them, they just eat a little more and take up a little more room :-) They aren't overweight either. In fact my biggest one is still a little underweight.

On the part of temperment... I will tell you my smaller one is a little aggressive. He is naturally a dominant dog and will quickly tell another dog off if he/she steps the wrong way and he doesn't like strangers that much, but that's more because he is afraid. My bigger one is not terrier like at all. He'll go up to anyone and everyone licking and barking happily. Neither of my dogs are yappy either. Chip (my "little" one) has a deep bark actually but he rarely uses his voice. He does only when he's playing and not even that much then. My bigger one, Smokey, barks more and is more high pitched, but he's still fairly quiet.

I just had a look at Chip and Smokey (in another thread where you had some pictures) they are ADORABLE :p :p

How old are they?

Chip will be 1 on Jan 16 and Smokey is almost 9 months.

Thanks for the compliments! I am so much in love with these two!

at almost 5 years, my oldest yorkie is 14 lbs...is it because she over eats?? NO, she was 7 lbs at a year old..there are throw backs, remember, years ago, they used to breed these dogs the size mine is right now, and even bigger..like myfairlacy said, genetics!! Why is my youngest son taller than his dad by 4 or 5 inches, and why is his shoes size a 14, when his dad is in an 11??