Is a Yorkie right for me?
 

Ok, for about a month now I have been eyeing Yorkshire Terriers, they are so adorable! I'm like dying to have one, I want to put bows in it's her and dress her up but I don't know if its the right dog for me? My husband who does not really want a dog, but understands that I want one and is willing to get one, he justs thinks at this time in our life were not ready. Were newly weds and one reason I want a puppy is to kinda get a feel for having a "baby". We don't actually plan to have kids until 3-5 more years. I just want our dog to accept our new baby when that time comes. Also, in about 4 more months we are moving and I don't know what type of stress this would had to the puppy. Also, we work and go to school full time and I'm gone 8-9 hours and my hubby would be gone 5-6 hours, would our Yorkie destroy our house while we are gone, I know we would have a crate to put her in put that just seems to long of hours. I've had terror stories about Yorkies not training well, potty training, not getting along with kids and other animals so now I'm scared and I dont want to pay lots of money if it's not going to work. Do any of you have some advice for me?

I light of your busy schedules I would rethink it. Yorkies are definitely pets that need lots of attention and love.

To be perfectly honest...No, I don't think a Yorkie is right for you. And it really seems like maybe you already realize that seeing as you have listed the factors working against you.
I would really wait until you're life becomes a little more stable, you and the new hubby have moved, settled in and you are not away from home so much and can spend more time with the dog. You seem to have enough in your life to easily stress YOU, just imagine how it would be for a wee little one.
If you've only been eyeing them for a month, I would really suggest that you resist that impulse urge to snatch one up. (I know how hard it is.:rolleyes: ) Stick around here, learn more about the pros and cons (yes, cons) to this breed and don't rush things. You will learn a million things you never knew you never knew and it will only help you to make a better decision and choice in the future regarding getting a little one.

Welcome to YT!

Owning a pet, of any kind, is a serious committment. It goes far beyond
putting a bow in their hair and carrying them around in a purse. It's not much
different than bringing a skin baby into your home.
I work fulltime and I'm gone for 8-9 hrs Mon-Fri, however, the rest of
my time is all Buddy's. Total commitment. I cancel dinners, vacations etc
because of him. To train a Yorkie can be a real challenge. I went home for
6wks on my lunch hour(I live 14mi from home) to let him relieve himself until he was old enough (It was stressfull) to hold it all day. You will need to play with him at night and in the am
before leaving for school. Weekends should be totally spent with him unless
you take him along. It's hard when they are left alone during the day and it
is so very important to spend the evening with them. Yorkies are hyper,
high maintenance dogs. They require human contact, grooming, health care,
proper food and can get stressed if their needs are not met. It's a total
committment from day one.
It's good that your asking about it before you do make the committment
because it is a very serious one.
Good luck to you,

They need to be confined until they are through the chewing stage and housebroken..I have always used an xpen, but, I'm home with my 4 inside dogs all the time..They do get lonely when left all day..There was a lady here in town about 3 years ago that had to sell her yorkie(she sold her for $100)..she of course was already sold when I called, but, I asked her anyway why she had to sell her, she said that she had just had a baby, and the dog just wouldn't accept the little one..So, the dog had to go..that just broke my heart, as the dog was like 2 at the time..

Im sorry but I have to agree with your husband...it sounds like you would not have enough time to devote to a yorkie at this time. They take alot of work and alot of time. Not saying you would, but yorkies cannot be kept in a cage until someone is ready to use them for "arm candy" and then put back. They need alot of attention and care, and yes, fully potty training them can be very hard. If you are wanting something to pratice taking care of, Ive heard cats do real well alone for long periods of time.

If your Husband is the one gone 5 or 6 hours he would have to be committed to training and caring for the pup and it doesnt sound like he is

Although a yorkie might not be right for you...there a few cat breeds that have a "dog" attitude..and cats do fare well on their own...do some research on the devon rex...awesome cat with a dog type personality...that is the cat of my dreams!! :D

Dawn

No. I don't think so. You shouldn't want a yorkie for the reasons you gave, nor to kinda get a feel for having a "baby". Your schedule wouldn't be fair to a little yorkie, either. They are attention hogs and they have the right to expect that attention. I don't believe you could ever successfully housebreak one, so then you wouldn't be very happy with them.

Sounds like you already have the answer. You are young and thinking of a family and these little dogs are cute. But most of us use them as our kids. And little kids you have to watch with these fragile little ones. Plus some of them get very jealous. Not sure if you want to go through that. There are other dogs out there that are small and better built for kids down the road. If you really must have a dog maybe you need to think about something that will fit with you future life with kids. Hope you decide but yorkies are special when the timing is right.

We have this as our 2nd life, all the kids aren't home and now these are our babies.:animal-pa :animal-pa

I work full time and have 2 yorkies. I have no husband or roomie or anything, just me and them. They do fine when I am not home, but I do contain their area to the kitchen during those hours.

If I were you I'd research, research and research more for the next 6 months. Learn all you can about yorkies, ask questions here, get books on training puppies, on yorkies specifically and read up on them. Then after you are settled from your move, THEN get one. 6 months is not that long of a time to think something this big through. Dogs are a committment. Yorkies can live up to 20 years. Noone wants to ever have to rehome their dog and noone wants to hear about someone irresponsibly getting a dog only to find out it ended up in a rescue or shelter bc the new owner knew NOTHING about dog ownership. :)

Make sure you find the right breeder (NO PETSTORES!) and ask all the right questions. You don't want a pup with potential major health problems. (luxating patella, collapsed trachia, etc...if you dont know what those are, then you definately are not ready and have lots of research to do!) Also ask yourself if financially you are ready for this. Noone expects a dog to get hit or need major surgery immediately and has up to $5000 on hand for those expenses, but you need to be aware, it CAN happen and what will you do?

As for training, as with any dog and children too, you need to blame yourself if your dog destroys something around the house. YOu left it out for him/her to get at it. So many people get angry at the dog. Its a dog. Its up to you to keep things out of reach, cords, shoes, etc...

All pups go through a chewing stage, I highly recommend an indoor xpen instead of gating them into a room. This will protect your walls and baseboards from being chewed up. (Ive had holes in walls, chewed cabinet corners, chewed baseboards and sliding door molding cuz I didnt know to put them in a indoor pen!) and Ive lost shoes from not shutting my closet doors and my laptop cord from leaving it on the floor, etc...

If you think you can handle it all ... not just a yorkie but any dog will need training and time/attention from you... then Id say after your move go for it! You won't be sorry... the unconditional love of a dog compares to nothing in this world! Its wonderful :)

Good Luck with your decision and welcome to the board!!!!

It could work for you, but I don't think I'd try it. Since you are gone so much during the day, nights and weekends belong to your Yorkie. Is this really how you want to spend most of your spare time? Is your husband willing to help potty train it since he will be gone less? When you have kids, what if they are allergic to the dog (it does happen)? The dog will be rehomed, I'm sure. Yes, that would be the right decision but it is wrong to do that to a dog who has goteen attached to you. If you have small dogs and kids you will have to supervise every minute or the dog could very easily get hurt. It is your decision whether or not you want to make a committment like this. Why not wait til you have kids and maybe get a golden retriever-type dog? Or maybe you can even get one now and hope that your kids won't have allergies. I would also consider getting two dogs if you will be gone that much so they can keep each other company.

:goodpost:

Welcome to YT - do your research - this is a good place to start. I would wait at least until you've moved & settled in at your new home. Then reassess & reassess as you learn more about the breed.

If your hubby is gone fewer hrs in the day than you, does that mean he might be available to spend time with the pup while you're gone? As students you also should consider, not just the time you are away from home, but how disruptive would a puppy be to the time you need to be studying?

Also, I know as a newlywed, it is impossible for you to foresee what will happen when you have a yorkie & then have a baby. But you need to think about this. I owned 2 bichons, & then I had my daughter, it was hard - and even though I hated reducing the time with my dogs, it has to happen with a baby. I think I made it work well. But we frequently see families looking to rehome their yorkies because of new babies, more babies in the home.

So ask yourself, can I get a yorkie & provide a forever home? I have 2 yorkies - and I adopted them from a gal who chose to rehome them because she was too busy with the new baby & didn't have the time needed to give the yorkies.

Yorkies can be wonderful. YT is wonderful too. I hope that you won't run off when you may not be getting the response you want.

A yorkie may be right for you, but is the time to get a yorkie right?

welcome..This is the best place for info and you will find something soon that fits your needs:thumbup:

Hmmm. It sounds as though bringing a Yorkie into your home maybe isn't the best thing - at least for right now. You guys just got married, and you both work and go to school full time, plus it sounds like hubby isn't too keen on the idea. If I were you, I definitely wouldn't rush into anything. Give yourself time to REALLY think things over. Yorkies are a HIGH MATIENCE breed. They demand LOTS of attention, DAILY brushing, constant grooming, teeth cleaning, walks every day, etc., etc. And I'm not speaking for all Yorkies here, but my female Yorkie (I have both a male, and a female) does NOT like being left alone for long periods of time. Yorkies are very cute and cuddly, but they are more than just a pretty face and a dress up doll. They are REAL animals and they require alot of time, patience and love (as does any animal).

I say if you are already questioning whether or not getting a dog would be the right choice for you to make, then chances are it probably isn't.

Just my two cents worth, but I do wish you the best of luck in whatever decision you make :)

Here's what I say. I work full time, my husband works full time. He's 22, I'm 20. I'm takin 16 credits and he's taking 12. If you want something bad enough, you'll make time for a puppy. I have two under the age of 1, so yes, they do entertain each other while we're gone, but we always make time for our babies. I understand your need to what to share something between the two of you. We are the same and want kids, but know school is first. I had a miscarriage and was so upset about it, that's when we got Chip. Now we have two!

If you got a yorkie, your husband would probably end up loving it just as much as you do. It's always a different story when you actually have it in your arms. It's much easier than having a baby who needs constant care - hence, one year maternity leave.

With a puppy, you definitely need to give it the attention it needs, but it is not completely dependent on you when left alone. Sure, it might cry. But that's nothing compared to a crying baby who needs to have her diaper changed or is hungry, etc.

Puppies tend to take care of themselves if you ensure they have toys, food/water, a bed, his pee area, and maybe a ticking clock in the background. My puppy does fine while I work full time hours. I do still live with my mom, dad, sister, and brother. But we are all full-time workers. He's gotten used to our schedules and knows he's on his own sometimes.

You've noted that you plan to have a baby in the future. But there are a lot of families who have yorkies and babies. A lot of it has to do with you being the pack leader and showing the dog who's boss; what he is and isn't allowed to do. Not every yorkie falls under the stereotype of being stubborn/difficult to potty train, etc.

If this is your first dog, you wouldn't even realize that there are other breeds out there who were easier to train. You will just know that this is YOUR puppy and it's going to get potty trained regardless of its breed. Yorkies shouldn't be ousted for those traits.

Don't give up! If anything, do more research. But don't forget that there are other dogs out there who might not get along with your infant anyway (even if it's the ever-so-likeable labrador or best overall dog breed in the entire world).

If you have a dog for 3 years, it might have issues with you giving more attention to someone else for a whole year. In the end, dogs are animals. They don't necessarily know why a baby takes priority over him unless we teach him good and bad. A yorkie might take a little more time to teach, but it doesn't mean they don't deserve to be considered a companion. Just like a baby, we can't choose how they turn out. We love them all the same and accept them for who they are.

Good luck in the search and I hope you find the right dog, whether it be a yorkie or another breed!

get a doll if ypu want to play dress up, i dont think you have thought about any thing it would need but only thought about yourself they do take up a lot of time especially to begin with u have 2 house train it teach it not to bite or trash the home they are very territorial and if u had a baby in a few years time u are more than likely going to have more problems and work they are gorgeous dogs and people love that they are small dogs but have a massive personality and a lot of attitude. I would seriously re-think.

This is my first Yorkie. My husband and I are retired and just work occasionally. Having our new pup was a full time job. I would recommend that you do not get any dog at this time in your life, in light of your very busy schedule.

In fact, our Remi is a great part of our day each day. We do leave him home on occasion, but most of the time he is with us.

We have had dogs for over forty years. We had German Shepherds and a Jack Russell Terrier. The Yorkshire Terrier is a completely new experience for us, even though we have had many dogs. We have two children and while they were growing up we would not have chosen such a small dog as their companion. We felt that babies and young children do not understand enough not to hurt such a little dog.

All of our dogs were taken to obedience school. This requires practice each day at home. It does not appear that you would have time for this also.

In addition, getting a new puppy is like bringing home a baby. You and your husband both need to be excited about the new addition to the family.

Again, respectfully, I must say that a pup is not right for you now.

Not enough Time for a Yorkie
 

Please do not get offended or insulted........in my opinion it sounds like you really don't have enough time in your daily routine to properly Train and Socialize a "Yorkie" or any Dog/Pet/Baby? I have had Dogs all my Life, ever since I was a child, my Parents were "Dog People". I have had every Breed of Dog from a Pitbull to a St. Bernard and everything in between. They take alot of time and effort it is a 24 hr. job, every experience is a form of Training.
Yes, alot of people complain about Yorkie's having problems Potty Training, Socializing with others and Children, but that has nothing to do with the Breed. To put it in a kind way, our Dogs are a reflection of ourselves, they do not "Train" themselves. Perfection or a well behaved Dog is a product of "Consistency". It sounds like you would like all the benefits of a Yorkie without having to invest the time and effort. Yorkies do not do well being crated for long periods of Time, they are very Social. I have 3 and they never leave my side, except for the 8 hrs. I spend @ work 4 days a week,
but my BF. has to deal with them while I'm gone. If your Husband is not willing to help you out, it will be an uphill Battle?
A Yorkie can be an Angel and be the Best thing in your Life, or it can be a living Hell? Every one wants a Yorkie, but sometimes it's not always a perfect match between the puppy and the owner? Maybe you would have better Luck if you purchased an Adult that is already Trained? I would not suggest a "Rescue" since you do not have any previous experience?
Besides being too cute with a bow and a dress in a stylish bag.......they are bred to be "Hunting Dogs", they do love to dig/burrow, run and play, explore their surroundings they can be very active Dogs. They run around at a hundred miles an hour or they are dead asleep. They should be walked at least twice a day so they won't have behaviour problems.
Besides your Newly Weds, if you don't have time for a Baby, chances are you don't have time for a Yorkie, and believe me thay are just like Babies!
Good Luck in your decision.:aimeeyork

Yorkie
 

I think you should hold off on getting a Yorkie or any dog right now. How about a Devon Rex kitten? The Devon Rex is the "cat most like a dog" and is recommended for people who want a dog, but can't have one. They are adorable, too!

I just wanted to say your bichons are beautiful! I too, have a bichon and a yorkie :)

i think yorkies might not be the best fit for you..i work full time too but i work so close by so i can come home every few hr when Tumi was younger and i just made a space for her in the kitchen and gated the area. and I still do. Now I have 2 girls and i take them to daycare once or twice a week. And since i take them for a long walk in the morning and at night. Well now that the weather is cold, they walk on the treadmill. I never crate them during the day since they are gated in the kitchen area with their crates in. when they get tired and sleepy, they just go in there and take naps.. they can go in and out of the crate as they please..But they are a lot of work..it is just like having a real kid except they have more hair :D I am newly wed also and we pretty much have to plan our schedule around the girls..sigh..they are the queens! we don't even stay out late anymore..:rolleyes:
When we first got Tumi, I took them to Puppy Kindergarten weekly for 10 weeks. We worked on the potty training really hard..it takes a long time so you have to be patience. Now they are 99% potty trained but still have accidents, which is okay and me and my hubby don't get annoyed by it at all. It is also sooo important for them to socialize with both human and other puppies. So it takes a lot of patience, time and energy to have the little ones..

Bichons
 

Thanks. I think Bichons are absolutely the best pets ever and my Lacy and Cosmo are such a big part of my life. Cosmo, my therapy dog, brings a lot of joy to the little kids at the library every week. Lacy is my "heart dog" and she can read my mind. I would love to have a Yorkie or a Silky or a Maltese, but can't take on any more grooming. I have arthritis in my hands, wrists, and fingers and keeping up with two Bichons, even between professional grooming every four weeks, is a big job. So, any more dogs will be short haired, like my little rescue Chi, Kozanna. I can manage her just fine. I gave her a bath yesterday. She was scared, but cuddled up afterward and stayed snuggled up in a big, warm towel until she was dry.

Thank all you for all of your advice! I'm just going to take a step back and do a whole lot more research! This site has been so helpful!

I am sorry too, but I agree with the others. I don't think getting a Yorkie is good for you right now. Yorkies are a lot more than just putting bows in their hair and dressing them up. I have two females and they hate bows in their hair. They were clothes, but not all the time. They are sure darn cute, but they do take a lot of work. We have smaller yorkies and we constantly have to watch out that nothing is left on the floor that they can choke on. Any little thing could be a choking hazard. They follow you everywhere so have to be sure you are not going to close a door on one of them. When people come over they are not used to watching out for them, so we are usually on pins and needles afraid someone is going to sit on them or step on them. We have to have our yorkies groomed one time per month and that is $50.00. We do not buy them food from WalMart ect. We buy better quality food from the pet store for them. They are more fragile so proned to accidents. One of our yorkies had torn ACL's in both her back legs and surgery was $1000.00 for each leg at pet ortho specialist. I had to take 3 days off from work for each leg to care for her. They require lots and lots of attention. A relative of my sisters is in grad school and she got a yorkie. She would be gone for like 11 hours a day. When she would come home her yorkie would be in the corner just shaking. Thank goodness she saw that she really could not care for her yorkie like her yorkie deserved and homed the yorkie with her mother. You also have to be sure yorkies eat regulary or they can become hypoglycemic. Sometimes when my babies have been stubborn I have had to hand feed them a little at a time by hand. We don't even take vacations really anymore because we do not trust anyone to care for them. We don't stay out late either because we feel guilty about leaving them at home by themselves. They are our priority. They are our kids. I could go on and on. I would rethink getting a yorkie right now.