I'm feeling better after reading everyone's reponses. :) My heart really is set on a Yorkie. I have been wanting one for years, but the situation was just never right for what I believe (and have seen confirmed here) is a huge commitment of both time and money.

I'm guessing that the basic consensus here is that as long as the children are trained about the dog and how they should/shouldn't interact with him/her, we should be ok. Am I right?

I think so
 

I am also about to get my first yorkie and I have a 5 and 3 year old. I think it will be fine. We also have 2 ferrets and we got them when they were very small and it kinda of stressed me out at first :eek:, making sure the girls were sitting down when the ferrets were out and so forth, but now that the novelty of "new" has worn off the girls watch tv with the ferrets and it is very calm and I don't worry at all. I've taught my 3 year old how to handle them gently and I know that she is learning. The other day she said, "Mommy see how gentle I was with Ernie." heeehee...My ferrets are Bert and Ernie.

Ferrets are way smaller than yorkies and very fragile so I think you can do it. I'm gonna do it and I know it will be alright. And besides this is Mommy's dog! :p

:aimeeyork

I agree with this... it depends on the family and kids, AND the dog... I can see a breeder being concerned because they dont know how you train your children, but if you feel comfortable about it I think it is fine.... of course, I am much more comfortable with my bigger boy playing with the kids, he has such a good time and is the most loveable thing ever!
Good Luck!
d

oops excuse this

are you sure the ferrets will be safe around the yorkie?! :eek: You do know what they were originally bred for right?..........

What a shame you are finding it hard to find a bredder willing to sell.
Like Sawyers mommy, I have two little grandchildren under 3 and at first they wanted to look and touch, we taught them to be gentle, not to pick up etc, but now they are 'bored' with her, the novelty has warn off, like with most little kiddies, they come as say hello and then get back to wrecking my house! Which suits me and Tinkerbell find!;)

Thanks for your concern. :) I have two very sweet tempermented ferrets. They never bite BUT however the dogs and the ferrets are never together. My ferrets are caged and when they do come out I have one ferret proofed room that they play in while the kids watch TV. :p

Hi and welcome to YT. Although I am a firm advocate for rescue I do not always agree with their no children policy. I really feel that each family should be judged individully. I've seen families with older children / teens that do not treat animals as kind or gentle as families with young children. It is really all in the up bringing. With that said, I also feel that a family with young children SHOULD NOT go with any Yorkie under 10 pounds. They are fragile and no matter how careful your young children are accident's happen. They happen not only with the children but with the adults as well and in a busy home the two do not combine well. My reccomendation to you is that you look for a reputable hobby breeder and ask for the biggest in her litter. The teapot as some will call it. The bigger Yorkie is less likely to be snappy with an active child and they are less likely to get hurt. Some rescues and some people will tell you that Yorkies are not good with children. Yorkies are VERY GOOD with children if the children are good with them. They make excellent family pets and are often very protective of the children in the house. I have two boys now ages 12 and 14. My first Yorkie who we lost over the summer to cancer came to us when my boys were 2 yrs. old and 4 yrs. old. He was a bigger boy. As an adult weighed in at 13 lbs. and he did very well with us. He was excellent temperment wise and loved my boys. Very protective of them. As I said it is all in the way your raise your children and in the way you raise you Yorkie. Elaine

Thanks for the input!!!
 

It's good to know that there are many success stories out there. It was mostly the rescues that I was looking into that had the issues with children under 10. But my mom had a small dog (not a yorkie, but a poodle) and my kids were just wonderful with him. He's at my uncle's now because my mom wasn't home enough when she started her business and they miss their "Uncle Colin" terribly. Yes, they called him that because my mom told them he was my little brother and they just started calling him by that name.

I am however corresponding with a breeder and she is willing to work with me. I may have my baby in a few months in all goes well.

im not a expert but i wanted to say im glad your researching your breeders to find one who will be okay with it ,, i think so many times that potential yorkie owners with kids ,who have good kids, get turned away and in desperation to have one turn to a unreputable breeder or puppymill which is kind of sad to me .. it sometimes can feel a lil discrimnating.. its kinda hard to think your when your trying to be a good person and rescue an animal there is sitpulations but with that said i dont think that its pruely on kids can hurt theese babies alot of rescue dogs have issues and i think the rescues want to be sure youll be able to give them undivived attention... I do agree some pups should be seperated from young kids.. i have 2 kids and dont know all that much about my babies breeder because my hubby brought him home ... i am thankfull that he is healthy he is a a bigger yorkie but still small enough to be hurt so i watch him around the kids but he is my shadow so most of the time it doesnt take much effort to know where he is Soo i think you just have to keep an eye out with any small breed i wish you luck on your quest to find a baby for you and your faimly