Do I want a tiny dog?
 

I already have a bigger (10 lb) yorkie and am looking for another. The one I am looking at now is going to be about 3-4 pounds.

I am so scared something might happen to it. Drop it, step on it, drop something on it, etc.


How common is it for them to have accidents and get hurt. My bigger one is tough and sturdy and not delicate. Is a 3.5lb yorkie very fragile?

Hi Twiddle,
From what I have heard their bones are more delicate and fragile and can fracture & break easily, my baby is estimated to be 3-4 lbs when full grown, right now he is a little bigger than a pepsi can at 10 weeks & weighs approx 1.2- 1.5 lbs, but he thinks he is a Pit Bull lol.. so I too am worried about him, he is not allowed on my bed as it is too high and I do not leave him unattended EVER...

I think as long as you keep a close eye on him and have the time to do so, he will do fine.

This is JMO, but I don't think I could handle having one of the super tiny guys. I have a 9lb Maltese and would like my next dog to be smaller but not tiny. I would say a five pound minimum. My brother has a Chihuahua that's quite stocky and weighs about 5.5lbs. I would say he's perfect sized for carrying around, but that's just me. I think their build plays an important part too. Like I said my bro's dog is stocky, so is my Maltese, so they look small, but their still sturdy.

Boo is 10 lbs, Gracie nearly 4 and Yogi nearly 3. Gracie may put on another pound, Yogi a couple. The bones are a bit more fragile, and you do have to be more aware of them while they are young because they don't understand about heights. But they aren't like eggs, they'll take a certain amount of "abuse" and won't break. My DH, on the other hand, has nearly broken his neck several times trying to avoid them because he didn't look before he took a step. :confused: You'd think it would be easier to train the man to look first-step second, then to train the puppy to stay out of Daddy's way. :D But no, I've been trying to teach him that for 7 years. :p

Yogi has a bell on his collar that helps DH to know where he is. All three have been 'punted'. :eek: Nothing serious, but it taught them to stay back from Daddy...who is still trying to learn to look first-step second. :rolleyes: We have a step stool that G uses to get up and down from the couch. She'll run from one end to the other to use the steps instead of jumping off. Yogi is too young and the whole jumping up/down still intimates him.

If you'd like a smaller one, go for it. Get a bell for it's collar, look first-step second. Use a little common sense while it's growing and learning. The most important thing is that you and the puppy connect.

I have one 2 pounds, one 4 pound and one 5 pounds and they are strong little dogs. I have never steped on one. I did sit on my 15 pound shih tzu onetime.. he was not happy. lol

What a great idea to put a bell on their collar. I don't know why I never thought of it. I'm going to get one. Thanks:)

I have a 11 lb pom and 2 4 lbsers and 1 5 lb yorkie and they have been fine, I do use ramps by the beds and stairs by their window perch and trained each one the day they came here to only use them as ways to get up and down and they always use them.

I dont think it would be fair to the 10 lber he should have a friend his size to play with if you get a small one you will have to watch when there around each other.

My guys are 4.25Ibs, 4Ibs and 2.7Ibs(at 4months sooo still growing but not much bigger) and the one that worries me the most is my biggest! She is the smallest boned.....legs are the size of my index finger very small boned but the most in weight. It is definately the small boned that worry me! Much easier to get hurt I think. Having said all that the bell thing which I also have on my little guy is the greatest! Always know where he is by the ring!

Mommie to Harmony:animal-paHershey:animal-paand lil Pitico

I think that it depends on you and your dog---are you willing to change the way you live to accomodate a tiny? Being careful when you shut doors? Even closet doors? Making sure that you don't lock them up somewhere? being careful where you sit? I often find dogs behind the pillows of my couch... or under the quilts.... or right under my feet unnoticed...but I'm always prepared that they will be there---so i make my movements accordingly.
As for your already existing 10lb dog---how is he with tinies or other dogs?
Molly---my 12lber is the most gentle dog ever and she is often bullied by the little ones. She puts up with a lot. If she weren't that way...I would not have brought home a 4 and 5 lber.
She does have a good time with the small ones--she plays with them very gently...she doesn't really use her paws to play with them because she is afraid to hurt them...so she plays tug of war and lets them win lol. She chases them or gets chased...she trips them....it's funny and she likes them.

I can only speak from my experience with our tiny little guy. He is our rescue yorkie and only weighs 3.8 pounds. Granted he is small but gets along just fine with our other two. One is nine pounds and our little girl is 7 pounds. I use steps for the sofa etc. I guess a lot would depend on your yorkies temperment in accepting a new member in the family.:animal-pa

Onni is a very tiny 3 pounds. I do watch her very closely, but for the most part she is very hardy. I have 5 other dogs ranging in size from 110 pounds to 4 pounds. Though I have taught all the bigger dogs that Onni is a baby and to be treated gently; however I never ever leave her alone with them. When she plays though she is a little scrapper.

Mocha is about 4.5 lbs. Maybe this is just her, but she's sturdy as hell. If you're worried though, you might just wanna go for a bigger one :) Better safe than sorry.

Well it could be that Boo & Gracie are the exception, but from the time we got G at barely 2 lbs she played rough and tumble with Boo and he loved it. He is always very gentle with her and will even bow down so that G could "go for the jugular". :eek::D:rolleyes: They wrestle, run, fight, share food, cuddle and sleep well together. He has as much fun with her as any of his other doggie friends that are his size or bigger.

I'm sure a lot would depend on the temperament of both dogs, but a few pounds difference in size shouldn't make a difference in the amount of fun they have together.

Dogs are tougher than you think!
 

Even the 4 lb variety. Mine are 4 and 5 lbs, and the things that I do to be sure they are happy and healthy from a size standpoint are:

1) Make sure I dont step on them; they are always getting under foot as the love us almost as much as we love them!:) This is really only an issue when we have guests. They may not be used to looking down at their feet all the time when ever they shift positions or get up. I am always reminding guests to LOOK OUT FOR YORKIES underfoot!

2) Be sure that there are doggie stairs in strategic places around the house. Sometimes they try to jump higher than they should, and although its probably OK, I get worried that they will hurt themselves, so we use those doggy stairs you can buy. One for a couch in the living room and one for our bed.

I would never want a yorkie to be too small to get up and down stairs in a mulit level house. Mobility is key to their happiness and I already carry them a lot so they dont have to go down the stairs, but they are big enough to do that when they want to. If they were much smaller (2-3 lbs or smaller) I'd be scared that they could injure themselves, particularly if we weren't around.:aimeeyork:aimeeyork

Both the Yorks are belled; the other dogs are larger and easily seen. Besides, when they're outside in the yard, they're easier to find when they go Ninja on me.

I also have pet stairs - a set in the living room so they can run the furniture, and a set in the bedroom. Puddie will jump up/down off the living room furniture if he feels like it, but only uses the stairs in the bedroom. Bella has never used anything BUT stairs - in fact, I can trap her on the furniture: she won't jump off no matter what - in fact WHINES - if the stairs get moved.

Puddie weighs 7 lbs; Bella's at 4 lbs. But my grandson's Westie is 15 lbs., and the other resident beastie is a 70 lb. pitty. All play fantastically, and if the truth be known, Bella rules the roost: no one told her she's the smallest ;)

Hi All!
I'm so glad that I signed up to talk with you as I was worried about the same thing. I currently have a 17 lb. Cairn terrier who I love dearly, and who sadly has lung cancer. I had often thought about a Yorkie, but am really scared to go down in size. I originally had Great Danes... so my Cairn was a HUGE step down physically... he thinks he's Great Dane size! The bell is a wonderful idea, even if I decide to stay Cairn sized! I never thought of it, but you only trip over them when they sneak up on you and you don't know they're there. :p

I have a 5 lb yorkie and I don't think I could have a smaller one, even with a 5 lb one you have to be so careful, Stormy looks smaller and has tiny little legs. The heights they are at are very important to watch and if they are under a blanket like mine likes to do you have to watch so you don't lay on her. Even their little ribs can be squeezed to hard. And their little throats can crush too with a collar. If you feel comfortable with tiny dogs go for it :D

my baby is very small (less than 3 lbs) and she is afraid of bigger dogs, and bigger dogs also do not show much interest in her because they are too big to play with her. so if you already have a bigger dog, it might be hard for the two to play together, because bigger dogs can break small dogs' back when they pounce on them while playing.(of course the bigger dogs don't mean to, they are just playing) but you need to keep that in mind.

i have heard of someone's small dog dying from getting pounced on by a bigger dog and breaking their back, also heard someone who woke up to find their little dog dead because she crushed her dog in her sleep....

BUT, all dogs are cute, there are just some things you should know about tiny dogs before getting one.

let us know if you do decide to get a little dog, we can give you some helpful tips on living with a tiny baby.

I always wanted a tiny but now I have had one that is 11 lbs and one that is 6 lbs I like the bigger sizes. They are just sturdy and can get on the couch or the bed themselves. I have also seen alot of the smaller ones in here involved in accidents. I like yorkies that are in the 5-6 lb range the best. They are still small but sturdy

I have one nearly 7 pounds and one 2 pounds. I still supervise their play because both are still puppies. I'm hoping the 2 pounder will reach at least four pounds full grown. I think she will because she is steadily putting on weight and is only 3 months old.

Ella Bean is about 2 pounds and my Cavalier King Charles, Louis is almost 12 pounds. When I rescued Ella, I thought she'd get bigger. She was only 3-4 months and TEENY, I thought it was because if the malnourishment, but she stopped growing!!

She is a tough cookie and can wrestle my big boy to the ground! It helps that Cavaliers are exceptionally gentle (Louis even more so then most) and he helped to rehabilitate her. Sometimes he will just lay flat, tail wagging, letting Ella use his ears like tug toys! She will grab him by the tail, legs and his umm...man part, and BRING HIM DOWN!! LOL!

So, I think that the MOST important thing is the temperament and level of socialization your first dog have. If your first dog is super friendly and loves doggie pals, I think you will be fine (with supervision for the beginning!).

As far as care, I find them equally easy to care for, they learn to avoid getting stepped on pretty quick.

I think if you are uncomfortable with a dog so small, get a bigger one! There are no guarantees on size anyway. I think the most important thing is getting a healthy puppy from a reputable breeder!!

where can I shop for a bell?

Most petstores will have bells in the cat section near the cat collars.

If you did get a smaller yorkie they wouldn't be able to rough play together and would need constant supervision. I have a 3lb girl and I also have a Staffordshire Bull Terrier! they get along fine together although they don't really play together..My girl needs to be watched carefully at all times, she's tiny, yes, but she's a strong little thing for her size and very feisty!:eek: luckily she is as happy and healthy as can be..there's just things you need to consider when taking on a tiny one that you wouldn't really think about otherwise, such as, being stepped on, being dropped... children should be supervised!;) falling off furniture, attacks from other dogs..my biggest fear! I am extra vigilant when out in public with her.;) some can have blood sugar issues..feed little and often is probably best.:thumbup:
I wanted a little girl under 5lbs and I got a little sweetheart...she's my pride and joy..she's hard work sometimes, mainly because she's so demanding!:eek: but a total joy to have and I haven't had ANY health issues as of yet:)..with the right care and attention having a little one should be just as joyful as having any other sized dog.
GOODLUCK!:) Kez & Pixie.

I had this same issue just a few months ago. Leo my first yorkie is a bigger fella at 7 lbs and 6 mos old. I wanted a female and picked the first one from the breeder.. she ended up being very tiny, 1.7 lbs at 4 mos old. I was concerend, afraid and such.. let me tell you,it was silly on our part. Athena plays with leo rough,she plays with us rough,and she does not break when breathed on. She's very healthy and she's very happy. Her and leo play all the time and he does not hurt her at all and we do not step on her either. I have a 6yr old and 7yr old and have not had a problem as of yet.

I have two in the 6-7 lb range. I would love to have one in the 4-5 lb range but wouldn't want one any smaller than that. When my boy hears the doorbell or any noise outside he will jump off my couch (off the arm) flies out several feet before hitting the floor running and every time he hits I cringe. I can't imagine if he were smaller. I groom a 2 1/2 pounder and can't imagine having one like that around my house. Just too scary for me. Not just scary to think about their safety, but scary to imagine the vet bills if one was to break a bone.

Manolo 2.8
LOLA 5.0
PABLO 2.0
BAILEY 25LBS
KIRBY 20LBS

You should see them run together in my yard...chasing squirel and cats and simply playing. The big guys know their limit with the small guys. Good LUCK....