Why should I buy a yorkie
 

Gee I am reading this board and i wonder why am I even considering buying a Yorkie? Everyone seems to be having so much problems with them from housebreaking to snamping at them and then the health problems. My three including the pap have been easy to house break and even learned at an early age when I was unhappy with them just buy the look i will give them. Does this not work with yorkies? Do I always have to pamper them if so i do not think it is fair to my other three. I have a lot of thinking to do. We are going to another breeder today to see the difference from the Yorkie that I might buy but do not like the fact that she wants me to take her at an early age. This new breeder keeps them for 12 weeks but the price is very high. It would be worth it but not with so many problems that i read here. Any positives on yorkies. BTW we were warned when we were to get our papillion that they were hard to house break. She now has kidneys that hold better then i have ever seen.

I think the housebreaking can be easy or hard with any breed of dog. Depends on the dog, and the owner. Yorkie's just have to pee more because they have smaller bladders. So you will have to get use to letting a Yorkie out more regularly. My Missy is only 10 weeks old and has been consistantly using her pee pad since I got her a 7.5 weeks old. She's only NOT used the pad twice.

Reasons to get a Yorkie are endless. They are happy, spunky, loving, and fully of personality. This is the first one that I've owned, and I can tell that I will forever own a Yorkie now. They really steal your heart with their charming ways.

I think the reason you hear of so many problems is because this is where people come when they need help. Not many people search the internet for a messageboard just to brag about how wonderful their pup is. (Well some do, but you know what I mean). You will always hear more negative than positive. I'm sure if you go to any other breed specific messageboards you will see the same.

Good Luck with your decision!

I have two with no health problems. They were hard to potty train though but I had never did it before either

I am sure that Yorkies are not for everyone. However, I have had other dogs in my life and can admit (and I am not proud of it) that I have never loved a dog more. In fact, I didn't think I even liked dogs very much. But Sophie is like my child. I don't know if it is because we are empty-nesters or because we just are in a better place to care for a dog, but sometimes I feel that I love her more than I have loved anything in my life. One thing about her is that she is so small and helpless but doesn't know it.:)She thinks she is invincible. She also gives love back endlessly. As far as the dog thing, she doesn't smell or shed which really won me over too.

You are very smart for doing your homework. Yorkies are not the dog for everyone but for those of us that love the breed they are the ONLY dog LOL. Toy dogs require alot of care and attention, this is true, but even in multiple dog households they do well, considering of course,the breeds are compatible, I would not put a little dog with a terrier temperment with a houseful of pitbulls but that is just common sense.

If you do not feel that you have the time and energy to give up to another toy dog or that the 3 you currently have would be slighted in any way you are probably right about rethinking it. This is just my opinion based on what you have written, they are very high maintenance dogs.

If I were to want to steer clear of health and temperment issues you should stay away from breeders that sell their dogs before they are 12 weeks, breeders that do not offer a good health contract and a breeder that does not show but that is just my opinion and experience.
Check the YTCA website for breeders in your area that are "reputable".

Good luck in your decision!!

all my three girls are healthy and it was easy to potty train them. They are 99% potty trained. Well, they are beyond pampered only because my Hubby and I choose to. They are our babies.

Mine both have health problems (Sammy had knee surgery, Loki has some genetic medical issues) and both were a pain to house train but they are totally trained now. I think people just give up on the housetraining too soon because it takes too long, but trust me it's possible. Loki also had some "yorkshire terror" behavior issues and we did 2 years of training which was awesome and he is the best dog ever now.

Anyway, I wouldn't trade them for anything. :D Totally worth it. Sammy greets me every time I come back into a room like she hasn't seen me all day. She makes complete strangers smile with her personality. Her tail never stops wagging. Loki understands complete sentences and MUST sleep touching me (and I have to sleep touching him, so it works :)) I love them :)

Thank you for your responce. I have never used a pee pad even for my pap who was a bit over 2 lbs when I got her I did try it once but it was chewed up before she ever got to use it (by her). She is 4 now and weighs 5 lbs. I found out that the other two dogs really trained her with my help. When they had to go out I would let them out and put Amy on a leash and she would also go out with me. She learned like the other dogs that when they needed to go out it was to do whatever they had to do and then come in. The leash came off after 4 mos. They all seem to have to go at the same time now.
From what I have read is that the papillion and the Yorkie are built the same though the yorkie does have thicker bones .

My yorkie is my fourth dog and does not require any more attention than the rest...but they all require a good deal amount of attention.
She is potty trained---but I had to find a method that worked for her--
Because she is a rescue, she doesn't do well with scolding...so I don't "yell" at her. I keep her on a fixed schedule (every 2-3 hours outside we go!) and if she makes a mistake I take out the cleaner...but she has been very good the past two months. And I never raise my voice with her.
She is very loving---she knows my feelings. She is really a doll baby. She gets along with the other dogs and loves them very much...and when they get their loving...she'll sit by my foot or on her bed and keep herself occupied.
She's a good girl...but she, like all yorkies, requires someone to treat her as an individual and give her plenty of love and care.

Well first and foremost you have to decide if the Yorkie is the right dog for you. Yes they need constant grooming. That is if you want them in a long coat. But for the most part they are fairly easy to care for and don't require anymore pampering than any other dog. As far as Potty training goes they are pretty fast learners if you keep at it. Sometimes they will test you to keep you on your toes. I would say that out of my bunch our Pomeranian was the hardest to get the potty training done. When you said that with your other dogs all you have to do is look at them when they do something your unhappy with, well all of my dogs are like that. My Yorkies will go so far as to come apologize when they have done something they aren't supposed to. As far as health problems , like others have said that comes with owning any dog. Each breed has their own set of health problems. Granted some are healthier than others. Sometimes as owners when our babies get sick we come to this forum to not only try to find out what possibly may be wrong. Someone may have gone through the same thing. Or just to find something that can help that doesn't require a vet visit that can be expensive and easily treated. Sometimes we just want someone to reassure us that things will be okay or that they are there for us if we need to talk. Alot of us pamper or spoil or babies because we either can't have children of our own or our kids have all grown up and we still feel that need to be a parent. So please don't discount getting a Yorkie just because they seem to have alot of health problem, or are difficult to train. Instead get one because when you find the right one or the right one finds you, there is that feeling in your heart that tells you that this is love and you can't see your life without that little one. So after saying all that I hope you make the right decision. Good luck.

We are empty nesters also. And I do know how you feel. We have always had a dog even when the kids were at home but since they left we have our three and i wanted to add one more. I have always wanted a yorkie.We have always set out looking for one but then another dog would be seen first and we would fall in love with that one. As you can see i am a dog lover and I have all the time to take care of them. I just want a healthy dog and one that is trainable. So far all the dogs i have had were easy to train but I quess i have just been reading to much into this board like the other poster said.Everyone that does post on any board does when I think about it asks for help.

you just have to find a good breeder and do lots of research. I am strict with my girls when it comes to their diet and health. I never let them eat table food and I give them long daily walks for their healthy heart and weight. So far they have no major health problems.

I never used a pee pad for my previous dogs. It just works for Missy because she's only 1 lb and was 7 weeks old when I got her 3 weeks ago. Plus, it pours rain here all winter long. Once she is a little bigger, and the weather is better, I will try to transition her to outdoors with the help of my pug dog. :)

Any purebred dog is at risk for genetic health problems since the gene pool is small. The incidence of health problems in Yorkies has really gone up since they have become so popular. They have become a favorite of backyard breeders and puppy mills. Yorkies are now 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined.

The key to getting a healthy Yorkie or any purebred dog is to get a puppy from a reputable breeder who is very knowledgable about genetics and health tests all her breeding dogs. All the parents should have bile acid tests, thyroid panels, orthopedic exams/knee xrayed, heart and eyes cleared, etc. A reputable breeder knows the backgrounds of all the dogs she breeds for generations back and carefully selects her breedings to best compliment the strengths of each dog.

The best place to find a reputable breeder is through the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America:

Yorkshire Terrier Club of America About The Club

Gosh, I guess if you have to ask yourself that question, or ask others to convince you, maybe you shouldn't buy one :confused:

I love my girls with all my heart - but if I EVER get another dog - it's going to be a shelter dog. Yorkies are great great dogs but high maintence - and there are far too many dogs in shelters needing love and a good home.

Besides the breeders these days are making me sick with what they're doing to this beautiful breed - I mean the GREEDY breeders - that's why you're seeind so many sick yorkies -

I don't mean the breeders who care but I DO mean the breeders in it for a fast buck .....Good breeders sell healthy yorkies that actually LOOK like yorkies

but I'm still rooting for shelter dogs. They need all the help they can get and the breeders in it for the $$ need to take a long look at what they're doing to the dog population.

Am I ranting a bit ?? sorry -

NOT :D not even a tiny bit

Excellent Question
 

I have always wanted three kinds of dogs (shih tzu, yorkie and a maltese later on a golden retriever.). Never wavered in my decision on either of the dogs, but as one fellow poster said if you doubt now then I wouldn't put myself into that position to try to raise one.

If you really wanted one nothing anyone said here about any problem would make you change your mind. I was on this site for months before I found my dog and read everything and nothing made me doubt getting my Hooks. :D

As far as housebreaking goes :D my shih tzu was impossible still is impossible and will always be impossible and will purposely pee if he is upset with me :p but he is my baby so I deal with it and I just try not to upset him and he is pretty good after a year of working with him. Hooks pees on the pad 90% and poops on it 45% so we are already working on better odds.

It's good that you are considering whether the breed is appropriate for you. I agree with the other poster that said that people usually post to message boards because they have problems, not to talk about how everything is going normally.

Objective reasons to get a yorkie: they are the "hypoallergenic" dog; they are very smart; they adore their owners; they are very trainable; as a toy dog, they are easier to care for in that they need less exercise, can be carried around, eat less food, and poop smaller.

Why I personally have a yorkie. For most of my life, I considered myself a "cat person." Then I started to appreciate dogs, but I hated the small, yappy toy breeds. Then I met my guy. He was actually owned by a coworker who brought him in every day. He would roam around the office begging for food, and I decided to train him for little bits of turkey. I did that once or twice, and he decided I was the greatest human in the world. Then I started taking him for walks. At that, he began to flip out with excitement every time I came into the office - he can "hear" my stride, so even though there are tons of people going in and out of the office, he could immediately tell if I was around.

For the most part, he's great like all dogs are great. I love playing with him in the park and watching him run back to me at full speed. I love helping him get over his fear of shopping cats. I love how he sleeps in an itty bitty ball in my bad. He wakes up before me, and he always waits for me to wake up so he can get his tummy rubbed. But what really stole my heart was how quickly he gave me his, even though he had another owner at the time. I think that is a yorkie trait - they want to be with their beloved humans all the time.

Well I haven't read the other YT members yet.......but it took me 15 years to get Chino...my husband being the hold up...now after two months with Chino..my darling husband wants another one with me being the hold up. Chino is awesome, loving, funny, and joy to have. Only problem is he barks at weird stuff...I have a hard time with this because I am use to being alone without noise, but I am getting use to it slowly...I would not trade him for the world...oh and no health issues, you just have to be selective of the breeders, but this includes every animal, not just yorkies.

Oh, and: if you keep their hair short, they are very easy to groom.

As I said, I used to hate toy dogs. I called them "rats". But now I see that they are just like big dogs, except much easier to take care of, and not prone to as many joint problems. I don't know if I'll stick exclusively to yorkies in the future, but I will definitely want toys!

i agree!! :thumbup:

Mocha is my very 1st personal dog. Meaning this is the 1st time I have ever housebroken a dog, train her, get her used to grooming, etc etc.

I had no idea what I was doing with the housebreaking. I admit I did not do my homework as well as you. But I stuck with it, found informations online, tried a few things, and yes it took me a while but I got her trained at last. She's gonna be 9 months on the 8th and the last accident was 2 months ago. I got her when she was 4 months, so that's about.. 2/3 months on the training. Might be because we had a late start, I was figuring out what works best for her and my schedule. But I'm a beginner! So you might do even better.

So far, Mocha is healthy as a horse, seems to posses an iron stomach, never picky about food, and no problems like anxieties and all that. Only thing is she is carsick :D Just please make sure you get a yorkie from a reputable, responsible breeder :)

If you are not absolutely sure this is a breed for you, then maybe get another breed. As for me, I am already itching to get another Yorkie. I think Yorkies are very intelligent dogs, and makes a great companion. Everything else is worth it. Even my mom fell in love with her antics :) I will not suggest this breed to just anybody. But me, I love Yorkies to bits. My next dog is most definitely gonna be another Yorkie, or a Biewer.

Good Luck!

:thumbup: BTW...I actually do know of a website that you can just brag on your pet...LOL....at Petbrags.com :animal-pa

you go girl....i agree..

Oh, also, Mocha is very, very quiet. I think I may be one of the lucky ones ;)

what kind of dogs do you have now...im really glad you are looking at the big picture before buying one..do your research well..

:DI fell in love with a clients yorkie about three years ago. Everytime I was at her house her little Jackson would run up and jump into my arms. He was so trusting that he just flops on his back and the thought never crosses his mind that you might drop him. He just wants his belly rubbed. And if his 'dad' came around while I was rubbing him he would give this cute little growl like I was his! So I started doing research and talking my then fiance into buying me one. He thought they were little rats and yappy little dogs so he resisted for many years. 2 months ago we brought little Teddy home and now we both want a little girl! He is so funny, smart, and just so darned cute! The potty training hasn't really been any harder than any other dog I've ever had, just like with them I have to pay attention to his signs. He does have accidents but those are my fault, sometimes I get busy and don't pay as much attention as I should.:eek: He doesn't have any health problems and the vet says he is very healthy and came from good breeding. He doesn't shed which my husband loves, I had to get rid of my fat kitty when he moved in (allergies), and I have found not having fur on black slacks is a wonderful thing after having a white cat, lol! He isn't anymore trouble than our 45 lb. mutt Bailey that also loves little Teddy like the rest of my family does. These are wonderful little animals that have the biggest hearts I have ever seen and I can't get over how smart Teddy is. Training him commands is so easy! He does get into things but I have to say that when fat kitty (Mickey) was a kitten he was soooo much worse than Teddy has ever been!:aimeeyork

I think it all depends on the dog when it comes to training... it took Chip a month to be potty trained and he knew all the basic commands plus tricks before we even took him to puppy class. Smokey is almost 2 and is still working on it. My two are spoiled with love, but aren't "pampered" if you know what I mean. They each have unique special time with us. Chip has allergies, but that's the only health problems we've had.

I think with health problems, you just have to research your breeder... when it comes to training, you just have to be consistent and find the way that works for your own individual dog.

I don't understand why people group breeds together and think that they are all a certain way. Each dog, no matter WHAT the breed is different and unique. They all have their different personalities and learning styles, just like human kids.

I think you have to ask yourself if you like "terriers" not just Yorkies? they are a lot different then other breeds:p:p Just take your time.

I got my Yorkie by default, she was given to me when she was 3 months old. I wasn't looking to add a member to my family at the time but let me tell you she fits in so well it is like she has always been here.

As far as health problems, she hasn't had any yet and hopefully will not. She is now 6 months old (almost) has been through all her shots and we are waiting until December to get her spayed.

Potty training has not been easy but honestly it was all a matter of figuring her her schedule and her figuring out that someone will take her outside to do her business. I am not going to try to fool you and say we don't have accidents because we do. Honestly...the accidents are usually my fault, I break the schedule or, am not paying attention.

Why should you want a Yorkie, let me say this is my first but I can tell you some of the traits I love about my dog. She is loyal, funny, spunky, very sweet and thinks the world is hers and we are all visitors.

I wish I could add more animals to my house but not yet, I have a 10 year old rescue cat who deserves to have some peace and quiet (the little the Yorkie allows him). When I am ready I will get another dog and probably a rescue one.

I hope this answers some of you questions on why I have Yorkie.