wanting to get a yorkie
 

I have been wanting to get a yorkie for such a long time now, but I just haven't done it yet!

I have small-medium size dogs now, I am just wondering if a little yorkie would be ok with what I have now.

1 is a maltese, 1 is a peekapoo and 1 is a terrier mix

my maltese is the newest addition to the family he's 2yrs old now and super active, very playful and a little hyper sometimes, my other 2 are older dogs (11 & 15yrs old)

I'm hoping that sometime soon I'll be able to get one! If I get one that is tiny, would it be too small for my dogs? (my maltese and peek are around 10lbs and terrier is a little bigger)

I'm just worried about breeders I guess, I went to look at one when i got my maltese, but i really wasn't sure it was a full blooded yorkie, it didn't look like any i have seen (it was a really large yorkie) so it' just makes me kind of leery i guess.

how do you know if they are a full blooded yorkie and not mixed with something? how do you know to trust someone who may advertise in the newspaper or online? and also, are yorkies always over $1500? what if someone is selling them for $500? should i be worried?

i've been trying to read up on information but i never see those types of questions answered hehe.

any information would be helpful and appreciated :)
:thumbs up

:lovewings

It has been my experience that when someone is listing Yorkies in the newspaper for @ $500, it is usually what is referred to as a BYB, Back Yard Breeder. In other words, they have a female, bred her, and now selling the pups. In my opinion, these people are not breeding for the betterment of the breed, just to make a few extra bucks. Find a reputable breeder, you will pay more, but in the end you get what you pay for.:)

I have a 45 lb Beagle mix and he and my Yorkie are the best of friends. We do supervise them as the Beagle is so much bigger. My Yorkie is going in for a check up tomorrow but I think he is about 3 lbs. The temperment of the other dogs will play a huge part in your decision on getting a Yorkie. Yorkie's can be bigger so you could always discuss it with a Breeder and look for a larger Yorkie.

I didn't pay a lot for my Yorkie and he is AKC registered. I looked for a Breeder for a while and found a lady and visited her home several times. I respected her and feel like she did everything on the up and up. The only thing she did allow that I believe others would disagree with is letting me have him at 8 weeks. Now that I have learned more, I agree with many on YT that it is best to wait until they are 12 weeks. My Cooper is very well adjusted and healthy but that is not always the case.

Keep reading posts on here and you will learn a LOT!!! Many people on here know a lot about Yorkies. You are so smart to be on here and get info BEFORE purchasing a new Yorkie.

The cost of a yorkie and the quality of a yorkie can vary greater depending on the area you live in and the knowledge and reputability of the breeder. It seems that that small yorkies that will be under 5 lbs grown are the ones that are in much more demand and therefore many breeders ask a lot more money for the tiny ones. Just because a pup is going to be tiny does not necessarily mean the pup will be healthy and sound.

There are good breeders that have nice sound pet puppies they would sell for $500 but on the other hand there are bad breeders that do the same thing. You really need to do research about what makes a good breeder and also what you are looking for in a puppy.

Sadly, not all puppies are perfect, even the best of breeders occasionally have pet puppies that don't meet the standard and these loving babies need good homes too. Some pups might be too big or have floppy ears, cottony coat, sparse coats, long muzzles, bad bites, long bodies, short legs, long legs, the list goes on. These are just faults that make them not suitable for show but they can make loving companions. When you buy a pup it is important to ask a lot of questions and get a good health guarantee. Many breeders make health guarantees but there are so many loopholes in their contract that it is hard to get reimbursed if you do have a problem.

I do hope that you find the perfect baby when the time is right.

If a dog is not good for showing, they can still be healthy dogs, right? Just wondering. :)

Of course, they can and should be very healthy. A dog show is just like a beauty contest where the dogs are judged against the Yorkshire Terrier standard. Dogs can have certain flaws in their conformation that will make them not suitable as a show dog but they can make wonderful loving pets.

Thanks! One more question. Is it okay to breed a Yorkie that is not of show quality but has a great temperment and is healthy?

LOL, that is a loaded question. Many show breeders would say no, dogs should not be breed unless they are show quality from champion lines. In the real world people do breed their pets all the time. Some people refer to these people as back yard breeders or hobby breeders. My personal opinion is that there are to many pet yorkies that are being bred that should not be bred because they are not good representatives of the breed. There is much more to consider than health and temperament. While health is of utmost importance, the conformation of the dog is also very important. One rule that many show breeders follow is that if a dog has more than 3 faults it should not be bred and I think that is a good rule of thumb that even pet breeders should follow. In order to know what a fault is in the Yorkshire Terrier you have to study the breed. It is also important to know about the ancestors of your dogs in order to make the right choices in breeding them. In other words, it takes research and study before you should attempt to breed dogs, IF you are wanting to do it the right way. Breeding can be very rewarding but it does come with some risks and its share of heartbreaks.

Absolutely, however, one shows to gain approval of their breeding stock. A exhibitor/breeder will only breed the best with the intent to improve.

Not every dog that a breeder/exhibitor breeds is Championed, however, if it doesn't have all the qualities to take into the ring it shouldn't be bred.

No, it isn't ok. That is why we have so many yorkies that don't resemble the yorkie breed. I have been stopped by so many people asking me why their lil boy or girl looks nothing like my dogs, and why? It's very difficult to offer an explanation without hurting someones feelings. What does one say....your breeder doesn't know what tthey're doing, they bred two dogs that were poor representation of the breed.

All I usually say is, without knowing your breeder and your pups linage I can't tell you why. Just love your pup.

:yeahthat::goodpost:

You are better off letting the pros do the breeding. A lot can go wrong, and I'm sure you wouldn't want anything to happen to your girl .

I'm never opposed to one wanting to breed, just so that they do it correctly. What is correct; have a goal, study, study and study more, start with the best your money can buy, have a great mentor, one that knows this breed inside and out........

I hope the OP doesn't mind if I ask a question here since the previous posts "sorta" head in that direction.

Something I've always wondered is if there are types of shows that allow Yorkies that are spayed with puppy cuts to enter? I may be wrong but I think I'd enjoy the "socialization" of shows but not if I had to fool with the long coat. Plus, Taffy has been spayed.

To the OP...

I only know from my own experience but I started my search by looking for AKC registered breeders in my state. Our girl was $1500 which may seem high in our rural area but she is well worth the money to us! Plus, we drove 7 hours (one way) to get her but we'd do it again in a heartbeat. She has brought sunshine and energy into our "tired" retirement years!

And oh my gosh...she's indirectly brought so many new and wonderful new friends here on Yorkie Talk! I just love this community of folks.

Yes, you can enter your dog in AKC events, obedience and agility.

such good replies :) thanks all for the great info

i am from ohio, i have visited the site countryyorkies.com

she has puppies for sale every once in awhile and i have emailed her in the past (a few years ago) she seems to be a very good reliable breeder, she's had alot of positive feedback on her site.

i was at the vet yesterday and there were 2 ladies in there with their yorkies, they looked completely different, my mom said to me, are you sure they are both yorkies? lol i said well i'm guessing they are, the owners said they are, one was small probably 5-10 lb range and the other looked larger, 10lb or bigger, about the sive of my maltese actually.

but i guess like many of you have said, different people, different breeders