How much $$$ for a Yorkie--your thoughts

[Amazing Yorkies]

Originally Posted by Breeze

But you have a better chance with a show breeder. You can't get a guarantee in anything in life "but" I would never not or ever suggest anything but trying to get a healthy puppy from reputable breeder. Showing is just a part of the whole process in mine and many's opinion .....

I know your a breeder yourself though. Do you show, what is your goal?

That must have come out wrong.. I agree to buy from a reputable Show Breeder, and I still do. There are some great Show Breeders with health and quality! I meant that I just don't buy because it is the highest price, it doesn't always make it the best. I've learned to research a little more, and trust a little less.
I was active in the Show Ring until my husband fell ill with heart problems 10 yrs ago, and then was diagnosed with Cancer over 6 yrs ago. My goal is to produce those healthy Champions, and Thanks to Sonja for handling for me, we now have 2, and with others that have purchased from me and Showing we are about to have produced 4 home bred Champions. My husband is now very ill with Cancer, but I hope to someday get back to Showing my own too.

[Breeze]

I just want to add about price, I've seen some of the very best show breeders charge many many times a lot less for their champion lined puppies then the puppy mill breeders. I've seen mill dogs on line sell for $100 to $16000 over the years. Just because they use fancy words like "teacup, teddybear face...."


Seriously, people may need to get over the "rumour" that you spend more money for show dogs for "no reason" ......."papers mean nothing if you don't breed or show"....... So untrue!!!!!!!!!!

I wish people would see the papers you get are like the ribbon on the package. Like the candles on the cake... not necessary but are so very important and show the care and devotion on the breeder's whole dedication on the yorkie breed. The true yorkie breeders who care about the breed never breed for money and many are so far in the hole but do it anyway for the breed. That's what love is about.


I think the bigger problem is the whole amount you spend period defining quality. Yes, you maybe able to pay for your puppy from a mill or BYB if you have the money no matter who you are..... but a quality reputable breeder will only place their puppy if you meet their requirements. Means more to me.

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by Amazing Yorkies

That must have come out wrong.. I agree to buy from a reputable Show Breeder, and I still do. There are some great Show Breeders with health and quality! I meant that I just don't buy because it is the highest price, it doesn't always make it the best. I've learned to research a little more, and trust a little less.
I was active in the Show Ring until my husband fell ill with heart problems 10 yrs ago, and then was diagnosed with Cancer over 6 yrs ago. My goal is to produce those healthy Champions, and Thanks to Sonja for handling for me, we now have 2, and with others that have purchased from me and Showing we are about to have produced 4 home bred Champions. My husband is now very ill with Cancer, but I hope to someday get back to Showing my own too.

Thank you Deb, I think we agree and thank you for taking your time to reply.

[Amazing Yorkies]

Originally Posted by Breeze

I just want to add about price, I've seen some of the very best show breeders charge many many times a lot less for their champion lined puppies then the puppy mill breeders. I've seen mill dogs on line sell for $100 to $16000 over the years. Just because they use fancy words like "teacup, teddybear face...."


Seriously, people may need to get over the "rumour" that you spend more money for show dogs for "no reason" ......."papers mean nothing if you don't breed or show"....... So untrue!!!!!!!!!!

I wish people would see the papers you get are like the ribbon on the package. Like the candles on the cake... not necessary but are so very important and show the care and devotion on the breeder's whole dedication on the yorkie breed. The true yorkie breeders who care about the breed never breed for money and many are so far in the hole but do it anyway for the breed. That's what love is about.


I think the bigger problem is the whole amount you spend period defining quality. Yes, you maybe able to pay for your puppy from a mill or BYB if you have the money no matter who you are..... but a quality reputable breeder will only place their puppy if you meet their requirements. Means more to me.

Very Well Said!

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Gemy I will disagree with you on conformation only being structure. The reason for conformation is to gain approval of your breeding stock. As breeder/exhibitors....we breed for Health, Structure, Temperament and drive. If any of those are missing you don't have a good speciman of the breed......

Agreed for sure.

[Reese1]

Originally Posted by Janie Doyle

I paid $1200 for Carson. I got him at 5 months. He came from a very good breeder in Michigan and he is worth every penny of it and more !!

After I brought Carson home I crossed out the $1200 on the bill of sale and wrote $600.00 I told my Husband I got him for 600 because he was 5 months old LOL

LOL, that sounds familiar! We shaved about $400 off the price of Wrigley when we relayed it to my Dad. I'm not sure if he bought it or not!

[Reese1]

Originally Posted by topknot

I was also thinking and wanted to bring this up. If you are looking to pay the least for a pup - don't expect the breeder to do what they need to do to produce nice healthy pups of any quality. I always think of what cut backs they made in order to save and thus sell their pups lower to move them out. You might save when buying, but expect to pay more at the vets. So you really are not saving, but bought your way into a huge headache, less money in your own pockets, and more worries and heartache. I have heard such sad stories, where people have tried to save.

Yes, you have to do your research and on the other hand you do not want to pay too much for a pup not worth it. One should educate themselves before buying.

I agree! Paying a lot though it won't guarantee a dog, the lower the price of the dog raises the chance of health issues and more money in the long run!
Education, research, being an informed buyer BEFORE you purchase can't be stressed enough!

[mryfogleman]

That is too funny!!! Would never fly at my house he knows every penny.....I do have a seperate account of my own that he knows about but it never has much in it lol!!!

[mryfogleman]

I live in Oklahoma and got Nigel for 275.00 the dad is a champion and I saw him and he is AKC registered. Maybe it is were we live....

[tarczely]

Originally Posted by topknot

That is cheap, since the price alone for shots on a pup runs about this or more, not including testing and office visits. 8 weeks though is a bit young - so they probably only got one or two shots. Office visits run me 50.00 here where I live and then you have the cost of the shots on top of that.

yes after I got axel then it was the vet i don't remember how many visits after the first one where he got something up his little nose but they were 80.00 something each visit.

[fourdez]

I guess you're right that paying a high price doesn't alway mean you will get a healthy Yorkie, but, FOR ME.... Paying a higher price means that I have the right to be a little more intrusive. I paid over $2000 for each of my 3 yorkies. I want to have several references, I want phone numbers, I want to speak to your Vet. I want to visit you several times. I want to call you when I have the slighest question. I got Ricky from California, I live in NY.. I had my sister (who lives in Cal.) visit several time. Sure, some breeders told me to take a hike, so me and my money did... I needed to make sure that if anything happened it wasn't because I didn't do the most that I possibly knew to do. I needed to have a clear conscience. So, far (knocking on wood) its worked out. Desi is 5 years old, Millie is 4 and Ricky is 3 and they are healthy.

[topknot]

I think we all pretty much agree:
*You have to do your homework and resaerch! You have to know what to look for to make sure you are not going to get taken. You need to know the standard, check into what you may be buying.

* I think many breeders/exhibitors that have champions give great prices for their pups and often less than BYB or millers sell their pups for. And most of those breeders/exhibitors tests the parents and pups for health issues and make sure the health of their pups/parents come first. They show to evaluate the parents - to make sure they are worthy of being breed and to me that means a lot! They are also well educated of the yorkie standard.
* But you still need to, as a buyer, check the breeder's ethics and how they run their breeding program to make sure. Testing is so important. Most of the breeders/exhibitors I know never make money and is not their goal, but their passion and love of the breed.

[lfbussell]

Around my area, Yorkies go for 450 - 800. These are from small breeders and they are AKC.
It all depends on your area of the country.

[Lilyshuman]

Originally Posted by fourdez

I guess you're right that paying a high price doesn't alway mean you will get a healthy Yorkie, but, FOR ME.... Paying a higher price means that I have the right to be a little more intrusive. I paid over $2000 for each of my 3 yorkies. I want to have several references, I want phone numbers, I want to speak to your Vet. I want to visit you several times. I want to call you when I have the slighest question. I got Ricky from California, I live in NY.. I had my sister (who lives in Cal.) visit several time. Sure, some breeders told me to take a hike, so me and my money did... I needed to make sure that if anything happened it wasn't because I didn't do the most that I possibly knew to do. I needed to have a clear conscience. So, far (knocking on wood) its worked out. Desi is 5 years old, Millie is 4 and Ricky is 3 and they are healthy.