Difference in Yorkie prices

[natalie]

Is there a difference between the thousand dollar babies and the hundred dollar ones? The price gap on yorkies is pretty large, ranging from $300.00 males and $400.00 females to $2,000.00 dollar males and $2,500 females, give or take a few.

Does it depend on the breeder?
I mean, how do breeders price their little pups?

[orinskye]

depends on teh breeder....... breeders sometimes hike up their prices during valentines and christmas holidays, i have noticed a trend that the smaller the pup, the more it is going to cost. I got my toby for $500 and he is 5 motnhs and 8 lbs....this was one of the only ads in my area advertising puppies for less than 1000.....

[chachi]

I just believe the pricing is based upon the location and venue they are using to sell and the going price. When I first started looking at Yorkies on the internet the prices were in the 1000-$3000.00 range then I found a breeder in my state and paid $650.00 for a tiny yorkie. The price also goes up if the words teacup, babydoll face or tiny are used. It also seems small breeders are more reasonable priced than kennel breeders.

[Harbinger]

I paid $1200 for my Sheila and she was pick of the litter from a very reptable breeder with papers, microchip 1st set of shots and most importantly (well to me) a lineage I could trace back. Not so much for show quality status but for health reasons and piece of mind. After looking the price seemed fair, same for male or female and no mention of teacup or any other warning signs. The breeder was far out of the city (6 hour drive) and my sister drove her up for me when I got her.

What I DID find was in Toronto (for those that don't know it's a very large urban city) the prices were outrageous and that's without papers and backyard breeders. Toy dogs are a hot commodity in large urban areas and sadly that results in a lot of bad breeders in it for the cash and not the betterment of the breed. The groomer at the daycare I leave Sheila at says she sees 10-15 pound Yorkies all the time and the smaller ones (read: breed standard) are the exeption.

In no way am I saying you can't absolutely love a Yorkie larger than 7 pounds (AKC, CKC etc standard) but IMHO a breeder should not mate one larger than the standard. SO to make a long story short... what I have is a Yorkie I adore and a true representation of the breed.

I am sorry if I come off as a snob or offend anyone . I grew up around the show circuit and believe in maintaining the integrity of the breed, any breed. Breeders that are in it for the money and not in it for the breed are a sad fact of life I guess. I don't mind paying more maybe because I know how much it costs breeders to campaign a dog and maintain a good kennel with happy/healthy dogs.

Here is a link to Sheila's breeders. Her daddy is Oreo .

[chachi]

I agree!!! If my Chachi would end up a seven pound healthy dog I would be happy. I also purchased from a breeder who had grand champion lineage. The puppies I have purchased from her are small. I also bought Chachi's sister she is 1/2 pound the size of a hamster. She is still with the breeder because she now has hypoglycemia. When you purchase dogs that are smaller than the standard you could be taking on a dog with health problems and you just have to realize that is what you are taking on. What is sad is that there are people searching for a babydoll face(I have yet to see a Yorkie that doesn't have a babydoll face) teacup yorkie and are desperate to purchase one. I know I was one of them. They are never told that these are just small Yorkies (all Yorkies are tiny it's a toy breed) and they can have alot of potential health problems.

[orinskye]

well Harbinger..... you are entitled to youre opinion.... and i do second that toy dogs are bred in bad conditions by bad breeders more and more these days..... BUT...... what i dont agree with is the standard you hold so tightly too....... do you even realize that the yorkie USED TO BE much larger than the 7lb standard ideal you hold too???? yorkies used to be 10 or 15 lbs way back when they were workign dogs.... i myself have toby who is 8 lbs at 5 months old..... im not an advocate for larger yorkies but i think the restrictions that people place on teh breed is a little hard to stomach.... why on earth is the "standard" 4-7 lbs??? especially when the breed used to be like twice that weight!!!..... i think the standard is ridiculous, you get youre "fatties" or larger yorkies in every lineage, and i think teh akc is somewhat suporting the "toy dog trend" by making the 'standard' smaller....... i honestly think the norm yorkie is above 7lbs......

[ArmyTysGirl]

Tyler got Maggie for $500 & she weighs 2.5lbs at 4 months. I think it has to do with where you live too. I live in the country in a VERY small city & AKC Yorkies sell for around $400 - $600. I used to work for the big Vet in town where all the breeders came, so I now a lot about that stuff.

[schatzie]

I think this is a great thread!! I myself have and honestly still do question the same as you, Natalie.

I would really like to know what the breeder's on this forum have to reply to this...

I myself feel that a breeder in their right mind should be in it for the money. Heck why not? As long as they are maintaining the wellness of the breed standard, live up to the expectations as a breeder should, love what they do then yes, by all means you deserve to get paid for all you give it.

Think about it...A job is a job. A breeder? It's also their job, a lively hood and they should feel darn proud for doing a great job and take it seriously with pride if this is how they look at it.

My husband and I are self employeed. We keep up with all the expectations in our line of work as required. We put in long hours, work weekends and cover for employee's when they feel the need to not work. We follow all the standards required by state law, etc. We also are not the less expenisive in our line of work, infact we are quite high and admit to it, in fact realize we do not get all the buisness because of our costs. We pay our taxes, plan for retirement and vacation like everybody else. But most of all and the point to all this is we love what we do and remember why we are in the field that we are, and in our case it is for "people"....(patients) So, with this said. If a breeder can always remember why they are breeders to begin with, the loyalty to the breed, the care for people who adopt these puppies, and are willing to work their rears off then by all means go ahead and charge a little extra if need be. Just don't sugar coat your costs with non-realistic terms.

Behind all these puppies are breeders, and it is their job and yes deserved to be paid for their services. I will never have a problem with that...As long as that sale is an honest one...

[YorkieRose]

One thing that determines price is the cost of living in the area...VET fees have gone through the ceiling in many cities. I have had several friends retire from breeding as a hobby..it is not affordable. My MD vet recently retired..a c-section was $300/400 for me depending on night or day..now the ER vet starts at $1400. New York area is even higher...a dental cleaning can run $300 and more..Midwest vets charge a faction of east/west coast vets..I have my first vet appt on Monday here in Florida and will get an idea. I know there are alot of vets advertizing discount coupons in the papers..a vet on very corner it seems...never saw this in MD..very few vets compared to here.

[waistfull]

I paid 1000 for my Cricket. The breeders had her parents (beautiful)for us to see, with papers(AKC) of her lineage. Her grandfather has 3 pages of championship wins. I didn't care about the championships, they had pictures of puppies from previous litters with owners names and numbers. I will most likely go back to get another puppy from them when the time is right.
Just down the street is a pet store with a yorkie pup in there. She is APR and costs 1500! I live in Maryland, close to Washington D.C.

[Harbinger]

Hi Orinskye, yes I do know that the breed used to be much larger and all about how it came into being. It is a newer breed after all and has quite the heritage. I'm not sure why the AKC/CKC and all the other major kennel clubs have set the breed at less than 7 pounds, but they have. However from what I know they all have the best interests of the breed in mind and health is a concern to them. You may think the standard is ridiculous and that is your right no questions asked. I would love to get a show breeders opinion here as would others.

My experience is with SLH Dachshunds and PBGV's both breeds I love and I miss my Tommy who is a dachsie who will allways live in my heart . He won puppy in his class first show and went on to get his CDN, USA and Bermuda championship in no time. I knew a breeder early on with PBGV's before it was recognized in North America and trust me they are serious about their breed and I can only imagine the Yorkie is no different.

Maybe it just comes down to how you feel about the whole dog show thing? The teacup yorkie is what is maybe bad for the breed and too many breeders are perhaps trying for it. But a 4-7 pound Yorkie should be just fine. Some go under or over? no worries.

Like I said you can love a 2 pound Yorkie just as much as a 12 pound Yorkie and you should . I just feel that breeders should adhere to their Countries standard.

Here is something from the breeder Sheila comes from. I believe they say it better than I can. All they say is true and a good breeder does really care.

We breed on a limited basis and our Yorkies are pets first and show dogs second. Quality is much more important to us than quantity. We breed for soundness and temperment. This is our trademark and we are very proud that most people can pick out a Rusticpride Yorkie from the others.


It is our belief that nothing can replace the handling and socialization that the breeder provides before you buy a puppy. It is our practice, as soon as puppies are up on their feet and can move around to let them have free run of the house. In this way they experience all the noise of everyday living (vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, mops, brooms, etc). We also get down on the floor with them several times a day and handle them, make noises and let them crawl on us. We have converted a spare bedroom into a puppy room that we use for the puppies for night time sleeping or while we are away from the home. It is bright, airy, and they have lots of toys to occupy their little minds and their exploring nature. Our puppies and adult Yorkies play together. This helps to develop their social skills.


If the weather is warm enough they even get outdoor time on the grass. All shots are given when due. Since our puppies are well socialized, crave human contact, and know what good care is (timely feedings, water available at all times, immediate vet care and pain medication), we are extremely critical of the homes in which they are placed. High priorities are placed on "part of family" living environment and a safe fenced play area. All pets are sold on non-breeding and spay/neuter contracts. After the placement of the puppy we are in the habit of periodic follow-ups with the new owner. This is done to answer any questions and ease our own mind that the dog is adjusting well to its new home. Rusticpride puppies come with a health guarantee.


All these things are what differentiate a quality breeder puppy from the pet store and backyard (for money) variety. We have worked hard for many years to build and achieve a reputation as a breeder of choice for quality, healthy, well socialized Yorkie puppies. Our experience has been that buyers who rush into the purchase of a puppy with wild abandon, on the whim of the moment, are often disappointed. Worst yet, these are the types of situations that are often disastrous for the puppy. We are looking for patient, educated buyers who understand that buying a dog is a lifetime commitment. Dogs are living creatures capable of feeling and an almost unlimited capacity for love. Our puppies have been raised to crave such an environment. We owe them nothing less than the assurance that this is the kind of life they will have.

[Oscar's Mom]

Originally Posted by schatzie

I think this is a great thread!! I myself have and honestly still do question the same as you, Natalie.

I would really like to know what the breeder's on this forum have to reply to this...

I myself feel that a breeder in their right mind should be in it for the money. Heck why not? As long as they are maintaining the wellness of the breed standard, live up to the expectations as a breeder should, love what they do then yes, by all means you deserve to get paid for all you give it.

Think about it...A job is a job. A breeder? It's also their job, a lively hood and they should feel darn proud for doing a great job and take it seriously with pride if this is how they look at it.

My husband and I are self employeed. We keep up with all the expectations in our line of work as required. We put in long hours, work weekends and cover for employee's when they feel the need to not work. We follow all the standards required by state law, etc. We also are not the less expenisive in our line of work, infact we are quite high and admit to it, in fact realize we do not get all the buisness because of our costs. We pay our taxes, plan for retirement and vacation like everybody else. But most of all and the point to all this is we love what we do and remember why we are in the field that we are, and in our case it is for "people"....(patients) So, with this said. If a breeder can always remember why they are breeders to begin with, the loyalty to the breed, the care for people who adopt these puppies, and are willing to work their rears off then by all means go ahead and charge a little extra if need be. Just don't sugar coat your costs with non-realistic terms.

Behind all these puppies are breeders, and it is their job and yes deserved to be paid for their services. I will never have a problem with that...As long as that sale is an honest one...

You are ABSOLUTELY right! We used to raise American Bulldogs. We raised one litter of 8 pups. We went to all the American Bulldog shows from South Carolina to Alabama, and there were a lot of them...sometimes 5 a year. That is not a cheap thing to do either. If you do show dogs, provide proper kennel environments, vet them properly, feed premium food and so on, there is no money to be made raising dogs. We used to say that if you did it right, it was just an expensive hobby. In one year alone, we spent over $10,000.00 on kennels, vet bills and show expenses.

My husband and I are self employed as well, and for the sake our our bulldogs, we placed them all in homes because we traveled so much and could not trust anyone to take care of them and give them the extra time that they needed. It was a sacrifice, but had to be made.

In my opinion, the love of the breed and the betterment of the breed is of utmost importance. Find a breeder that bears these things in mind and you can't go wrong. The lady I got Oscar from is elderly. She does not show her dogs but she cares for them in her home...not one is a kennel or yard dog...she loves them and it shows. He was loved before I ever got him. Best of luck in finding that special Yorkie...

Oscar's Mom

[chachi]

Everyone has a right to love and be proud of their dog regardless if it came from a "quality Breeder" , pet store, or backyard breeder. The owner shares no burden for dogs being born out of the standard. Many yorkies come from small breeders and need loving homes. The amount you pay for the dog does not determine the new owners love for it. If someone has to feel their dog is substandard to reply on this board then the forums name should be charged to Forum for Standard Yorkie Owners only. Unfortunately that leaves out many people from this forum as I can see.

[sshaw]

Originally Posted by chachi

Everyone has a right to love and be proud of their dog regardless if it came from a "quality Breeder" , pet store, or backyard breeder. The owner shares no burden for dogs being born out of the standard. Many yorkies come from small breeders and need loving homes. The amount you pay for the dog does not determine the new owners love for it. If someone has to feel their dog is substandard to reply on this board then the forums name should be charged to Forum for Standard Yorkie Owners only. Unfortunately that leaves out many people from this forum as I can see.

Could not agree more! Yorkies, no matter the size or price paid, or where purchased are precious! I prefer 3 lbs and less. I have raised 4, one at a time, and they have all been my precious little angels. I lost my little angel in October, and am still heart broken, but have purchased another little girl who was born on January 20th. Her name I think will be “Jasmine”, and I go and visit with her every week. She is still no bigger than a mouse.

Sue

[chachi]

Jasmine is such a pretty name!!!!! Your going to have to post some pictures of your tiny girl when you get her. I bet shes a dollbaby!!!