I've a client that has bought two of my puppies. However, she adores the sire of one of the girls. The sire is the boy in my Avatar. She always says if you ever want a home for Charmer, I'll take him. I always joke back at her, well if you've got $10,000 and a new model Mercedes we'll discuss it.

CKC (Canadian) is the same. Or at least I think it is, I don't show but my breeder and I talk about showing a lot, and I've groomed for her at shows before.

I know a 10-15lb Yorkie. his name is Newton, and we always joke that he ate way too many Fig Newtons.. I absolutely adore him, he's a lot heavier than my little 3lbs boy, he's like a big fluffy teady bear, next to my little beanie baby. :)

A lot of my friends or people I know have asked me how much I paid for Dolly, especially when they see how sweet and entertaining she is. If it's someone who I think is asking because they're starting to want a cute small dog to put in their purse, I tell them she cost me more than $5,000 in the 1st 6 months, including vet bills, good food to prevent health problems, toys, treats, puppy school, gas money to go home at lunch every day to let her out since she's so small, etc etc etc. And I make sure to include that I keep at least $1,000 in savings for an emergency vet bill because small dogs get hurt so easily.
I think a lot of people ask because they want a cute little purse dog, more like an accessory than a pet. I hope to give them a dose of reality by always including the cost of owning the dog, not just the initial purchase price. A lot of my friends have asked but once they hear all that they change their minds!

OMG parents used to have me do that to thier children who wanted horses (I'm a riding instructor) and that totally works, never thought of using it when people ask me about price. Another thing I always add in when I'm asked is that I don't feel comfortable telling a price because price is subject to change. I don't feel it's my place to quote the breeders price if she doesn't display it online. One day she may have a rescue for sale at cost (obviously to a good home) and the next she may have pups from champion parents.

You can see Jackson compared to his little friends, Nala (5.6lbs) and Bandit (4.5lbs).
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/att...h-img_8585.jpg
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/att...n-img_4508.jpg
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/att...s-img_2504.jpg

This is when Nala was a pup, so she was probably only like 2-3lbs. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/att...s-img_2501.jpg

I've told people who have asked "Not as much as I'll be spending on vet bills, food and keeping them happy."

hahaha. (im laughing because im the person that asks that question!)

i dont own a yorkie yet & still looking....but when i ask "how much..." its not to make it seem like your dog is some kinda product....i just want to get a good idea of how much i should be paying for a healthy yorkie. now im not just a bandwagoner whos joining the whole "purse puppy" trend...ive wanted a yorkie for years but never could (my mom finally agreed to let me get one:D)! when i talk to owners i also ask bout vet bills & food & good yorkie products. im only 19 & never owned or bought a dog...so all of this is new to me....prices...what to look for...pedigrees... so me asking how much is only me doin research. if i didnt i would go out & buy a $5000-$10,000 dollar yorkie thinkin it a reasonable price!

BUT!....now that ive found yorkie talk...theres no neeed for me to piss off owners askin them how much they paid. ;)

IMO, yes, it's rude. Just as I would think it inappropriate to ask someone how much they pay for their car, or house or anything else that can be considered a personal finance. (My husband's family does this all the time and it drives me nuts. Mainly because I know when they do it, it's always with some hidden motive....something they can run back and gossip about.)

If I'm ever asked, I try to skirt around the subject. I'll say, "Why, are you intrested in getting a Yorkie for yourself?" Generally, that's usually enough of a hint to the other person.

Yes I think its rude.When people say how much did she cost I just say well she was worth it regardless of price.

I didn't read everyone else's posts....BUT I get asked that by nearly everyone too!! :eek: It's amazing how no one seems to understand just how RUDE that is, isn't it?! My canned response is, "just as much as any other purebred dog!" Really, I thought Yorkies were alone in how much they were...only because we only had mutts when I was a kid...but most other breeds have about the same price range. (Of course, there's a wide range in price for Yorkies...just like all the other breeds too!) Sometimes I also say "Well, she wasn't free!" No one ever persists with that line of questioning after I say either of those 2 things.

(Note: I HATE to lie, so that's why I came up with those 2 responses. They're both true, but I also just side-stepped their question. AND I don't really care if it's obvious I side-stepped it....maybe a little light will "ding" on in their heads that they were being rude for asking. Probably not though :rolleyes:)

I don't think anyone answered your question (I might have missed it though???)....

The AKC, CKC, and KC (the Kennel Club in the UK) breed standards are ALL "not to exceed 7 lbs". HOWEVER, there are lots of purebred Yorkies that are larger than 7 lbs...and that doesn't make them any less "Yorkie"!!!

My Bella is ~4.5 lbs, and some people say, "Wow, she really tiny!!" because they've only seen larger Yorkies. And some people say, "She must be a bigger Yorkie" because I guess they've only seen smaller ones?! Either way, I always say, "The breed standard is 7 lbs and under, and she's on the small side of what reputable breeders breed for...anything larger than 7 lbs is considered "off-standard", but that doesn't make any difference for a pet, and anything smaller than 4 lbs is usually the small one in the litter (or runt)." Not sure if that's true, but some people seem to think 2 lb'ers are the norm, so I try to "educate" them that 2 lb'ers are extra tiny, and shouldn't be considered the norm!!

Personally, I think making comments on her size (as being either too small or too big) is about as rude as asking how much!! She's perfect just the way she is! :D

(A lot of people do ask me "How old is she?" and/or "How much bigger will she get?" or "Will she get any bigger?", and for some reason these don't bother me at all. I think they're trying to ask about her size WITHOUT being rude, and I appreciate the effort! ;))

i feel really mixed about this subject. YEA i understand it can be rude to ask people how much they paid on ANY living thing....but from SOME of the responses ive read on this thread i feel like your putting it in peoples heads that yorkies are nothing but a Finacial burden...& "if you dont have enough money...then you dont deserve one!" i have a BEAUTIFUL 10 year old cat me & her been through so much together...i consider her to be my baby/ lil sister. ive had people come to my house..they'll see her & go " omg where did you get her from....how much did you pay for her!?" (i actually got her for free!:D)...But if i did pay anything i would tell them....& ill also mention the pros & cons of having her. who gave us the right to judge who deserves a yorkie & who doesnt just by a simple question? if you dont want to tell us how much you paid....tell us you dont like talking about your yorkie in that way...we'll understand.

PERSONALLY, i feel like theres nothing wrong with that question. maybe because im on the otherside. but a REAL RUDE question would be..."what color underwear are you wearing?" ....now thats something to be offended at!!:rolleyes: