which one ?
 

i recently had two old dogs pass away. it was a truly horrible experience, but we are ready for another two puppies. we had golden retriever/ border collie mixes, but now we have moved to a different area were they will not have that much room to exercise. therefore we are looking for a small dog. we have already decided on getting a cockapoo, but my 12 year old daughter would like a maltese or a yorkie. we do not want a yappy dog, and do not have much time at all for walks. we do have a medium sized back yard though. the dog would be left alone about 8 hours on weekdays, which i know is a lot. thanks in advance for all your help, it is greatly appreciated.:)

ps. im new to this im not really sure if im doing the right thing here, sorry

I'm not sure I understand your post?
You say you already decided on a cockapoo.
But if you are now considering a Yorkie or a Maltese instead, you need to read all you can on both breeds and make your decision based on your research. That is a decision only you can make.

A yorkie who is bored can become yappy. I have one who is "quiet" and one who is quite a talker. And despite the fact that they are small, they do need lots of exercise- they are terriers first, small in stature second.

The smaller the puppy, the more likely it is to develop hypoglycemia. 8 hours alone might be too long. You might want to consider adopting a slightly older (a year) pup to help minimize the chances with that.

Also, it's not clear from your post, are you planning on leaving the dog outside during the time you are gone? Yorkies are far too fragile to be outdoor dogs.

thanks for the reply :)

i think i am planning to crate train him, and i would not get him till the summer so he will be around 8 months or so old when he is left alone. also do u know if maltese need a walk to or do they need less exercise?

sorry :eek:

i meant we are getting two dogs, and one will be a cockapoo :)
i was wondering if maybe the yorkie has probs with bigger dogs?

I know nothing about "cockapoos," but neither Yorkies or Malteses should be left outside unsupervised. If the dog is going to be left outside alone for long periods of time, I would not recommend either of those breeds. I think maybe a medium sized dog would better suit your "needs."

Most dogs would benefit from the stimulation and the socialization a daily walk gives them. If for some reason you are physically incapable of walking a dog, then look at some alternatives such as a dog walker, and or doggy day care.

I can't speak to mixed breeds, I'm not even sure what a cockapoo is. But you want no matter what size dog you eventually select, a good temperament in each. Also you need to find given your preference for basically little activity, a dog that is more laid back and not a high energy dog.

All dogs can become Yappy. Big or small, makes no difference. What makes the difference is good training, appropriate exercise and stimulation.

yorkies are all Terriers and can be vocal at times. It is your job to train them to be quiet on command. But they will still alert you to someone walking on your driveway, past your front window, squirrels or birds in the backyard. They are feisty and fierce, but absolute little love bugs, and want and need lots of human companionship.

I believe in crate training wholeheartedly. It is good that you are thinking this way. How-ever the crate is not a substitute for interaction with your pup. It is best that it becomes their safe place, their den.

You mentioned a medium sized backyard. Your small breed dogs with play interaction on your part should be able to get lots of exercise, chasing and fetching toys, you can set up a bit of an obstacle course, and have lots of fun with the two when you are home from work.

Yorkies require daily care, in particular for their teeth, ie cleaning them. And if you keep the coat long, daily coat care.

For the other breeds you might be interested in, you will need to do your research on health issues, standard temperament, etc.

Good luck with your search.

Yorkies need to be walked. They are terriers. They are quite active and don't do well without lots of attention. Honestly, it doesn't sound like you have enough time to spend training, playing with, and giving the deserved attention to a yorkie. We walk a minimum of two miles daily. That's a minimum. Usually, it is more and sometimes twice that. We, also, have play time everyday. Yorkies require grooming appointments and most require weekly bathing and daily brushing and combing. The brushing and combing is a must unless you keep them in a very short cut. They also require a higher quality of food than grocery store brands. They can be prone to pancreatitis as well. Some have allergy issues. Others have problems with hypoglycemia as puppies. My yorkie spends the day with me. She, like most yorkies, does not like being left alone. They are people dogs and like to be around people. I don't know how big a cockapoo gets, but you would need to be very careful that a big dog playing doesn't cause injury - accidental or otherwise - to a small yorkie.

I don't want to cause trouble, but I'm just curious where everyone is getting the idea that the dog might be left outside alone for long periods of time. I thought the point of mentioning the yard was that they had a place where they could play with their dogs? If she feels the need to crate train her puppy, doesn't that mean her dogs will be indoor dogs?

I don't think everyone is getting the idea that the dog may be left outside for long periods. Only two replies have been asking if that was what the OP meant. I thought, like you, that they were just mentioning the yard to say they had a place for the dog to play.
Unfortunately the OP didn't make it clear.

I agree with everyone else pretty much. While I do believe that every dog can benefit from being walked, I do believe other things can occasionally take the walks place. But it truly depends on the dog. Jackson, for example, CAN do okay without a walk (but he usually gets 30-45 mins per day) but I need to replace that walk with other things. A game of fetch, trick training, tug-of-war, running. For example, bringing him to the dog park where he runs for 2-3 hours wears him out a whole lot more than a 30 minute walk.

However, if you "don't have time for walks" then what DO you have time for? Dogs in general take up ALOT of time and will need a lot of your attention. A Yorkie lacking training, exercise and attention will be one very annoying dog to live with. Like I said, they will need other forms of exercise to keep them in shape and a happy well balanced dog. Yorkies and terriers in particular are like a big dog in a little dog body and are hardy little canines who NEED exercise and stimulation. As do most dogs though. I would just re-think how much time you can devote to a dog before actually getting one.

Not everyone...just me. I misread. My apologies. :blush:

My apologies for over-generalizing and blaming people for making judgments. I was in a bad mood and should have gone with my gut instinct and not posted. I should have either stayed out of it or asked for clarification. Now I'm going to accept my embarrassment and bid adieu before I further hijack the thread.:Pawprint: :)

I have to agree with most posts. I apologize if this bursts your bubble, but as a "new" yorkie mom (I've had my baby boy for a year), and first time dog owner, a terrier is a wonderful handful to have. Here's my honest take on owning a yorkie.

Each dog is an individual. My dog does not bark. I'm not kidding or exagerating, he just doesn't do it. He'll make a cute sigh, screech, do the most annoying high pitched whimper/cry and other things, but he will not bark. It is a rare "treat" to hear him use his man voice. He is genuinely mellow, and is for the most part content to sit by my side while I do what I gotta do. BUT.... even he demands his play times. If ignored, or overlooked for too many days, he'll get up at 3 am demanding playtime. No, I'm not joking. Even if I give him everyday playtime, and stimulation with dog puzzle games (no, not kidding there either) physically he still needs his exercise. He has grade 3/4 LP (I suggest you look that up, it's a common problem in poorly bred yorkies) which means if he goes up in weight by .5 lbs, his knee caps pop out more than usual. I'm struggling right now to get his weight back down. Before, when I walked him 5 times a day, we never had to worry about that problem, but now that we live in a teeny apartment, with no option to walk, we struggle with his weight.

Their coat is a blessing and a curse. I love that it's hair and not "fur" because he doesn't shed, and his coat is just so soft and gorgeous. BUT, even with a short cut, it's a lot of work. Yorkies are definitely not for the lazy. But, I can guarantee you that if you decide that even with all the work you must put in to them, they are totally worth it. They're little people dogs that love to love. It's my favorite part to come home from work to have a little creature do the happy dance for me. :)

I was one who wasn't sure, that's why I asked for (and received ) clarification.