New here and a little worried about getting a male...

[heartmyyorkie]

Hi all this is my first post. I am getting a yorkie puppy and the breeder that I am using has a boy that will be ready in May. My husband really wanted a girl because he is afraid that boy will mark. We will have him neutered whenever the vet says it's ok. Do you think that I should wait for a girl? or is this just me over-worrying?

[memphis10]

We have 4 dogs of which 3 are males (not all Yorkies). We prefer male dogs. I think they are more cuddly and they don't damage your lawn with their urine. I think the key is to train them well from the get go as far as doing their business. Our little guy did mark a bit but we do have other dogs in the house which is a trigger and once we had him neutered the instance of that did drop after about a week. Now he's pretty consistent about not marking and going outside to do his biz. I would stick with the male you have chosen.

[Chrissybear]

Gizmo started to mark around the house and he even marked my foot! I caught him a few times marking in the house and scolled him and he never did it again. He knows now he can mark outside all he wants just not inside!

[OwnedByJezebel]

I have a male that I took in 5 months ago when he needed a new home. He was neutered and a little over a year old when I got him. In the five months I've had him, he has not marked once. Not in the house, not in the yard, not at the dog park, not when we go for a walk, not ever. I don't know how the previous owners accomplished this, but obviously it is quite possible to do.

[ArmaniMan]

I prefer male dogs as well. They are more cuddly and loveable- it is kind of hard to explain because all my female dogs have always been really cuddly too but it is so different with males.

[teacup0819]

I had a male yorkshire terrier and he never marked in our house. He marked quite a bit outside and marked in my neighbors house once when we were visiting, but not in ours. He was neutered also.

[katarina]

I also had my heart set on a girl but the breeder only had one male left and I couldn't leave that little face. So far potty training hasn't been too bad he's 14 weeks old.

[Perrella]

I agree there is a difference with males being more cuddly and wanting to be with you at all times, like a shadow.

I have always had females and for me, it was strickly due to marking. I had my moms little Chi for 7 yrs after she passed away and I was able to get him to not mark as often. However, I believe they learn not to do it in front on you, but occasionally I would find a spot. He always went to the same spots, corner of the couch or the corner of the bedframe leg. Also, if another dog came to visit, you betcha, I would find a spot.

Since you don't have the puppy yet, reach deep before you make a choice. Should you get a male, best case...can you deal with an occasional marking, worst case...can you deal with using belly bands.

If not, then I don't think it's fair to home a male and then find you are unhappy with him because he does what comes natural. I do know there some males that probably never seems to have much issues with marking, but it doesn't apply to all, some are more fortunate than others.

Good luck with your choice. Congrats and will look forward to meeting your new baby when it comes along.

[Britster]

Jackson marks outdoors at dog parks, and places other dogs have been on our walks, but he's not obsessive about it. He still squats to pee at home and has never marked indoors anywhere. He was neutered at 7 months.

I am a dogsitter and all my dogs I walk are currently males... NONE of them except one even lift their leg to pee at all - they are all squatters! LOL. And none even mark at all period. Breeds range from Rottweilers, to Labs, to Boxers and a few in between. They were all neutered around the 6 month point. However my dads female JRT marks as did my moms female cockapoo and my aunts female Husky.

I believe it's something that can be trained but I also believe it can be totally prevented if neutered at an appropriate time.

[megansmomma]

My boys are much more cuddly than my girl. Overall Yorkies are very difficult to potty train whether boys or girls. Marking can be stopped inside with a belly band if needed.

[RachelandSadie]

Bentley only marks in places that LOTS of other dogs have marked. In the yard he just pees when he has to and he never marks in the house or indoor places. He wasn't neutered until he was 10 months which is kinda late for most dogs. He's fine though and he's super cuddly and sweet. don't tell sadie but he's kinda become my favorite

[Mardelin]

I love my boys. Contrary to what everyone says that boys mark....well so do girls....you just can't catch them like you can boys.

As far as potty training a yorkie, I've never had difficulty, the key is consistency.......

[fasttheo]

To echo what a few others have said, Elliott only really marks where lots of other dogs have been. He never did it in the house. It makes me laugh to see this little 4 lb. dog kicking the dirt and acting like the big guy on the block when he marks.

[Suze225]

I have one of each. Jett is 20 weeks old today, we have not had issues with marking. Of course, he is just a baby.....if you get them fixed, early I have heard there really is no issues with marking at all. I love both of my dogs, and are both my babies, I have no preference between the sexes at this point. Love them all the same!!!

[KazzyK810]

Think about it and get what you want. Healthy yorkies have a long life span so getting a yorkie pup is a long term commitment.

I was raised with both male & female yorkies in my extended family. There were males I loved & females I loved, and some of each sex that I didn't care for as much. How a pup behaves has soooo much to do with how it is raised & trained.

I've noticed I've put the most effort into training my new puppy in the areas that bother me the most. I've alot of money invested in the quality of my home furnishings so my pup is completely potty trained to her pads at 14 weeks old, but I've logged the hours training her and will continue to reinforce. If that means giving her kibble treats for the rest of her life when she uses her pads, that's what I'll do, because it's a high priority to me.