New here, considering a yorkie

[JennieC]

Hi everyone

Lets see, I am wanting to get a pet for my daughter for christmas. But I am allergic to cats so no kittys.

I looked at lots of pets, and we live in a townhome, and dont have a private yard, but have a large play/walk area. So i figured a small dog would be better than a large one.

looking and looking brought me to yorkies. they are beautiful. smart, sweet.

but i do see a lot about children and yorkies. and about younger children can be a problem.

so i figured I would ask real people for real advice instad of just looking online for a bunch of random info lol.

my daughter is 8 years old. she loves animals, and is so nice with my parents cats and dog. she has owned a cat before (hence how i know im allergic lol) and she was careful and calm with the kitten.

i was thinking a yorkie would be best because of how intelligent and loyal they are. and how they are wonderful companions. my daughter is autistic, and the only friends she has is a collection of rocks on our back porch (yes, the rocks are her friends...) and a 3 year old little girl who plays with her on the playground often.

so i wanted something that would be a constant companion.


please let me know if an 8 year old would be ok with a yorkie.


(of course i would be in charge with the yorkies care lol)

[LunasMomma]

Welcome to YorkieTalk

Your daughter sounds like she'd be wonderful with a little dog. Of course, constant supervision for the dogs' safety would be important, but lots of people with children have Yorkies

Were you thinking of a puppy, or an adult rescue?

[yorkieusa]

I know someone with an autistic daughter. They don't have yorkies, but do have two small chihuahuas and they have helped her a great deal.

[Danirenae]

Hello! Welcome to YT! I think your daughter would love a Yorkie!!!

I have a son with a seizure disorder and autism.....and Bella is great with him. He has done a whole lot better just having her around. My son has grown up with animals, but there is just something different about Bella.

Obviously there is constant supervision as I am a stay at home mommy. But Bella goes wherever I go

[Coton Momma]

Welcome to the best small breed message board on the net! You will find YT a wonderful resource.

You might not be able to get a pup for Christmas and that isn't a bad thing. A pup is a LOT of work and Christmas brings it's own stress. Depending on your area finding a good breeder with the right pup can take a while. Maybe get some dog things and wrap them up and tell your daughter they will be for her new friend . She might enjoy helping you look too.

I would advise you look for a pup that will be on the larger side when grown. Folks here call them Teapot Yorkies Also, temperament does have a genetic factor so you are looking for calm parents. A GOOD breeder will work with you on this. You will find the people here very knowledgeable and helpful. They are also a good resource for checking on breeders if you feel comfortable giving out your general location and how far you would be willing to travel.

[CouversMom]

I think a yorkie would be a great companion for your daughter It sounds like she would be gentle, but I would encourage constant supervision with them. I think it would be great for your daughter to have a friend.

Just remember, dogs should not be Christmas presents... they are a lifetime commitment

[chachi]

Your daughter is a great age to have a yorkie. You will need to supervise but she is old enough to be taught how to treat a young pup

[Joyce Adams]

Welcome and I agree that a Yorkie would probably work well with your daughter with supervision..I love that she like rocks as friends,,they can be so interesting..

[betsykantro]

I have an autistic 8 year old son who has been around small dogs and cats his whole life. He does much better with animals than with people. A yorkie could be the right choice for your daughter. You could also consider a service dog trained specifically to work with your daughter. We are on the waiting list to get a service dog for my son.

[beachdog]

Welcome! My Paris is 13 lb Yorkie, they are wonderful companions. A tiny Yorkie he is NOT! The advice on giving dog items and waiting till you find the right dog is very good advice. Congrats!

[JakesMom]

A yorkie is such a wonderful friend, companion and just a love.
Have had yorkies most of my life and my daughter who has allergies is fine around my yorkies.
So important to consider the work involved as far as training, etc.

[R_Z]

Welcome. Yorkies are awesome dogs. Your daughter will love it and so will you. My wife was luke warm to the idea, but now she's madly in love with Bailey (even though he sticks to my side like glue). As others have mentioned, you might want to consider adoption or rescue. As for Christmas gift, unless you already have one in mind, perhaps giving your daughter an envelope with a picture of a Yorkie and a gift certificate to pick one out would be nice. Then you and she can go together and find the one that melts your heart stings. Good luck!

[DJDB]

I think 8 yrs old is old enough for a yorkie as long as you do feel like your daughter will respect the animal. I think toddlers and yorkies should never be mixed. In fact, toddlers with any animal, because TYPICALLY they are not able to understand enough to not hurt them.

Good luck in your yorkie search! Since we've had our Oz we can't believe we waited so long to add a yorkie to our home. He is truly the best dog I've ever met and has made us laugh every single day.

[morkieholly]

We have an 8 year old and a yorkie mix. They play really good together. Constant supervision is best though! Good luck on your search!

[Nancy1999]

I love Yorkies, but I think there are better dogs for your daughter than a Yorkie. I'm thinking of one that's would be protective of her and if she hugs too tight, it wouldn't get scared and bite. Yorkies can be hyper, and I think some can be a real challenge, but that's why I love them. However, if I wanted to get my autistic daughter a companion, I would look at another breed. I don’t think you need a yard for even a large dog, as long as you are committed to walking them. Goldens are wonderful dogs, and are great companions. If your dead set on a Yorkie, I would look for an adult dog who’s mellow. Sometimes breeders have great adults and of course, there's rescues. I mean a lot of people are saying constant supervision is a must, do you really want to do that? It would be nice to have a dog who could protect your daughter as much as you do.