I need help w/boyfriend letting me get a yorkie!!!
 

I have had several types of dog breeds growing up but I have always wanted a yorkie! They seem adorable and I want a cuddle buddy as my boyfriend (who I have just become engaged to) works nights. I really am uneducated as of how yorkies are as pets and so is my boyfriend as he has always had large dogs and we currently have Brandy, a female german shepherd.

I need help on what I can say to my boyfriend to convince him to let me get a yorkie! His mom has Rocky, a 5 year old male yorkie, who my boyfriend claims has a very hard time not going to the bathroom in the house and is much more difficult to train and properly take care of then say Brandy, his german shepherd (I will admit that he has trained Brandy so well and she is so smart that she seems more like a human than a dog!).

How difficult is it to potty train a yorkie and what is a good amount of time that needs to be spent with a yorkie each day to give a proper amount of love and attention?

Hi, and welcome to YT. The members here are great & can offer you lots of help & advice if you do get a yorkie.

I can tell you that your boyfriend is right, yorkies have tiny bladders and are generally much harder to house train than larger dogs. Its also important to understand that they are very attached to their people, so it's not fair to leave them home alone for hours on end. I would NEVER leave a young pup home alone for more than a few hours because I would worry about their blood sugar levels. When they are adults, leaving them for awhile is not such worry.

Having said all of that, I would never be without a yorkie (or 4 lol). They are happy, loving dogs.

I rescued my first yorkies 25 years ago because no breeder would sell a puppy to me since I had very young children at the time. I adoped a pair of larger yorkies from the pound, and taught my boys to be very careful with them. Since then, I've always had rescue yorkies. I definately think they require more care and attention that most larger dogs, but they are well worth the extra effort!

If you do get a yorkie, spend as much time here as you can. you will get tons of help & support! Good luck in your decision! Lori

Welcome to YT. Having had a lab rescue-who potty trained himself in less than 1 day- and a yorkie, I will say that the yorkie is absolutely, positively a nightmare to potty train. I will also never be without a yorkie ever again. They are the most loving, fun, entertaining dogs on the planet. There is never a dull moment, as Huey is always doing something that cracks us up. If you work days and your bf works nights, IMO that is the perfect situation. I am nights, dh is days and Huey only has 2 or 3 hours of alone time 4 or 5 days a week. Yorkies do not like to be without their humans for very long. That is why they are called velcro dogs. A yorkie will follow you to the bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, wherever you go. You will find that you don't want to take a vacation unless it is a dog friendly spot. You can't wait to get home from work because you know that bundle of love is anxiously waiting for you, knows what time you are supposed to be home, and gets tore up if you are late! A yorkie is a long term commitment, as they can live 15 to 18 years, and they can have expensive health issues. Weigh the pros and cons, and if you decide to get one, welcome to the wonderful world of yorkies!
This forum has tons of great information that can help you make that decision, so check out the different areas and absorb the knowledge!:D

Thank you for your advise and help!! I am already shopping for breeders, if I don't rescue a yorkie first. I must admit I am very excited at the thought of having a yorkie and the companionship. I try to not be a jealous person but it does get to me in a way (and sometimes it makes me feel a bit lonely) how Brandy, my BF's german shepherd, only listens to him and she seems like a yorkie herself in the aspect that she literally will follow him to and from the bathroom and wants and tries to go where ever he goes lol! The main issue I am worried about is if getting a yorkie would cause us to argue or come with too much added stress in the beginning. My boyfriend is not much of a small dog person, unlike me, and would probably joke/tease me about how great and smart Brandy is compared to my new baby (which I would not take lightly bc I am already in love with which ever yorkie I adopt or pick out in the near future and see them as my own child). I know every yorkie is different but what can I expect on how long it would probably take to potty train? I would love for my yorkie to be able to do tricks like Brandy and would these be possible?: My bf can look at Brandy (no matter where we are in the house) and say "go to bed" and she'll go upstairs and jump up on the bed. Or if we are outside he'll say "Brandy, go potty" and she'll go potty within seconds after given the command. Like I said earlier, I don't have any experience with yorkies so I do not know but are these things I could possibly teach to my new yorkie??

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. :) These are the things I would consider in making your decision:

1) You already mentioned potty training. There are a number of people here who had an easy time with it and the dogs are 100% reliable, but I would say that the majority of people have problems.

2) Potential health care costs: possible liver shunts, broken legs, pancreatitis. Each of these can cost a $1,500 to $3,000 or more. Cost of routine vet care is substantial. Small dogs also tend to need more dental care.

3) What are your living arrangements -- house or apartment -- and how will things work with a large German Shepherd and a small Yorkie? Training that combination of dogs is not for everyone. It's beyond my capabilities and comfort level.

4) While Yorkies can be cuddle bugs, most need lots of exercise and activity. Will this fit into your schedule?

5) Do you like to travel and/or bring Brandy along? Traveling with 2 dogs is much more work than 1. Same with making arrangements for care if you leave them at home.

Wishing you the best in making your decision.

Hello and Welcome to YT. "Yorkies For Dummies" is the first one I recommend. ."Yorkshire Terriers: A Smart Owners Guide" is the second book. These are excellent resource books .Another book "How to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days" Is very helpful. They are not as easy to housebreak.

Well, my first thought is to get a new boyfriend, lol. I'm sorry, I'm just don't believe in a woman having to ask her partner's permission. He's your mate, not your dad!

Anyhoo, that aside. You definitely need to have a heart to heart with him about what you want. It does make it much easier if you're both on the same page.

Research everything you can about Yorkies while you are searching for your perfect pup. Start putting money back NOW. You can plan to spend around $1500 in the first year, and that's on top of the cost of your pup. Vet visits, vaccinations, insurance, food, grooming, spay/neuter; and these are just costs you can budget for. Illness or injury is another story altogether. And then there's the supplies - harnesses, leashes, bed, crate and or ex pen, and on and on.

What others have said is spot on. Consider your lifestyle and how well a tiny pup will fit in. Can you and are you willing to make concessions for a little one? Are you ready for a 15-20 year commitment?

Good luck with the BF!

My husband did not want a little dog either but needless to say, he is my husband, not my Daddy. We now have 4 little dogs, Scooter-Yorkie-poo, Sadie-100 percent pure silky, with the attitude and all, Thor-Yorkie-poo and Little Bit-Yorkie-Poo. Scooter, Sadie and Thor are all 100 percent housebroken, Little Bit still has accidents and he is two, Thor is his brother, same litter but Thor is also a lot bigger. Hubby would kill anyone who tried to mess with his babies, as he calls them. Most people think they dont like little dogs but once they get one, that all changes. Good luck

welcome to YT.... I have to say I too will never be without a yorkie but they are hard house break. Daisy was completely house broken in 3 wks!
Pixie..............well she is almost 4 and she still has poop accidents every now and then. That is not too bad considering all that she gives in return with her love loyalty and laughter to me:)

My fiancé wasn't keen on us getting a dog when I first suggested it, I grew up with a yorkie as a family pet and always wanted to have my own (they are fab dogs). I eventually convinced my partner to go and look at a puppy(after finding the right breeder) and what I thought would happen did.....as soon as he saw the puppy he was hooked! And that puppy turned into our Riley :) he loves Riley as much as me and he even says getting Riley was the best decision we made! We're both 30 and don't have any children as of yet (careers came first)and it was the right time to get a dog. We both work and Riley is normally on his own about four - five hours a day during the week, he is fine with this length of time. I miss him so much when I'm at work so when I get home he is showered with love from me and my partner! H has become our baby :)
I would definitely recommend a yorkie as a dog :)

Ps I managed to teach Riley to go on his pee pads pretty quick (luckily), he is nearly seven months and doesn't have any accidents. They are also brilliant to teach tricks! Riley picks them up straight away!

If this isn’t de ja vu all over again. LOL I was pretty much in your situation. I wanted a Yorkie, boyfriend ( now husband) did not. Like your BF Tom had a big breed (Massif) for 5 years or so before we got together- he never had a small dog- he did have cats but they were outside inside.

So what did I do?? I went and got that Yorkie I always wanted!! At first he told me he was going to sell him and where were the papers- blah blah- I just said “ I don’t know I can’t find them… At the time I was working 12/14 hours days and Tom ( Husband) was working 12 hours days as well, but he left way earlier than me so he got home early.. before me- I think spending those evenings alone with Peanut really did him in.

It took about… hmmm maybe like 3 weeks for Tom to get attached.

We both worked full time plus and Peanut did fine alone. You can very well work a full time job and still take care of your puppy- I did and it worked great for me.

You are the only one that knows your BF. I knew Tom well enough that once I brought that sweet Yorkie face home he would get attached- and so he did.

Peanut is 5 now, will be 6 May. He still has accidents. Not as bad as he use to LOL, but given I have his doggy door open and pee pads around the house… They are hard to train, but they are so worth it!! I would give anything for my baby- he has made me so happy. Once of the reasons I wanted him was because Tom use to ride his street bike a lot.. Like every weekend almost- so Peanut was my little buddy. To this day he is my buddy. We go shopping together, I take him down to visit my Mom, we lay in bed and lounge all day, Tom also works a lot of hours still and Peanut is always there to keep me company.

I say if you know your Bf will be forgiving and accept a Yorkie then you must have one!!

YES!! Peanut learns quick too!! He also LOVES to sit there and have me teach him things. He really gets excited when we have our little “trick training time”.

Riley is exactly the same! His tail goes wild when he knows its "trick time". They are such cleaver little dogs :)

Yes they are..:D

I thought that too. ;)

Welcome to YT.

One thing I would suggest is to find a reputable breeder. A good breeder will keep the pups till at least 10-12 weeks before letting them go home. Also will start to paper or pee pad train.

Bentley's breeder did that. Don't get me wrong, he did and still has accidents from time to time(he's 5 months old now), but on his first day home I was amazed that he would stop right in the middle of play just to run over to his pad and use it.

Now for the BF issue. My BF and I are apart at the moment. His is a couple states away helping his sister who is recovering from cancer. It just so happened that I got Bentley the weekend my BR came for a visit. He used to breed and raid BIG DOGS for police dogs. He teased me when I first told him I was getting Bentley. Told me it was not a real dog, just a mop on legs. Well he fell in love with him the moment he saw him when we went to get him from the breeder. Hopefully he will be moving back to VA soon. All I hear is how he misses Bentley and can't wait to see him. I have to video skype from time to time so he can see him and of course I send him pictures all the time. Guess what, everyone my FB works with is in love with Bentley because he shows him off. lol

I said all that to say this, just because they say they don't like little dogs, does not mean that once they hold one of these little guys/gals they won't change their mind. :D

I've always had german shepherds and large dogs. Mine also like your boyfriends, went everywhere I did. It would lay, were it could keep an eye on me. They also were highly trained. I don't have my yorkie yet, we'll getting him spring next year. From reading here for some time and every book I can get my hands on, plus you tube videos. I believe yorkies are very trainable. Independent of spirit, so I think it's learning what motivates your particular dog, ie play, treats or praise. There are a number of books on training dogs, some on training Yorkies and small dogs. Would your boyfriend be willing to teach you how he trained his dog? Don't be surprised if your yorkie takes to your boyfriend. If you want the dog to bond with you, you will need to know what you're doing and be number one in the dogs life.
As I've said I've not had a Yorkie, but all my dogs, were bonded to me, more than anyone else in our home except one dog, that was my hubbys (he walked that dog). I believe this is because I put them beside my bed, when they first arrived, putting my hand in the box/pen at night to comfort them. When they stirred it was me who took them straight outside to 'hurry up' (pee/poop) Same during the day. I trained them and walked them, that I believe helps with the bonding also. Your boyfriend sounds competitive, I hope he'll be supportive of you and your dog. Perhaps if you sat down and talked with him about your concerns.

I am a first time Yorkie owner. I have had dogs all my life as well. I have to say that there is a very definite difference in the terrier personality. Some people think the Yorkie is kind of a fashion statement type of dog but nothing could be further from the truth. They are high energy dogs bred to kill rodents. A purebred Yorkie is a little bundle of energy that loves a good fight. You have to understand the terrier personality and learn how to train them if you want to have success.

All small breed dogs tend to be a little harder to train partly because of their small bladders and partly because they are just so darn cute that people give them free reign of the house before they are ready.

Personally, I did not have house training issues. I got Gracie when she was almost 13 weeks old and she was pretty much trained to puppy pads when I brought her home. If you want to avoid at least two months of accidents and having to confine your pup most of the time wait and get it when it is at least 12 weeks old. Pups do not develop the muscle needed to hold back urine until they are at least 16 weeks old. If you get an infant pup you will have to realize you are dealing with a baby that really is not able to do much about getting to the potty in time.

My real issue with Gracie was that her idea of play was a good fight. I really did not realize at first that this was terrier 101. They have to be taught who and what it is OK to fight with. Many complain of their pups biting their hands and feet. This can be worse when a puppy leaves it's mom and litter mates too soon but it is also largely a terrier trait for them to want to bite and shake things.

Some pups are very picky eaters as well. We had that issue with Gracie. She is a top of the line food critic. I don't dare offer her ordinary kibble.
I would suggest reading up on the Yorkie in the YT library as well as through the threads here. There are also some good Yorkie books available. Just keep in mind that the Yorkie is no ordinary dog. It is truly a different sort but if your are up for a challenge they are the most entertaining and loveable little critters ever!

Every word true :thumbup:

I must say I really do not appreciate those kind of comments and is not the help or advise I was looking for! (get a new boyfriend) My boyfriend and I have a wonderful relationship and he treats me and supports me as good as any man I have ever seen. I guess it is my fault I didn't go further into detail but he would never NOT let me get a yorkie if I told him I really wanted. I wanted advise and to eduacate myself on the breed because when I tell him that I want a yorkie he is going to want to know what we need to do to prepare for one or possible make any changes to bring a new pup into our home. We do have our own house on the golf course which is great because in the afternoons we take Brandy out there and throw the ball and let her get her excercise, the same that we can do with a new yorkie. As far as Brandy, the german shepherd, she is trained to only attack if given the command and would never hurt anyone or anything unless she is told to and is a very sweet dog. And when I say "only attack if given the command" she is trained to say if I was home alone and someone broke into the house, I only have to say the word and Brandy will attack and stop the intruder or threat. The only way she would ever hurt another dog was if one was to hurt Blake or I. She is very attached to Blake but I still consider her my little (if you can consider 110 pounds little lol) guardian angel because she did protect me from a possible mobbing walking home from the store one night when a masked man approached me (I assume wanting my purse) but stopped at the sight of 110 pound german shepherd showing her teeth and her hair standing strait up on her back!! Everyone tells us that she is the sweetest and most beautiful german shepherd but boy that sure changes if she thinks Blake or I saftey is in danger!! But Brandy would show the same type of protection to any family member in the house, even if it was my new little yorkie! :aimeeyork

Getting a Yorkie might cause an argument, but so might getting a set of dishes. I cannot tell you if that will happen or not, and hopefully you won't ever argue, but very possibly, too, he will see your Yorkie as the 'different' Yorkie he will be under your care.

My DH was not a small dog person either...he says now that Yorkies are the very best breed...the best of both worlds, a 'big dog you can carry around', and that he doesn't want any other kind of dog. He has convinced several of HIS male friends to get a Yorkie, and they are all IN LOVE with the breed. I have had large breed and small breed mixes, including one Yorkie-Poo. The large breed dogs were typically very smart and very trainable. Often, it appears, to me, that the 'dog intelligence' charts do not reflect actual 'intelligence'...they reflect 'trainability' instead. You can search on YouTube or YT and find Yorkies that are trained to perform 'tricks' outside normal 'manners' training (sit, stay, come, etc.). All of my dogs have been great, and all of them have learned to understand what I say, and 'read' me and my actions...this is the first time my DH and I have had to resort to a sort of 'umm...err...nodding/sign language' and we're contemplating texting as an alternative, to communicate, however. It seems that the Yorks learn EVERY word we say by about the 3rd usage of the word. They have amazing vocabularies...which brings me to the 'child' part of what you wrote.

If you want a dog that is 'known' to be trainable and do 'tricks' perhaps you want to consider well what breed you think will fit that description. Poodles, and I like Poodles, are a breed, for example, that are known to be very smart, sweet, cuddly, and trainable...I don't think I've ever seen a circus without a (Poodle) dog act. lol However, if you want a dog that acts, and 'feels' like a 'child' to you, then I would say a Yorkshire Terrier may be the closest ever breed to fitting that description. I rather treat my Yorkies as I would any human child...and they respond similarly to what you would expect a human child to act under identical circumstances. This may just be my 2 kids who are like that...others may tell you differently. However, it is my understanding from my reading about the breed, that Yorkies were bred to be 'independent thinkers'...to be able to work out situations intellectually and adapt and solve the issue...not just follow mere commands...which they will do, too. Or, sometimes...:rolleyes:;):p...my kids act more cat-like and take what I say 'under advisement'...they 'mull it over'...and 'choose' an alternative more suitable to their own wishes...same as my cats do. My Yorkies want to do everything we do, go everywhere we go, and WE WANT THAT TOO. :D While most people expect this type of behavior from a at, few expect it from a dog. This is from my own experience...not a hard cold fact...lol

Personally, I prefer the 'true intelligence' along with everything else the Yorkie possesses in his/her nature...they are a wonderful, beautiful breed, and not just a mere companion.

I should mention that I did not potty train my Yorkies...I got them 3 months apart...Brody was 14 months old, and Mia was 17 months old, although they are exactly 6 days different in age. I had no trouble potty training my Yorkie-Poo, who had silky hair and 'Yorkitude' and would "snub me" for failing to comply with certain of HIS "demands" and it was sooooo funny to see him do it, too...little nose up in the air, eyes closed, face turned away from me...! :D

I suppose convincing your BF might be easier if he could see more than one Yorkie in action...hear that others have had somewhat different experiences with different dogs. He was close to one dog, but that dog might not be 100% representative of how YOUR Yorkie will be WITH YOU, if that makes sense. Brody and Mia were both very different dogs with their previous owners than they are with me. Perhaps you could just 'risk' (and resolve) whatever 'argument' might arise from you bringing home a Yorkie fur baby to introduce to him, or whatever method of negotiation you choose. Whatever the outcome, I wish you the very best and look forward to the pictures of your new Yorkie...;)

I know she is not a yorkie but here is a pic of Brandy so you can see her!

She is beautiful, and she doesn't look a bit spoiled or anything...;):p:D

I'm not sure why it wont post what I just tried to say (message said it needed to be reviewed before it would post to the board) but in short, thank you to the ones who gave me advise. However, I do not appreciate the comments on "get a new boyfriend". He would never NOT let me get a yorkie if I told him I wanted one. He just sees small dogs as pointless and says we can get a rat a petsmart for a lot cheaper. I want to be able to eduacte him on the breed and hopefully make it more of where he wants to get one also instead of letting me get a yorkie just because I want one.

LOL she is!! Imagine how spoiled my little yorkie could/would be!!!!!!!

My last Shep/Lab was 120 lbs and not spoiled either...that's an oversized leather chair he is enjoying...:D

I don't know what it won't let you post either, but sometimes we joke around a bit here...in this case, that is what it looked like to me...joking. I do not believe anyone was serious about that. :)

:thumbup:

OP: They were totally joking with you!! :p YT is a very special group of people.. more like family than anything- I'm sure those member's weren't saying that to hurt you.

We welcome you to this group if you have a Yorkie or not.

I think because you are new it will take a couple posts..?? That's what I heard at least.

:thumbup: Just a little something to lighten the mood is what we need sometimes...I think they were doing just that very thing!

I also will add I think it is great you want to educate him on the breed.. and have him want to get a Yorkie, rather than "let" you get one, or purhaps just show up with one- like most of us have done. :thumbup:

However the good thing about Yorkies, they are so lovable- they really can take over any heart..