wanting a yorkie
 

My girlfriend says all the time how much she wants a yorkshire terrier and i always just say ok and i know and stuff like that. Well, i would like to surprize her with one but with some research i see that they are VERY exspensive dogs. I was wondering if maybe someone on here could direct me somewhere that i can maybe adopt or get one at a decent price. I do not wish to have an adult but rather a puppy. Maybe up to 1 year....

thanks!

Well, I don't want to be mean, but not all dogs are the same, even if they're the same breed. Different breeders have different health guarantees. Usually the ones with the good, year long health guarantees are the most healthy. With the cheaper ones, you get what you pay for. Some have little or no health guarantee with poor characteristics such as roach back or lp bred into them. It would be very hard to find a puppy that is not sick in a rescue. I would highly recommend saving your money and taking her with you to meet some breeders. If you buy a yorkie from a backyard breeder or petshop who might eventually have health problems, then you would end up paying a lot in vet bills, possibly more than a yorkie with champion bloodlines.
I honestly recommend saving your money and trying to find a good local breeder. Develop a good relationship with the breeder and find out when some puppies will arrive. Some even have payment plans. Good luck.

Maybe you can get some good breeder recommendations from the people here if you post where you're from.

As for yorkie prices I think a lot of it has to do where you're from too. There's a pretty big range. I've wondered too why it seems that yorkies are more expensive than other breeds but I don't know why.

Good luck to you!

Personally, I think half the fun is searching for a breeder and a picking out your own puppy. I'd let your girlfriend be involved in the process! For instance, she may have a strong preference about the sex of the puppy. Just my opinion, of course...

I agree with this getting a yorkie is a big step I would let her be a part of it. I also would save my money so I could get a puppy rather than an adult.

i am located on the east side of Virginia.

if you wanna go really cheap, try a yorkie rescue or a shelter.
if you wanna go kinda cheap and don't care about papers, try the local newspaper.
otherwise, save your money and buy from a reputable breeder. going to a dog show also helps you to get to know breeders and the quality of dogs they raise.

but in general, you will get what you pay for. if your major concern is that the pup you get is cheap now, you can try the cheaper options, but be ready to pay more out of pocket for medical expenses IF the pup you got has health conditions that would have been tested and caught had you gone to a reputable breeder with a quality breeding program.

the future health of the puppy is part environment and part genetics. it's up to you and your girlfriend to manage the environment, so it just depends on how much you want to gamble on the genetics in the effort to save money on the cost of a pup.

but remember, the initial purchase price of a pup (even in the thousands of dollars range) is NOTHING compared to the cost of ongoing maintenance. i'm strongly against getting someone else a puppy as a surprise gift no matter what they say they want. it's a big responsibility that requires a lot of time, patience, and MONEY. both the puppy and the owner will benefit from an informed decision.

i took some time off work when i first got the puppy and i got to visit breeders and check out the temperaments of the puppies available. i think that process was invaluable. people i've visited this holiday season are always impressed with how well mannered and trained my bunjee at 14 weeks and we always leave other homes leaving them wanting a yorkie of their own. but what they don't see is the month i spent training, managing, and socializing bunjee. so it's not all fun and games and dress up. it's a lotta work but totally worth it!

so please do involve your girlfriend in the process. it'll be fun and helpful! as well as prepare both of you for the financial and emotional responsibility of pet ownership. maybe "surprise" her with a "gift certificate" for a yorkie, and the both of you can be on a search for thhe perfect one together.

if you still insist on making this a surprise, please do allocate not only money for the puppy, but also all the initial products you'll need like a crate, food, grooming products, etc. as well as vet costs. do line up a vet to check out the puppy as soon as you bring it home.

While it is nice you are trying to get something special for your girlfriend you need to understand buying the puppy is usually the cheapest thing you will do with these little ones due to the vet costs in their first year. Your girlfriend will have to take the little one for its 1st checkup and that can run any were from $50 - $100, then you need different shots the first year, then you need to figure heartworm medicine and then you will need to figure neutering your little one and also possibly pulling baby teeth they have not come out. This could easily run you $500-$800 (varies based on what part of the country you live in) the first year and this does not include if the little one gets sick as these dogs are prone to having a difficult 1st year and you might have to rush the little one to the vet and pay emergency costs that are double normal times.

Also these little ones can live 13-18 years and is your girlfriend ready to make this kind of commitment for a dog. While I understand why she is in love with the breed, it is one thing to be in love with them and another to take care of them 24/7.

Food for thought!