What is a Reasonable price for a Yorkie puppy with no papers ?
 

Hello all - I'm sure this is a question with no one "right" answer but I need some help/opinions please. What would you consider to be a fair price for a Yorkie puppy with no papers? I am asking because I rescued a pregnant Yorkie in Feb, 2 days before she delivered her 5 puppies via c-section. The Mom (Trixie) was a puppy mill dog, and I have no papers on her, although she is 100% Yorkie. Her puppies are now 10 wks old & are purebred but without papers. They have been seen & examined weekly by my vet, & all have their health certificates, have been dewormed, & had their 1st series of shots. I have invested all my time, attention, & finances in caring for them & their Momma. They have been raised in my home with love & attention & are the sweetest little girls (and 1 boy) ! I wish I could keep them all but I just can't afford to, and I want them to go to a wonderful home where they each can get all the time & attention that they deserve! I am keeping Trixie (I had her spayed immediately after her c section) & 1 puppy. I have no idea what to charge for them, although I'm pretty sure I will lose a lot of $$ as their care & vet bills have been quite expensive. But It's been an amazing experience that I would do all over again without hesitation <3
Does anyone have any advice/opinions on what non registered Yorkie puppies are currently selling for, & what would be a reasonable price to charge? I am prepared to keep them as long as necessary to ensure that they go to wonderful, loving homes where they will be spoiled & pampered like they deserve to be :)

I would look at what rescues in your area and compare. You've rescued a momma and her pups so that's commendable. If I were in such a position whatever the rescue charges for puppies is what I would charge or even a lil less. Have the potential owners fill out an application as well.

My first yorkie was purebred with no papers and I paid $400.00. That was in 1997. Her adult weight was 9 lbs and she never once growled or acted up in any way. She was absolutely perfect and we miss her so. I think the price will still be in the ballpark today. Good luck.

If you really would like to help the Yorkie breed, you would find great homes that you know will spay and neuter the dogs, or if you can afford it, do it before you sell them. Some breeders even give the buyers back the cost of spaying and neutering after they have completed it. We have too many dogs being bred and not enough owners who can afford to properly care for this very expensive dog. The cost isn't the initial purchase, it's the yearly expenses. I probably wouldn't charge more than 500 dollars from them, but I would want to find an owner who could afford to pay more. We get so many questions on illness and how the person can't afford to take the sick puppy to the vet. It's really awful and if you're not careful, the pups could end up in another puppy mill or backyard breeder situation. Bless you for taking care of mama!

Well it's great of you to help with these pups but because they came from a puppy mill they are likely to eventually have health issues so I would not ask for to much also with puppy mills you can't know for 100% sure that they are pure yorkies because puppy mills don't care if there breeding dogs are pure most of the times and a lot of them where mixing silky's and yorkies together. Also make sure your keeping the pups until 12 weeks.

The rescue I work with charges $450 for adoptions....for both pure and mixed breed, for both puppies and adults (senior dogs are less).

Wow, that is a crazy price. I know here in new york even without papers people charge prices like $1,800! That's like show dog prices.

Good job for saving the mom from the mill though, I'm glad that at least she could live a much happier life with you than at the mill. It is really sad what these girls go through at the mills.. I really can't understand how cruel people have to be to abuse an animal like that.

I agree with Nancy. I would make it no more then $500. That is even the going rate for dogs here in NY. I would make sure you have a contract that they will spay or neuter the pup. Good luck

Yeah here in portland oregon unpapered yorkie's and often mixes go for six and eight hundred dollars. The humane society and the kill shelters charge about 250$ but they are almost all pitbulls most of the time. There are a lot of rescues and rescue groups in our area as well- but some of them are just people who seem to be pretending- maybe good hearted but largely dysfunctional, those rehoming fees vary drastically.

How do you know what the father was? You can't say the pups are purebred Yorkies without knowing for sure, since there are no papers. If they are possibly mixed, that would also affect the price, I would think.

Agreed. If it was a rescue dog, there's no way to know that the pups are 100% purebred.

Most rescues around here go for under $400, purebred puppies included...BUT, when you adopt from most rescues, the dogs have already been vetted and spayed/neutered.

I REALLY like the idea of charging more and refunding the money after the dog is spayed/neutered(if you adopt them out intact).

I really hope you make the adopters sign an agreement, stating that they will spay/neuter the pup AND that if they cannot keep it for any reason at any time in it's life, the pup will come back to you to be rehomed. That will hopefully prevent any of your puppies from ending up in shelters or bad situations if their owners can no longer care for them.

This might help: I just adopted a 4.5 month old rescued Yorkie with no papers. I paid $400 + I have to furnish proof of spaying her before she's a year old (or Vet proof as to why she can't be spayed by then) or the rescue has the right to take her back. I had to complete an application and sign the agreement to spay her.

In my area $400 seems to be the norm for Yorkies from private sellers, with or without papers.

I paid $800 for my not registered male. It was a fairly decent price for this area, no papers, and a male. Obviously papered and females go for more. I would have loved to get money back for neutering, he's having that done this month and it will be quite alot of money between that and I'm assuming he might need a couple teeth extracted. His mom though, got eclampsia and had an emergency spay at birth and couldn't nurse the pups, so I may have paid more so the mother could recoup some vet fees...

When we got Rosie she was bought for £250 because she had no papers but her parents did, i'd say you could charge around ( i converted this ) £340

Rescue charge 250.00 to 450.00 depending on the amount of money they have invested in the dog for medical and boarding costs. Puppies without papers or known background with no medical costs involved should be sold for no more than 400.00. I personally do not know why anyone would pay more than 100.00 for a mixed breed puppy. That should cover the cost of breeding and raising the puppies. Designer dogs are just that mixed breed puppies. If people did not fall for this nonsense of paying 1200.00 for a mixed breed designer dog then maybe back yard breeders and puppy mills would quit breeding them.

I bought mine for $350 with no papers. I got him on Craigslist.. both parents were pure breeds without papers. Most rescues in my area are $150-300.

Here is what I suggest you do; first do some math - add up all your vet bills for caring for the Mom and the puppies - document it, then add in the cost of misc supplies and food. Divide by the number of puppies - and that is your cost per dog.

Get the answer which will help you justify the selling price on these puppies. Without papers and coming from an admitted puppy mill you can not claim they are purebred, you believe that they are, but can't prove it.

Also emphasize to the purchasers because the health history of the parents and their lineage is unknown it is highly recommended to buy pet insurance that covers genetic defects.

I would also have available with in my state the nearby reasonable spay and neuter clinics run by the SPCA or other organizations for the purchaser to go to get this done. Then offer a reasonable $$ refund on purchase price for proof of spay and or neuter.

Once you have all these details then you can not only reasonably justify the price of the puppy to yourself but to the purchasers.

Then you set the price - Your narrative on your selling ad explains your rescue, your dedication in the care and well-being of the pups, the regular vet visits etc. For qualified purchasers I am asking this $$$ amount - a purchase contract will be issued with spay and neuter being a requirement.

Thanks to everyone for all the advice - my puppies will go to homes & people that have signed a puppy contract & Part of that contract will require that they be spayed or neutered by 7 mo of age or else the puppy comes back to me. They will be sold as pet only. As for not being sure as to whether they are 100% purebred - while I do not have actual proof of that - I do have my wonderful vet's opinion that they appear to be 100% full Yorkie & I am debating doing DNA test so there will be no doubt :)

Vets opinion is okay but is not authorative on a purebred status. At the most the vet can say is that they "look" in line with what a purebred puppy looks like in their opinion. The DNA testing is also not a legal option , it is at this point in time still not definitive enough to ascertain purebred status.

Like it or not, you should not claim that they are "purebred" you can state that in your belief and opinion these puppies seem to be the result of a litter produced by two Yorkies - (again the parents were not papered with a reputable registry so hey who knows?)

Another thought. Why not add an extra charge to be refunded when proof of spaying/neutering are sent back to you. People say what you want to hear all the time and then do what they want.

Honestly a vets word nor a DNA test is not a 100% but what I would keep in mind is puppy mill pups do not have good lines so these pups in the future could develope genetic illnesses and that's why I would not charge an excessive amount for them and would keep it in mind when picking the family's and when pricing them. Contract is good.

$340 i mean :D

InQUOTE=pinkpatty;4433544]Rescue charge 250.00 to 450.00 depending on the amount of money they have invested in the dog for medical and boarding costs. Puppies without papers or known background with no medical costs involved should be sold for no more than 400.00. I personally do not know why anyone would pay more than 100.00 for a mixed breed puppy. That should cover the cost of breeding and raising the puppies. Designer dogs are just that mixed breed puppies. If people did not fall for this nonsense of paying 1200.00 for a mixed breed designer dog then maybe back yard breeders and puppy mills would quit breeding them.[/QUOTE]

I would have to disagree - maybe $100 would cover the cost if u tossed the Momma in a cage outside, let her labor on her own & likely die during whelping, feed her the cheapest possible food & provide absolutely no vet care to mom or puppies......just MAYBE there would be $100 or less invested in the cost of raising the puppies.
I did NONE of those things and Never would, I couldn't lay down & sleep at night doing that. These puppies have had the best possible care, more $$ spent than I could afford...but I did it bc they deserved to live. And not only live, but to be given the best possible vet care, food, love, etc. To the tune of somewhere between $2500-3000, and that's prob still a low estimate. So while i do not want or expect to make $$ off these puppies - i also cannot afford to sell them for $100 apiece. U have the right to your opinion, as we all do, I also have the right to mine .....and I know that while I do not know the full history of their Momma Trixie - I DO know that since the night I drove to another state & got her & 2 days later when her 5 babies were born they have had as great, & probably better, care than some of the so-called breeders who are in fact just another puppy mill. I know that my puppies are In much better health than a puppy born & raised in a puppy mill. Even fully registered, papered dogs with champion bloodlines : there's no guarantee that those dogs will be any healthier than anyone else's.... Yes the odds may be greater, but again there's no guarantee they won't develop issues.

I would have to disagree - maybe $100 would cover the cost if u tossed the Momma in a cage outside, let her labor on her own & likely die during whelping, feed her the cheapest possible food & provide absolutely no vet care to mom or puppies......just MAYBE there would be $100 or less invested in the cost of raising the puppies.
I did NONE of those things and Never would, I couldn't lay down & sleep at night doing that. These puppies have had the best possible care, more $$ spent than I could afford...but I did it bc they deserved to live. And not only live, but to be given the best possible vet care, food, love, etc. To the tune of somewhere between $2500-3000, and that's prob still a low estimate. So while i do not want or expect to make $$ off these puppies - i also cannot afford to sell them for $100 apiece. U have the right to your opinion, as we all do, I also have the right to mine .....and I know that while I do not know the full history of their Momma Trixie - I DO know that since the night I drove to another state & got her & 2 days later when her 5 babies were born they have had as great, & probably better, care than some of the so-called breeders who are in fact just another puppy mill. I know that my puppies are In much better health than a puppy born & raised in a puppy mill. Even fully registered, papered dogs with champion bloodlines : there's no guarantee that those dogs will be any healthier than anyone else's.... Yes the odds may be greater, but again there's no guarantee they won't develop issues.[/QUOTE]

She said mixed breeds should be no more then $100 she never said yours should be $100 she said yours should be no more then $400. Because your pregnant female came from a puppy mill it's more likely her pups will have health issues that is not your fault it is the fault of the puppy mills because they will breed anything and they don't care if there healthy or if there lines are free of genetic illnesses like reputable breeders. I hope they are lucky and don't have issues but even if they do they might not show up until there 2 years or older. Again this is not your fault you did the right thing by taking her and helping her and her puppies. I would start at asking around $400 with a spay and neuter contract and encourage the buyers to get pet insurance that covers genetic illnesses.

My baby is full blood yorkie and her Mom and Dad are registered but she's not and I paid $250 for her. I have saw all the papers on mom and dad and also still take my baby to the same vet that has taken care of mom, dad and her since she was born.

If mom and dad are registered WHY would someone not register the litter?? I know they sold the pups for a very low price but I wonder why.

The lady told me that she had sold the other 3 from the litter and this was the last one, is the reason I got her for 250, and as far as papers, well I didn't question it, that's just honestly something that didn't matter to me. I had my little girl spayed so she will never have puppies and I won't ever have her as a show dog so I don't feel like I need papers, but this is just me and I know everybody is different.