Cant seem to justify cost of Yorkie

[patchesmom10]

I love your reasoning !!!! all so true

[gemy]

Originally Posted by yorkiemom76

Since your into rescuing, you could always adopt a Yorkie from the shelter. It would be much cheaper. I was looking at Petfinder earlier today and shocked to see how many purebred Yorkies are in shelters in Ohio right now.

His daughter has allergies. Is it not best to see if she can handle a Yorkie health wise - or for that matter any other breed of dog?


Alleries in a family is a Huge concern, especially if there are allergies to dogs!

[joyce evans]

I think if your wife is truly a dog lover she will love this breed. My concern is your 4 yr. old and how he/she will interact with such a small breed. These pups can be so fragile so you and your wife will have your hands full with it and your toddler. At least for the first yr. or so. Just sayin. If you really have your heart set on this breed then I think you should let your wife help you pick it out rather than surprise her. Maybe make an appointment with a reputable breeder and don't tell your wife where you are taking her. If she falls in love with one then the price may not matter at all! Us ladies are good at justifying the cost of things when we really want them. I know it didn't matter to me when I set my eyes on Hannah! My husband on the other hand...I don't think I ever told him how much I paid for her. My Bad but she is worth every cent!! Hint, hint, hint!

[magicgenie]

Originally Posted by ShowGirlLola

How will she feel about vet or grooming bills?

I've spent more on vet bills for my healthy 1.5 year old than I did on her. I think $600 to get her spayed, and a few hundred on shots, vet appointments, and flea drops. Grooming would be at least $60 every few months too, but I do it myself.

This merits serious consideration. Yorkies are relatively high maintenance, so if the price of a well bred one in your region is too much for your family, you'll likely have a hard time taking proper care of one.

To those of you who recommended rescue as a cheap way to get a Yorkie, please reconsider. Don't you want a rescue dog going to people who have the means and desire to give him/her everything he/she needs?

Please, if you can't afford or are unwilling to take proper care of a pet, don't get one.

[lynzy420]

Originally Posted by FutureYorkie1

First and foremost I'm ready to spend the money with ease to add one of these fun loving animals to our family but I'm having a very difficult time justifying the cost to my wife. Obviously I'm in the middle of split opinions when it comes to this benefits of this breed or purchasing a pet in general and I'm curious if anyone else had to get over this hurdle?

We've owned dogs in the past but only adopted and although the thought of a dog that doesn't shed is absolute music to my wife's ears, especially with our 4 year olds allergy complications, the $700-$1000+ price tag doesn't outweigh the benefits in her eyes.


As much as I want to simply make the purchase and surprise her with hopes that she'll fall in love with it the responsible side of me doesn't want to risk having to rehome the pup......and myself! Obviously no one wins in that scenario.


I guess I'm venting at this point but would like to hear if anyone else experienced this in the beginning. Help me sell my wife on the idea!!

I am responding to your post and not reading anyone elses reply to you...I have a question for you, does your wife generally dislike having pets? Does she "really" not want a pet but goes a long just to appease you? In the past when you have had pets how did she react to them?

[time2go]

To add, upkeep is not cheap either. My girl has terrible allergy issues. So between her biweekly allergy shots, zyrtec, presciption food, heartworm, meds, flea/tick preventative, yearly bloodwork, yearly teeth cleaning and pee pads, I easily spend $1,800-$2,000 a year!

This does not include pet insurance (wish we had done that!), emergencies, cute clothes, toy, beds, blankets or grooming (which I do myself). Even taking away the allergy issues, she is not what I would consider cheap to keep up. Gracie is more than worth it though!

So as a previous poster mentioned, if you and your wife aren't on the same page with the purchase price, how well will she take to all the other added costs?

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by ShowGirlLola

How will she feel about vet or grooming bills?

I've spent more on vet bills for my healthy 1.5 year old than I did on her. I think $600 to get her spayed, and a few hundred on shots, vet appointments, and flea drops. Grooming would be at least $60 every few months too, but I do it myself.

So true!

The one time, up front, cost of buying a yorkie is nothing compared to the upkeep.

OP, I noticed on your other thread that you prefer the short puppy cut to long hair. Do you plan on grooming yourself or paying a groomer?

Grooming fees, puppy shots, vet visits, spay/neuter, heartworm meds, quality food and treats, all add up quickly. Add to that a trip to the ER with a sick dog just one time, and you are well over the initial cost of the puppy.

Are you prepared for the additional cost of upkeep after purchasing the puppy?

*I can also justify all the associated dog owner costs...I've not shared comparisons to designer shoes and handbags yet, or meals out at restaurants.

[ChibiLuv]

Originally Posted by magicgenie

This merits serious consideration. Yorkies are relatively high maintenance, so if the price of a well bred one in your region is too much for your family, you'll likely have a hard time taking proper care of one.

To those of you who recommended rescue as a cheap way to get a Yorkie, please reconsider. Don't you want a rescue dog going to people who have the means and desire to give him/her everything he/she needs?

Please, if you can't afford or are unwilling to take proper care of a pet, don't get one.

True, just because the purchase price is lower does not mean the dog will not need just as much care in the long run. That being said there are always yorkies needing homes, if you are up for the responsibility of a pet I highly reccomend looking into rescue, you can put away the extra money you would have spent on a breeder in a rainy day fund in case the pup gets sick or injured.

[Doodlebug]

There is a lot of great advice here. My Yorkies demand a lot of attention. They constantly let me know they are around and they are just like having two toddlers in my home. Some Yorkies take a long time to be house trained, mine took about 14 months, so that might be another consideration. Another option if you want a Yorkie (and I don't blame you because they are so adorable ), might be to look for a retired breeding Yorkie, who would be a little older, house trained, and a bit calmer than a puppy, maybe less expensive too. I know some breeders are very cautious about sending these small dogs to homes with small children though. Just a thought. I wish you the best and if you get a yorkie, please post pictures!

[smelcerk]

Dear wife, I understand your concern if you are thinking of this yorkie as a dog or a pet but let me assure you that this is not the case. This new addition will be a member of your family and one that I can assure you is almost as loved and valued as my children. And as children go, $1,000 is quite cheap.

[Rachael1983]

My daughter was 5 going on 6 when we got our first yorkie. I would say that she knew how to treat him as I brought her around dogs at an early age but with any dog you always have to supervise .

The cost of a well bred yorkie from a reputable breeder can be 1000-2500. That cost can seem crazy for most. Yorkies do come with certain health issues and be costly to maintain.
Annually I would say I spend about $500 on her needs ( vet , insurance , food) but I spend much more on everything else. I save as I groom myself and limit toy purchases to when she needs something.

I don't know how to justify the cost for you other than say yorkies are a good breed . Not for every family with children . I'm actually allergic to dogs and it was recommended I have allergy shots which are not cheap either . My yorkies don't cause me allergy flares. You got some good feedback from other members.

[MarkFromSea]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

Oh my gosh! You are in luck! Justifying purchases of things I want is my speciality!!!

A typical yorkie from a reputable breeder $1000-$1200 depending on sex. You know yorkies generally live a long time, right...like ~15 years, so that is less than $100 a year! What a bargain! That's about a quarter a day! You can't even buy a cheapo cup of coffee at your local gas station for that!

Technology minded? A yorkie is cheaper than an imac! As much as I love my apple products, I doubt they'll still be working well ten years from now, but the yorkie you'll still have! Or what about those fancy 3d BIG screen tvs??? Cost way more than a yorkie and you know they 'll be obsolete in five years!

See? A yorkie is a freeekin bargain! All that love and adorability in a little hairy package. So cheap!

Brought a smile to my face! True and humorous at the same time!

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by ShowGirlLola

How will she feel about vet or grooming bills?

I've spent more on vet bills for my healthy 1.5 year old than I did on her. I think $600 to get her spayed, and a few hundred on shots, vet appointments, and flea drops. Grooming would be at least $60 every few months too, but I do it myself.

Originally Posted by magicgenie

This merits serious consideration. Yorkies are relatively high maintenance, so if the price of a well bred one in your region is too much for your family, you'll likely have a hard time taking proper care of one.

To those of you who recommended rescue as a cheap way to get a Yorkie, please reconsider. Don't you want a rescue dog going to people who have the means and desire to give him/her everything he/she needs?

Please, if you can't afford or are unwilling to take proper care of a pet, don't get one.

[bkasputis]

My teacup yorkie was $600 in Michigan

[yavenay]

I agree with what everyone has said but I would like to add the benefits to owning a yorkie. Justifying the cost is definitely something to be considered especially the long term cost. But there are things you can do to reduce the long term cost like getting pet insurance and doing your own grooming.

However the benefits can definitely outweigh the cost in most cases. So now that we got the upfront cost, long term cost (mainly vet, food and grooming) and children out of the way, let's talk about the joys of ownership.

Pets in general have a positive impact on humans. They tend to lower stress and blood pressure. In fact having a pet teaches children how to be more empathetic and caring. There is a host of benefits to owning a pet. The main reason why I feel my yorkie is worth the cost is because of the joy she brings me each and everyday. I laugh constantly and even though I am single with no children, I am not lonely. I am the crazy dog lady. I talk to her out loud in public and don't care if anybody else hears. Just looking at her brings a smile to my face and can reduce me to mush. I am a much more relaxed person. I've started volunteering at local animal shelters as well as donate on a monthly basis. I am a much more empathetic person, more outgoing and energetic.

My life is so much more rewarding with her in it. I guess you can say she is my furry child. Even if I did have children, I would always make room in my life for a pet. At least for me and obviously all of us on this forum feel the intangible benefits that can't be calculated and is worth every single penny we spend.

So please when making your case to your wife, be sure to include the intangible benefits as well as the financial considerations.