Cant seem to justify cost of Yorkie
 

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!!

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

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!

I am seriously laughing out loud. All very true, I might add, and I think there are many here who can use this justification model. :)

I might add, there are many many benefits of finding a reputable breeder when it comes to spending the money. A reputable breeder is vested in the quality of their puppies ensuring a healthy, happy puppy as well as being there for you to answer with questions and assist when needed. Money spent that you don't get from pet stores, or taking your chances on a lesser priced puppy through sources like craigslist, the internet, etc. Good luck!

My family was like yours -- we always adopted dogs for free or a very small fee. When we started looking at buying a puppy from a breeder, we had a hard time thinking about the price tag. We ended up buying 2 Yorkies from the same breeder and the joy they have brought us is priceless. :)

In addition to purchase price, have you and your wife considered the personality and needs of a Yorkie and whether it is a good fit for your family? Being terriers, they tend to be high energy and need lots of physical exercise and mental stimulation.

While they do not shed like a dog with an undercoat, they do require a fair amount of grooming.

Of all the dogs my family has had, our Yorkies require the most time and energy to take care of. Just something to consider, taking your lifestyle into account.

Best wishes in making your decision!

my husband was the logical one on our purchase of Winnie...he was totally not excited about it...but I'm spoiled and he knew how long I had been waiting....so he let me. The day i brought her home he fell in love. He was the first one to let her sleep in our bed...and she has him wrapped around her hairy little foot!!! He also saw no justification in spending that amount of money on a dog....but she is way more than that!!! by far the best purchase we have ever made!!! like others have said....quite the bargain!!!! I hope you are able to convince your wife!!!!

I agree with the grooming....since Winnie was my hearts desire...her grooming is left to me. which is fine...just something to consider...this may be your situation so be sure you are up for it!!!

Have you thought about getting a rescue? It cost less than a pup.

LMBO gotta love this you go girl!

First my ears picked up on the *allergy of your young 4 yr old*. THat is a hard spot to be in. I would suggest if you can - see if you can have a Yorkie for a weekend either through a shelter or a local rescue agency. I am concerned with your young ones allergies.


Second I would advise caution with a young puppy Yorkie and a 4yr old. Does the 4yr old know how to interact *yet with dogs*? I am not expecting a yes answer, but the needs of a young growing Yorkie and a 4 yr old - well are quite high. And safety is paramount for a delicate Yorkie.


Now having said that - I am a breeder of large dogs, and I have been so surprised at times, with my younger breeder friends, and their young children. Here was a 6yr old maybe 40lbs, discipling and taking around a strange Blackie!! THis was a 100lb dog, who obeyed her! LOL LOL. But she knew what she was about having been raised in a breeding home.


Yorkies you see can have different kinds of coats, and not only that, some allegeries in kids are not to the *dander* but to the saliva.


I think Yorkies are wonderfull, after all I have one, but I really think for a number of reasons, babysit a Yorkie for a weekend. See how your child does, and let your wife fall in love with that Yorkie flair!

How did you justify the cost of adding her or children to your life? I am only half kidding...LOL...because Yorkies are more child like than dog like. Yes, they will lick their own privates and eat poop, bark at unknown people and sounds, but...and this may sound wrong but is true...Yorkies have the ability to amass huge vocabularies, and they understand the meanings of the words. Yorkies are bred to 'work alone' when hunting rats, so they were bred to be able to think on their feet, change tactics, and make adjustments in their actions without human intervention. This is not to say they are untrainable...just that their intelligence rivals humans in many ways.

For example, my Yorkies want to see whatever I have, they listen attentatively to my explanation of what they are looking at, and recognize it again. Brody knows every toy...by name.

If you decide to get a Yorkie, you will have the great honor of serving one of the finest breeds of dogs...errr...family members. LOL

My hubby had large dogs...sled dogs (Alaska)...and never had small dogs until we got Brody at 14 months old in May, 2011. He now believes Yorkies are 'the perfect dog' because they are so smart, personable, devoted, loving, communicative...they are where we are, because they want to be wherever we are. Maybe you are starting to see what I mean...LOL

My opinion, but I love Yorkies!!!

Welcome to YT...:)

:thumbup::thumbup:


Your child will need to learn to 'respect' the dog, not too difficult for caring parents to teach their childten. I had a Yorkie/Poo mix many years before I had my first child and never had a problem. Child and dog will need protection from hurting each other, especially when both are babies or very young. Older dogs can also be 'jaded' by 'bad kids'...one boy was very determined to sneak up on Brody and Brody is much more wary of children now because that boy kept jumping out from around a corner at him, then shreiking at him when he was startled and barked. I am very careful with him around children now, but they used to be able to run up to him and hug and kiss him and he loved it...attention, you know. LOL.

Def consider the advice from Gemy...:thumbup::thumbup:

:sidesplt::sidesplt::sidesplt:

Print that picture of chickensmith's little Winnie, your wife will fall instantly in love with the breed. I agree with members advising getting a little puppy with a 4 y/o child. You must first train the child to be gentle around small tiny little babies. How to convince your wife, take her to PetCo, Pet Smart, Pet Supplies, any place where there may be many dogs. Let her see a yorkie in person, ya just can't help but to just fall in love with them unless she is not a "dog lover". I hope you win, this strikes be as so funny, it's usually the wife trying to convince the DH to get a dog lol. Good luck, please let us know how you make out.

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. :(

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.

I love your reasoning !!!! all so true

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!

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!

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.

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?

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! :love:

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?

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. :)

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

:yeahthat:

My teacup yorkie was $600 in Michigan

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.