Getting a second York?
 

After careful consideration we've decided to get another York (girl again). Recently some friends acquired their first Yorkie. We are all impressed with Crystal's kind and loving response to this little girl who did not have the rather pampered infancy that she'd enjoyed. They are such fun to watch together, similar to my wife's daughters mother and daughter pairing. I'm also conscious that when my wife visits her family in Europe for up to three months a year, a pair would also compliment each other for company and playing together. I'm at odds on whether to get a pup, or go for a young dog (say 6 months to a year old). There are so many beautiful little people in need of loving homes, that I'm very tempted to take one on. Crystal was a 're-home' at 20 weeks and has been a wonderful experience for us all. Any views and or experience welcomed please.

My last dog was a year old when I adopted him. He is very youthful now, even as he is about to turn 4. I really enjoyed having an older dog who was already pretty potty trained and sociable. I like the males better :)

:) Hi Martin!

Well, what a wonderful (but not totally unexpected!!!) surprise! :D

I think the only thing I would be aware/slightly wary of is that the dynamic will change within your household. At the moment, when Irina's not there, you're top-dog (as it were!). You are her be-all and end-all - that may alter.

Also (as I've witnessed with Harry + my daughter's dog) all's wonderful while that dog is the visitor - but when he stays it's a completely different way of life.

Good luck to you all :) xx

My first was a female. She would experience separation anxiety when we left her alone. Vet suggested getting another dog for company. Got another female she would not warm up to her (both spayed). My third (and last) is a male (neutered). They are best friends always together kissing and snuggling. Don't know if its common for a female to bond more with a male but that was the case with mine.

Max joined us in August of 2013 when he was 12 weeks old. At first Toni took him to work with her everyday. Her boss was OK with this but it turned out the landlord of the business complex she is in wasn't. We did not want to leave him home alone for fear of anxiety setting in so we were able to get his sister Sasha (from the next litter) in April of 2014. Best move we could have made. They are inseparable. Play together, sleep together. etc, etc.

I don't have any experience in uniting 2 older dogs but I do know that Max "adopted" Sasha 5 minutes after she came home. Taking in a dog who may not have had the pampered life that we lavish on our furbabies would be a fairy tale ending for that dog, but there is no "wrong" choice here. Whether it be a new pup or a slightly older one, it sounds like Crystal is going to have another "best friend". Good luck ! :)

I received Duncan in December when he was 8 weeks old. Our older dog, who is almost 13, didn't want to play with him or have much to do with him. We didn't want him to be lonely or not have a playmate so in February, I got another yorkie, a female. The two of them are best friends. They play, eat and sleep together.

Funnily enough, our older dog, a female dachshund, took immediately to the female yorkie also. She also got along famously with the Dalmatian we had (who died last June) and they were like mother and daughter. I don't know if it was just because she had never been around a male dog or not that she didn't take to Duncan.

Good luck with your search for another yorkie. I am sure you will have lots of fun with your expanded household.

Thank you, I'm going to view a litter on Thursday from a KC registered breeder, mum is with them of course. My problem is I sometimes struggle physically to get out every day. Crystal is always brilliant with her 'pad box', but a male dog may struggle in that environ I thought?

I got Toto at 8 and he's almost 10 now and as youthful as ever. He's the most comedic and dorkiest yorkie I've had or fostered. He was harder to pee train than the others, but I have had about an equal share of boys vs girls. I think it's just him.

Personally I would adopt first, but if you find a great breeder and the right pup, go for it!

Thank you, I'm encouraged by Crystal's obvious happiness when she has her friend to stay, maybe a puppy would be advisable though?

All my dogs use pads, the males have no problems with that.

The only time I regret getting 2 is when they both start the frenzy barking when you are trying to hear something like a tv show. Its a small sacrifice though and Ill always have 2 even if they do drive me crazy sometimes

Hi Sal,

We nearly adopted a mini 'Doxie' last year but the lady fosterer kept her in the end. Crystal's very good when our friends dog (Yorkie lady) is here and in fact is the 'pro-active' partner in play. My wife's daughters pair (mum & daughter) seem to attach themselves to whoever is free, i.e if Mum's available and dad has the other one on his lap, they automatically relocate. Alternatively they'll very often cuddle up together. Irina has wanted a 2nd York for over a year now, after experiencing these two when she stays. I'm off to view some babies not far away Thursday, but won't make a decision on the day.

Thank you, it seem that boy and girl form a closer bond, I'll look at the boys maybe when I view some puppies Thursday...

Thank you very much, I suppose a pup would adapt fine then.

Crystal seems to like some small breeds and not others, she definitely gets on well with other Yorks and just wants to play. I love having our friend's dog here, they both tear around and the looks and tail wagging are hilarious. It also wears them out so they sleep well.

Thank you so much for your time, Crystal is a real character and her friend much smaller and quieter, except when they unite to bark at the passers by at my friends house, or when their together at the pub, where they are quite a local sideshow. I'm viewing pups Thursday.

Yes I've had that when Crystal's friend stays here. The temporary interruption is normally better entertainment than the TV though!

My male squats to pee ( I use washable pee pads) and he never misses.
Wish I could say the same for the girls, sometimes just their front half is on the pad and the back half off but luckily most the time they get it right too.

Scrappy used to squat when he peed also, and never missed, but he had really bad knees and his rear left leg was almost handicapped. We called him the Handicapped Ninja. Oh I miss my Scrappy. :(

For the reasons already mentioned, I have not acquired a second Yorkie. However, I am forever tempted to get Teddy a companion which will also benefit me as two is more to love..


Good luck on whatever you decide to do!!!

Should you decide to go the breeder route, Teddy's breeder is currently on the KC for 1 girl or 1 boy. I would definitely recommend her. She is located in Gloucestershire and happy to give you more details if you want them.

Crystals excellent 99% of the time. Occasionally she has a brain storm and pees on one of our rugs!

I understand the bitter sweet thoughts here, I hope I go before my little girl, I'd miss her terribly.

Good luck!! I don't think you can make a "wrong" choice with this one:) I foresee another Yorkie in my future. I know they are very hard to find as rescues, but I have told my vet and all the local shelters that I would be willing to adopt an older Yorkie if there is one surrendered. So I'm leaving it up to fate. I think I would prefer to have one that is 3 yrs or younger…but, of course I'd love a puppy, lol. I also have a soft spot for the special needs puppies that no one else wants. Thats how I found Little Miss Sunshine…and she is just that..my little ray of sunshine:)

Thank you - what a smashing story. Crystal was a present for an older lady, who found her a struggle and her grandchildren who'd gifted her, very sensibly immediately offered her for sale. We found her the next week and like you we've never looked back. The one's I'm going to see were born on March the 9th, so they should be with mum until their 12 weeks I understand?

At one time I had 3 female yorkies, all 3 years apart, it took the older ones time to adjust to a new baby, when they did, they all got along, played, ate together, all had their spot on my bed for sleeping. A point came when the 2 older ones passed away 6 months apart, my youngest one was now 6 y/o and went inro deep depression, I gave her 6 months to come around but that never happened, so off I went to find the perfect play mate. When I saw Matese she was the biggest 8 week old puppy I had ever seen, I knew she would be perfect for my other pup as ahe was always the baby and a bit dominant, I knew this large puppy would not take to being bossed around. I made a great choice. My older one accepted this giant puppy, they were inseparable, I think my older one was just so happy to have another buddy in her life, she fell totally in love with the puppy. Maybe I was just lucky and had 4 sweetest girls, never a fight or a growl. Because I had 3 then 2, they never lost their bond for ME, they still preferred me even tho they loved each other. That is my experience with multiple fur babies, Good luck

Hello there nice to hear from you, hope your all well over there? Thanks for your input, I took Crystal to visit her new friend on the weekend and she was obviously missing her when she came home. At present my wife's away visiting her new grand daughter in Russia, so perhaps poor old dad's a bit boring? I love watching the interaction between these funny little dogs as well. I'll report back after I've viewed the puppy in my county (KC reg breeder) on Friday.

Didn't realize you'd already found someone - good luck

Just a look at this stage, but the pedigree is exceptional and I only say that to get a good healthy dog with a stable nature and to see the parents too.

My Yorkie mix puppies were born on March 9th! If you get one of them your puppy will be exactly the same age as ours! We are getting ours the end of May.

I saw a beautiful little girl last night with a pedigree from Ozmilion (Osman Sameja), who bred the outright champion at Crufts in '97. The Lady breeder had 3 beautiful girls and two 6 week old gems. She knows Sameja and his Dog was the stud. Home conditions were absolutely spotless and the pups reflected all the very obvious love and attention they were getting.

The little girl I saw weighed 2lbs at 6 weeks, so she should come out just over 6lbs, fully grown? That said she could eat for the world, much to her brother's chagrin! The mum was 6lbs and had beautiful slender lines and a rich lissom coat.

Are pups safe to go at 10 weeks? - I thought 12 was the safe minimum. My late wife bred Burmese cats and the kittens normally went at 10 weeks plus as the Moms got fed up with them by then normally and they were right handfuls to control - especially one litter of 7 I remember. I also have a friend who breeds miniature Doxies and they have a litter of three at the moment too, so I'm off a bit later to see them as well. I'm a bit worried here about PRA, a condition Doxies are especially prevalent too, but I've not heard of Yorkies suffering from this genital disorder inheritance?