Maintenance Cost For Keeping a Yorkie Teacup? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Torguy · 09-16-2015, 12:08 AM

As the title says it, I am looking to buying a Teacup Yorkie, the problem is not with actually buying the dog, but costs thereafter to look after the dog.

I know it probably varies in price depending on the health of the dog etc.., But just want to know a general price like monthly costs If at all, general costs like that.

Please keep aside toys, and stuff like that, I mean things that are mandatory.

Thanks in advance for your advise!!

matese · 09-16-2015, 03:48 AM

Welcome to YT, this is a very hard question to answer as all vets charge diff. prices depending on where you live, and like you already stated depending on the health of the puppy. The least expensive thing in owning a dog is the price you pay for it. Depending on the age of the puppy the first thing it will need is their puppies shots, depending on what the breeder has already given it, you may need 2 possibly 3 puppy shots, then distemper, and lastly rabbi vaccine. Again cost for these shots will vary. Getting pet insurance will relieve some of the finances over the dogs life, it is highly suggest to purchase it. If you are not planning on breeding which I advise against doing, spaying a female and neutering a male are a must for health issues, read up on why spaying and neutering is a MUST DO. If you have a healthy puppy the first 6 / 7 months is where you will be spending money with shots and spay / neutering, then you should be home free unless the puppy gets sick. Cost for spay / neutering all depends on your vet. You call make some calls to a vet of your choice and get this information from the vet, keep in mind they will more then likely be ball park figures, but close enough to give you an idea of the cost. If you have friends with dogs you can ask them what they paid as they live in your area, again the cost can vary from vet to vet, but you will get an idea of what it "could" cost you. Just a little advise, the is no such thing as a "teacup" yorkie. Yorkies standard weight is 5 to7 lbs, some yorkies can be bigger, my last girl weighed 17 lbs as an adult, and puppies can be smaller then 5 lbs, all a matter of genes of the mating pair and the background of both parents.Beware of a breeder that advertises "teacup" yorkies, it is just a gimmick phrase to draw in clients looking for tiny babies. Some unethical breeders will hold back food from a puppy to stunt it's growth making it a smaller puppy and an unhealthy puppy. We have a thread in our library, what to look for when buying a puppy. I suggest you read up on that. Also know the breed, make sure a yorkie will fit into your life style. Yorkies are a high maintenance breed, they need attention, lots of exercise due to having a high amount of energy. Do not buy a yorkie because of it's small size. Do your home work on the breed, then find a reputable breeder, one that breeds to better the breed, not a BYB (backyard breeder) exp. one neighbor has a female, the other neighbor has a male, brain storm, lets mate them up, have puppies, sell,make lots of money. This you need to stay away from. Others will be along to offer up advise, suggestions. Good luck, I hope you find that precious little pup that will light up your life and give you years of love and laughter.

mybellababy · 09-16-2015, 04:08 AM

Hi welcome I just wanted to let you now that our Vet. cost here in Canada are much higher then then our firends to the South. Bellas spaying was a little over $ 600 and I live an hour north of Toronto. Bella got sick from a bad treat in her first year ( it was a Canadian treat to ) and it cost us $ 2000 by the time I was done a week later. Needless to say I took pet insurance out the next week . So its hard to say just how much a furbaby will cost. Put I have to say she is worth every penny.

Wylie's Mom · 09-16-2015, 05:12 AM

Hi and welcome to YT

. Best of luck in your search for a yorkie. Just beware as you're looking - be VERY careful. Do not buy from ANYone who advertises "Teacup Yorkies" as there is no such thing - teacup is just a marketing term used by unethical breeder trying to get more money for their dogs.

I would suggest perusing this thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...ent-guide.html

As far as costs, office visits are usually around $50. You have to then consider costs of vaccines, spay/neuter surgery, teeth cleanings/dentals, yearly bloodwork, yearly exam. Then you have all the unexpecteds: skin issues, ear infections, eye infections, disease, injuries, tummy upsets etc...

yavenay · 09-16-2015, 05:31 AM

If you can, get pet insurance to help with some of the cost or setup an automatic savings specifically for your pet. Pet insurance for my one female yorkie cost 39.00 a month. It covers all major illnesses and injuries but it does not cover routine wellness visits or any vaccinations like rabies.

To me, 39.00 a month is well worth it. I had a previous yorkie that had ongoing health issues but I didn't have any insurance. Her cost was easily over 5,000 or more over the 6.5 yrs that I had her. This didn't even include her regular bi yearly checkups.

With the new pup, I immediately got pet insurance because I did not want cost to be a determining factor on deciding the best course of action if she needed any kind of medical treatment. My plan reimburses me 80% after a deductible. In my opinion, it is well worth it. Besides 39.00 a month is easily doable. I just cut back on buying lunch everyday at work.

yorkiemini · 09-16-2015, 05:45 AM

The official (AKC and Yorkshire Terrier Club of America ) standard for the breed is under 7 pounds. It does seem most are 5 to 7 pounds. That being said, there are some great pups who are over 7 pounds, they are just not breed standard.

Small Yorkies (of which I have some experience) are known to often have more health issues. That means you need to get a good health contract when you purchase. Also they are fragile and can get injured more easily so have to be more careful with them. If another dog or animal gets ahold of them it is usually a disastee, so you have to be vigilant.

You can't show or breed the tiny ones so keep that in mind, and they really need to be healthy to be spayed.

Breeders can never guarantee what the weight of a pup will be until they are older so getting a young puppy is going to mean they may get bigger than you think. MOST IMPORTANT - no reputable breeder will intentionally breed "tinies". So beware of those that do. Reputable breeders know the issues these
little ones have and do not intentionally breed those problems into any dog.

Good luck with your search.

Maximo · 09-16-2015, 06:35 AM

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. Vet costs vary widely based on location and I see you are in Canada. I agree with those above who suggested health insurance, or a savings account, Care Credit, or credit card for emergencies.
I would estimate a minimum of $600 USD annually for food, basic vet care, and preventative meds like heartworm, flea and tick.

Max went through some eye problems (not congenital) and both of my boys have needed vet care for other relatively common things, so annual expenses went up significantly.

Wylie's Mom · 09-16-2015, 08:52 AM

Forgot this thread too: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/mis...wning-dog.html

ShowGirlLola · 09-16-2015, 01:48 PM

First year for shots and getting my puppy spayed was at least $1000, I think the spay alone was $700.

6 months of revolution (flea and heartworm drops) is about $100, so $200 a year.
A vet visit for a check up and heartworm test was about $100.
I feed health extensions little bites dry, 2 4lb bags a year is about $30.
Her main food is freshpet refridgerated food, about $10 a month, so $120 a year.
So that's about $450 a year, closer to $500 when you figure in treats and other stuff.

A groomer would be $60-80 4x a year, but I groom Lola myself.

My yorkie is 7-8lbs and I live in a suburban area.

Yorkiemom1 · 09-16-2015, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matese

Welcome to YT, this is a very hard question to answer as all vets charge diff. prices depending on where you live, and like you already stated depending on the health of the puppy. The least expensive thing in owning a dog is the price you pay for it. Depending on the age of the puppy the first thing it will need is their puppies shots, depending on what the breeder has already given it, you may need 2 possibly 3 puppy shots, then distemper, and lastly rabbi vaccine. Again cost for these shots will vary. Getting pet insurance will relieve some of the finances over the dogs life, it is highly suggest to purchase it. If you are not planning on breeding which I advise against doing, spaying a female and neutering a male are a must for health issues, read up on why spaying and neutering is a MUST DO. If you have a healthy puppy the first 6 / 7 months is where you will be spending money with shots and spay / neutering, then you should be home free unless the puppy gets sick. Cost for spay / neutering all depends on your vet. You call make some calls to a vet of your choice and get this information from the vet, keep in mind they will more then likely be ball park figures, but close enough to give you an idea of the cost. If you have friends with dogs you can ask them what they paid as they live in your area, again the cost can vary from vet to vet, but you will get an idea of what it "could" cost you. Just a little advise, the is no such thing as a "teacup" yorkie. Yorkies standard weight is 5 to7 lbs, some yorkies can be bigger, my last girl weighed 17 lbs as an adult, and puppies can be smaller then 5 lbs, all a matter of genes of the mating pair and the background of both parents.Beware of a breeder that advertises "teacup" yorkies, it is just a gimmick phrase to draw in clients looking for tiny babies. Some unethical breeders will hold back food from a puppy to stunt it's growth making it a smaller puppy and an unhealthy puppy. We have a thread in our library, what to look for when buying a puppy. I suggest you read up on that. Also know the breed, make sure a yorkie will fit into your life style. Yorkies are a high maintenance breed, they need attention, lots of exercise due to having a high amount of energy. Do not buy a yorkie because of it's small size. Do your home work on the breed, then find a reputable breeder, one that breeds to better the breed, not a BYB (backyard breeder) exp. one neighbor has a female, the other neighbor has a male, brain storm, lets mate them up, have puppies, sell,make lots of money. This you need to stay away from. Others will be along to offer up advise, suggestions. Good luck, I hope you find that precious little pup that will light up your life and give you years of love and laughter.

Pretty well hits on most things I would mention. Completely SCRATCH that sentence on breeding...do not even let your mind wander into that mine field, especially with what you are calling a "teacup yorkie". As a breeder of merit, I have not ever sold ONE teacup baby I have ever had, and these darlings go for a premium price!. These tiny babies require an enormous amount of time and energy and money....they can not safely play with other dogs, they think in their minds they are the size of a St. Bernard, and they will get into everything a St.Bernard will get into, if given a chance! They have never met a dog that is too big or too mean to challenge to a duel to the death! These tinies are just a heartbeat away from disaster and the minute you let your guard down, the minute you relax your gaze and close your eyes, it is all over but the hole digging. I have no idea if you are an experienced Yorkie owner, but if you are not, a teacup yorkie is NOT the way to cut your teeth on this breed!

Maximo · 09-16-2015, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShowGirlLola

First year for shots and getting my puppy spayed was at least $1000, I think the spay alone was $700.

6 months of revolution (flea and heartworm drops) is about $100, so $200 a year.
A vet visit for a check up and heartworm test was about $100.
I feed health extensions little bites dry, 2 4lb bags a year is about $30.
Her main food is freshpet refridgerated food, about $10 a month, so $120 a year.
So that's about $450 a year, closer to $500 when you figure in treats and other stuff.

A groomer would be $60-80 4x a year, but I groom Lola myself.

My yorkie is 7-8lbs and I live in a suburban area.

I forgot about spay/neuter, and the cost of grooming. We groom at home, full coats. Although I didn't need to invest in clippers (about $200?), we spend a lot on shampoo and conditioner annually. More than the products for my hair.

Neutering is less than spay -- we paid about $350 - $375.

lillymae · 09-16-2015, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Pretty well hits on most things I would mention. Completely SCRATCH that sentence on breeding...do not even let your mind wander into that mine field, especially with what you are calling a "teacup yorkie". As a breeder of merit, I have not ever sold ONE teacup baby I have ever had, and these darlings go for a premium price!. These tiny babies require an enormous amount of time and energy and money....they can not safely play with other dogs, they think in their minds they are the size of a St. Bernard, and they will get into everything a St.Bernard will get into, if given a chance! They have never met a dog that is too big or too mean to challenge to a duel to the death! These tinies are just a heartbeat away from disaster and the minute you let your guard down, the minute you relax your gaze and close your eyes, it is all over but the hole digging. I have no idea if you are an experienced Yorkie owner, but if you are not, a teacup yorkie is NOT the way to cut your teeth on this breed!

Exactly !

LunarBerry · 09-16-2015, 08:31 PM

Lol, the amount I spent on my one yorkie girl in a year (that isn't standard nor a tiny girl, though she is a tad overweight for her one year of age ;_;..) I could've bought 1 or 2 champion bred yorkies :P So aside from vet/health essentials, it really in the end depends on what you are willing to spend. A little over half my spending was on her vet/healthcare and the other half was on her comforts/optional spoiling spending. ^^;; She knows when I got something for her and she makes it clear when she wants something that isn't suppose to be for her >_<; lol

Torguy · 09-17-2015, 01:05 AM

WOW, this really is an Amazing community! I want to first thank all of you for putting the time and effort into answering my question!

I was planning on buying from a place called Minipups.ca, has anyone heard of them?...They come up when I search for breeders in my area (Toronto), but they charge like $2500 for "Teacups" as you guys mentioned to be careful of.

However they are selling lots, I mean every time they are sold out and they sell the next set of puppies the next month, and they offer Warranties and only sell to be people in person they feel are fit to look after the dog etc...

So I guess from my understanding from these posts, my initial costs will be expensive, but thereafter will be much cheaper generally speaking? So on average around $600 a year give or take.

Lastly, can anyone recommend a reputable Breeder in Toronto that's sells the smaller size Yorkies?

Thanks again!!

mybellababy · 09-17-2015, 04:57 AM

If you want a health pup try faeriepups the breeders name is Nora that is where our Bella came from I searched our hole area at the time we were looking over two year ago. I keep in touch with Nora on a regular bases. We have our name down for another girl. She breeds healthy dogs I have been to her place a couple of times. They are not tiny they are 5 to 7 lb witch is standard size and a healthy size. She is over the Hamilton way.

I am sure there are other breeder as well. There are other people from our area here too so hoping they will also give you other healthy choices.

Hope that helps

09-16-2015, 12:08 AM	#1
Torguy Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 60	Maintenance Cost For Keeping a Yorkie Teacup? As the title says it, I am looking to buying a Teacup Yorkie, the problem is not with actually buying the dog, but costs thereafter to look after the dog. I know it probably varies in price depending on the health of the dog etc.., But just want to know a general price like monthly costs If at all, general costs like that. Please keep aside toys, and stuff like that, I mean things that are mandatory. Thanks in advance for your advise!!

09-16-2015, 03:48 AM	#2
matese Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: E.Stroudsburg, Pa. Posts: 67,950	Welcome to YT, this is a very hard question to answer as all vets charge diff. prices depending on where you live, and like you already stated depending on the health of the puppy. The least expensive thing in owning a dog is the price you pay for it. Depending on the age of the puppy the first thing it will need is their puppies shots, depending on what the breeder has already given it, you may need 2 possibly 3 puppy shots, then distemper, and lastly rabbi vaccine. Again cost for these shots will vary. Getting pet insurance will relieve some of the finances over the dogs life, it is highly suggest to purchase it. If you are not planning on breeding which I advise against doing, spaying a female and neutering a male are a must for health issues, read up on why spaying and neutering is a MUST DO. If you have a healthy puppy the first 6 / 7 months is where you will be spending money with shots and spay / neutering, then you should be home free unless the puppy gets sick. Cost for spay / neutering all depends on your vet. You call make some calls to a vet of your choice and get this information from the vet, keep in mind they will more then likely be ball park figures, but close enough to give you an idea of the cost. If you have friends with dogs you can ask them what they paid as they live in your area, again the cost can vary from vet to vet, but you will get an idea of what it "could" cost you. Just a little advise, the is no such thing as a "teacup" yorkie. Yorkies standard weight is 5 to7 lbs, some yorkies can be bigger, my last girl weighed 17 lbs as an adult, and puppies can be smaller then 5 lbs, all a matter of genes of the mating pair and the background of both parents.Beware of a breeder that advertises "teacup" yorkies, it is just a gimmick phrase to draw in clients looking for tiny babies. Some unethical breeders will hold back food from a puppy to stunt it's growth making it a smaller puppy and an unhealthy puppy. We have a thread in our library, what to look for when buying a puppy. I suggest you read up on that. Also know the breed, make sure a yorkie will fit into your life style. Yorkies are a high maintenance breed, they need attention, lots of exercise due to having a high amount of energy. Do not buy a yorkie because of it's small size. Do your home work on the breed, then find a reputable breeder, one that breeds to better the breed, not a BYB (backyard breeder) exp. one neighbor has a female, the other neighbor has a male, brain storm, lets mate them up, have puppies, sell,make lots of money. This you need to stay away from. Others will be along to offer up advise, suggestions. Good luck, I hope you find that precious little pup that will light up your life and give you years of love and laughter. __________________ Joan, mom to Cody RIP Matese Schnae Kajon Kia forever in my A House Is Not A Home Without A Dog

09-16-2015, 05:12 AM	#4
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	Hi and welcome to YT . Best of luck in your search for a yorkie. Just beware as you're looking - be VERY careful. Do not buy from ANYone who advertises "Teacup Yorkies" as there is no such thing - teacup is just a marketing term used by unethical breeder trying to get more money for their dogs. I would suggest perusing this thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...ent-guide.html As far as costs, office visits are usually around $50. You have to then consider costs of vaccines, spay/neuter surgery, teeth cleanings/dentals, yearly bloodwork, yearly exam. Then you have all the unexpecteds: skin issues, ear infections, eye infections, disease, injuries, tummy upsets etc... __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

09-16-2015, 05:31 AM	#5
yavenay Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 2,663	If you can, get pet insurance to help with some of the cost or setup an automatic savings specifically for your pet. Pet insurance for my one female yorkie cost 39.00 a month. It covers all major illnesses and injuries but it does not cover routine wellness visits or any vaccinations like rabies. To me, 39.00 a month is well worth it. I had a previous yorkie that had ongoing health issues but I didn't have any insurance. Her cost was easily over 5,000 or more over the 6.5 yrs that I had her. This didn't even include her regular bi yearly checkups. With the new pup, I immediately got pet insurance because I did not want cost to be a determining factor on deciding the best course of action if she needed any kind of medical treatment. My plan reimburses me 80% after a deductible. In my opinion, it is well worth it. Besides 39.00 a month is easily doable. I just cut back on buying lunch everyday at work. Last edited by yavenay; 09-16-2015 at 05:33 AM.

09-16-2015, 05:45 AM	#6
yorkiemini Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA Posts: 4,285	The official (AKC and Yorkshire Terrier Club of America ) standard for the breed is under 7 pounds. It does seem most are 5 to 7 pounds. That being said, there are some great pups who are over 7 pounds, they are just not breed standard. Small Yorkies (of which I have some experience) are known to often have more health issues. That means you need to get a good health contract when you purchase. Also they are fragile and can get injured more easily so have to be more careful with them. If another dog or animal gets ahold of them it is usually a disastee, so you have to be vigilant. You can't show or breed the tiny ones so keep that in mind, and they really need to be healthy to be spayed. Breeders can never guarantee what the weight of a pup will be until they are older so getting a young puppy is going to mean they may get bigger than you think. MOST IMPORTANT - no reputable breeder will intentionally breed "tinies". So beware of those that do. Reputable breeders know the issues these little ones have and do not intentionally breed those problems into any dog. Good luck with your search. __________________ . Cali , and Cali's keeper and staff, Jay No, not a "mini" Yorkie - She loves to motor in her Mini Cooper car

09-16-2015, 04:08 AM	#3
mybellababy YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ontario canada Posts: 365	Hi welcome I just wanted to let you now that our Vet. cost here in Canada are much higher then then our firends to the South. Bellas spaying was a little over $ 600 and I live an hour north of Toronto. Bella got sick from a bad treat in her first year ( it was a Canadian treat to ) and it cost us $ 2000 by the time I was done a week later. Needless to say I took pet insurance out the next week . So its hard to say just how much a furbaby will cost. Put I have to say she is worth every penny.

09-16-2015, 06:35 AM	#7
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,041	Welcome to Yorkie Talk. Vet costs vary widely based on location and I see you are in Canada. I agree with those above who suggested health insurance, or a savings account, Care Credit, or credit card for emergencies. I would estimate a minimum of $600 USD annually for food, basic vet care, and preventative meds like heartworm, flea and tick. Max went through some eye problems (not congenital) and both of my boys have needed vet care for other relatively common things, so annual expenses went up significantly. __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

09-16-2015, 08:52 AM	#8
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	Forgot this thread too: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/mis...wning-dog.html __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

09-16-2015, 01:48 PM	#9
ShowGirlLola YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 1,354	First year for shots and getting my puppy spayed was at least $1000, I think the spay alone was $700. 6 months of revolution (flea and heartworm drops) is about $100, so $200 a year. A vet visit for a check up and heartworm test was about $100. I feed health extensions little bites dry, 2 4lb bags a year is about $30. Her main food is freshpet refridgerated food, about $10 a month, so $120 a year. So that's about $450 a year, closer to $500 when you figure in treats and other stuff. A groomer would be $60-80 4x a year, but I groom Lola myself. My yorkie is 7-8lbs and I live in a suburban area.

09-16-2015, 08:31 PM	#13
LunarBerry YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: GA, USA Posts: 693	Lol, the amount I spent on my one yorkie girl in a year (that isn't standard nor a tiny girl, though she is a tad overweight for her one year of age ;_;..) I could've bought 1 or 2 champion bred yorkies :P So aside from vet/health essentials, it really in the end depends on what you are willing to spend. A little over half my spending was on her vet/healthcare and the other half was on her comforts/optional spoiling spending. ^^;; She knows when I got something for her and she makes it clear when she wants something that isn't suppose to be for her >_<; lol __________________ R.I.P. Mick & Mandy (before 2010), Mila - 4/3/15, Chloe - 2/18/16, Kimchi - 6/2/2021

09-17-2015, 01:05 AM	#14
Torguy Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 60	WOW, this really is an Amazing community! I want to first thank all of you for putting the time and effort into answering my question! I was planning on buying from a place called Minipups.ca, has anyone heard of them?...They come up when I search for breeders in my area (Toronto), but they charge like $2500 for "Teacups" as you guys mentioned to be careful of. However they are selling lots, I mean every time they are sold out and they sell the next set of puppies the next month, and they offer Warranties and only sell to be people in person they feel are fit to look after the dog etc... So I guess from my understanding from these posts, my initial costs will be expensive, but thereafter will be much cheaper generally speaking? So on average around $600 a year give or take. Lastly, can anyone recommend a reputable Breeder in Toronto that's sells the smaller size Yorkies? Thanks again!!

09-17-2015, 04:57 AM	#15
mybellababy YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ontario canada Posts: 365	If you want a health pup try faeriepups the breeders name is Nora that is where our Bella came from I searched our hole area at the time we were looking over two year ago. I keep in touch with Nora on a regular bases. We have our name down for another girl. She breeds healthy dogs I have been to her place a couple of times. They are not tiny they are 5 to 7 lb witch is standard size and a healthy size. She is over the Hamilton way. I am sure there are other breeder as well. There are other people from our area here too so hoping they will also give you other healthy choices. Hope that helps