A few extra pounds ---
 

Like a lot of us - I got my little Yorkie because I wanted a small dog.
And - I have to be honest and admit that I was a little disappointed when I realized that he was going to be a little larger than a lot of Yorkies are.

His weights have been as follows:

12 weeks - 4 lbs 2 oz.
17 weeks - 5 lbs 4 oz.
27 weeks - 8 lbs 2 oz

However, along the way, I have found myself appreciating the advantages that his few extra pounds are giving both of us.

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1) Health - he has always been a great little eater and has never had a sick day in his life.

2) He can easily get on and off my furniture including my bed.

3) He plays well with small children with only moderate supervision - he can easily get away from them and usually wears them out.

4) He plays well with my other dog and any other dog he meets.

5) He is small enough that I can easily lift him and carry him around in one arm.

6) He is small enough to be easily bathed in the kitchen sink.

7) I'm less afraid to take him outside - and think he might appear less attractive to the small hawks in our area.

8) He is definitely less fragile and my friends and neighbors are far more willing to hold him and play with him. (In fact, they have no choice-he is all over them in a jack minute.)

9) My daughter and her husband are very happy he put on an couple extra pounds. We'll be visiting their lake home a lot this summer, (windy docks and boats and stairs) and they feel he'll be much safer weighing just a little more.

10) I feel much more at ease taking him out and around other people and their pets. I am less reluctant to let other people pet him, play with him, and give him a lot of attention. He just loves this.

My Yorkie is still a very little guy - and he is as cute as a button. I am almost always carrying him, and believe me, he still gets all the "ooooohs and aaaahs" the smaller Yorkies get.

Since he has become a little larger, and I have become increasingly aware of the advantanges with his being a little bigger, I can honestly say that I am very happy with his size - and, since he's only 7 months old, he may well gain another pound or two.

With my short experience owning a Yorkie - I would certainly encourage anyone with children to get one that is a little bigger (8 to 12 pound range) because I know for a fact that they will be a lot safer and everyone can have a lot more fun with a lot less worry. And, believe me, as far as dogs go, they are still very very little.

Maybe this is the reason that little Yorkies come in so many different sizes. The right size can become a delightful, playful, much more worry-free addition for any family.


Carol Jean

I totally agree with you!
When i got Pippa i wanted a small (5lb ish) but she grew to 8lb.
But all the things you said about bigger ones are true and im glad shes a bit sturdier.
What a pound or two between friends :D

I agree Cali is smaller, 4 lbs and I have had soooo many vet bills. I am so afraid when she won't eat. I had her at the vet 2 times this week.

What a great post!

I agree that the larger ones are better for families with small children.

Very Good Post!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Yorkies come in different sizes, but they
all have hearts made out of gold!!!!
:yorkiesar :cheer: :yorkiesar

This IS a good thread...I think we all have this preconceived notion what we think we want...then we fall in love.... and size just does NOT matter....

When I watch my Chanel flying thru the air playing outside in the hose...I have to sit and just think that I just love her for all that she is....she is a total joy. Cheri is too but in different ways...I'm a bit more careful with her and watch her like a hawk outside.

sorry for those who have seen these pics...I just LOVE them and we have lots of new members....

This is Air Chanel doing what she loves best......besides spying on the neighbors :D

Carol Jean, I totally agree with every word you said. I have had small yorkies in the past, and always seemed to be hovering over them, worrying that they'll get hurt jumping off furniture, etc. We all know terriers like to rough-house a lot, and the sturdier the dog, the better. When we decided to add yorkies to our family again, we deliberately asked several breeders if they had any 'larger' males. And we couldn't be happier with our two little tough guys. Snickers is 8 lbs and Baxter weighs in at 12 lbs. and I do a lot less worrying!

I actually wanted yorkie that was at least 6 lbs when I got Max. When I was researching yorkies before I got him, I read that many small yorkies can have medical issues and be fragile. He is the first dog I ever had and I wanted a yorkie but one that was not so fragile. He's 2 1/2 years old now and turned out to be 11 lbs. My vet says that he is in perfect physical health. I think he's just perfect. When I got Abbie a year later, I wanted another yorkie that was about the same size as Max. It was disappointing because some breeders didn't have yorkies that were going to be over 4 lbs. It seemed like the tiny ones sold and the larger ones just lingered around because nobody wanted them. "Tiny" was the selling point. So I found Abbie and she is now a hardy 14 lbs. I didn't expect her to be that big but she's just so lovable just the way she is

I agree with this post. However, my 5 month old yorkie who has yet to make the 3 pound mark, is very sturdy. I think you can have a light yorkie, but the bone structure and build has a lot to do with it as well. My vet is always going on about Fergie and her healthy, non-fragile bone structure and her ability to stay petite. She is great around my friends children and other dogs. Of course I am very careful, but my paranoia has seemed subside a bit due to her lack of "fragileness" (is that even a word?:) )

Just because a yorkie is little doesn't mean it is unhealthy! :)

Jessica

Way To Go Carol Jean!!!!!!!!! Great Post!!!!! I Agree!!!!! Well Said! :)

UTDental - I started this thread - and will be the first to say that little Yorkies can be very healthy. In fact, I think most of them are.

I think though that the tiny ones need to be guarded and watched a little more closely ---only because they are so small. And, many of you are wonderful and perfect at doing this. And many of you have the perfect homes and environments for these darling little pups.

I am probably thinking more of myself - when I say that I can relax and not worry so much because mine has become a little bigger.

Again - I believe there is a right-sized Yorkie for every home. This is just another wonderful thing about Yorkies! They come in different sizes.

Carol Jean

I totally agree, you started a great thread!