how much is that doggie? too much

[sashajade]

i dont no about you but i think yorkies are too much money these days well i say yorkies but i think all breeds are, i also think this is why bad breeders and puppy mills do what they do cos there is so much money in it, if all breeds were at a set price no matter what breed they were unless champs were in the pedigree then it might put them off doing it, what do you think are yorkies and other pedigree dogs too pricey these days?

[Gracie2006]

When I rescued my purebred Himalayan cat from a pet store, the clerk said "do you know how much that kitten costs?" I said, "I don't care". I whipped out the plastic. IMO, you can't buy love. You just buy the right to take the potential love home with you. I really don't care what the price tag says. Its a supply and demand thing. I don't think that price fixing would solve any problems. If the price were lower, I might be concerned that the puppy mills would just crank the babies out all the faster to make up the difference in lost income. If the price were too low, reputable breeders might not invest so much time, effort and expense in breeding quality puppies.

[Zoey's Momma]

I don't think Yorkies are too expensive. I paid $800 bucks for my Maltese. I've heard of Maltese going for a grand! I bought my babies from brreders who actaully care and want to better the breed. I don't mind paying that much for someone who cares and loves what they're doing.

[J_is_my_initial]

I think all breed prices are crazy, esp these so called "designer dogs". From the sound of things on the board, my family's income may be one of the lowest on here. No judgements, just from what I read people are buying for their babies. We spent way more than we could really afford cause I was looking for a certain size of a dog.
I agree too, you can not buy love. Would I pay that much again? yes, if there was anyway I could. I love my baby, but prices are just outrageous.

[Lexi's_Mommy]

People will mill as long as their is a profit at all. To mills it's easy money. They invest very little as sell so many.

Sometimes I think yorkies are over priced. Then something will happen to change my mind. LIKE, one of my best friends loves my girls, she has a little s**tzu that is 13 and not doing well. She tells me she is thinking of getting a yorkie. My heart sank because she has a 4 year old little boy that is so mean to dogs (that is why she is no longer allowed to bring him to my home), her poor little s**tzu is so sick he has to stay in a plypen most of the day. (thank goodness) He is aweful, and she doesn't correct him for his behavior. Well, when I told her what I paid for my girls she said no way. I was so happy.

Now I am not saying that people with young children shouldn't have small dogs I am just saying in her case she shouldn't have a small dog or maybe any dog.

[Bama Yorkie Mom]

Dont know that I agree with everything, but prices on EVERYTHING today is way out of line for what most people are earning, except the big wheels.

[chachi]

I think they are expensive but worth it. You cant put a price on the love you get.

[lolabella]

I also don't think price is important at all. When we get these little babies, we agree to live together for the next 15-16 years. Even if you have paid 1500, that's only 100 a year. Compared to that, the love we get from them is priceless.
I've paid 900 for Mia, but the next time I get a Yorkie I will not mind if she costs 3000.
I think the reason prices are so high is because good breeders actually spend that much on the pups. Bad breeders and puppy mills just ask the same amount without putting in the effort just because they can.

[LUVMYORKIES]

i have to say i do feel some breeders take advantage. I paid for my boy $2000 almost 2 years ago (he was supposed to be no more than 4lbs full grown) He is i would say almost double that, but regardless i too would do it all over again. They are priceless and though some people take advantage and want to get rich overnight by selling them at high prices, what these pups give "us" is worth more than the $800-$2000 we spend on them. Im sure some of us if not all of us can really say at some point we've spent money on stupid things or things we have nothing to show for and our yorkies are there when we wake up ready to lick our faces or play and also ready to lay next to us at night or on a lazy day. They are the best thing that can happen to anyone

[Olivier]

A well bred Yorkie is never too expensive .

[sashajade]

my point is if yorkies and every other breed were not so pricey then bad breeders wouldnt make so much money so wouldnt bother, this is what i think should be done ,ok think of it this way, your a bad breeder you have a yorkie which you had to have a licence for when you got her as a pup and it cost 250 pound and then 100 pound every year after and you now want to breed with but before you do you have to have a breeding licence which costs 100 pound (thats about 65 dollers i think) and the vet has to see the female and sign the paper work then the male you breed with has to aswell then lets say 4 pups are born and at 6 weeks old a vet has to go to the home of the breeder and see the pups then the breeder has to pay 250 pound for there first licence thats each pup the vet signs the paperwork, before all this a law is passed to say all breeds of dog are not be over 400 pound unless they have champs in them or the breeder has a licence, the bad breeder has two choices treat the pups and mothers better and buy a licence so that way you make more money or dont buy a licence keep knocking the pups out but get hardly any money for them. now your looking for a yorkie pup you know it has to have a licence so does the mother and father if it has got one its from a good breeder and a vets seen it and where its come from.

[sashajade]

to put it all in a nut shell, bad breeders want money and as much as they can make so if they could make more if they treated the mothers and pups better they prob would, if a set price was on breeds of dog these people who do it just for the money wouldnt bother if they couldnt make that much, just think you have 4 yorkies you breed all of them they have 4 pups each you sell each one for 600 pound thats 9,600 pound from those litters, no wonder you have these horrible people doing it. i would of paid anything for my yorkies and they are worth every penny and more but i still think by putting such a price on these little ones heads its also putting a death sentence on them too, we look at yorkies and see love the bad breeders look at them and see £££ or $$$.

[SnowWa]

Yes - the price of many breeds is "too high" -- Yorkies being one.

It is supply and demand as well as the popularity of different breeds at different times that draws these high prices. I remember when several different breeds first became popular - they were also very expensive. Then, as more people had them, and more puppies becames available - the prices came down.

I'm sure this will happen with our little Yorkies - they have become very popular and more and more people are owning them.... this means in time there will be more little Yorkie puppies available - and the prices will start dropping (regardless of what people think they need to spend to breed a dog). Breeding costs are not peculiar to Yorkie owners. Other than having C-sections more often than is necessary with many other breeds, a lot of the costs (or should be) similar.

***** What anyone is willing to pay for a little dog (any breed) is just fine - and I'm sure everyone can justify it. Plus they justify the hundreds of dollars they spend on clothes and toys and everything else.

BUT - let's not forget that these little dogs can be a "huge expense," and a lot of sensible people (with children and other expenses) simply don't have the money -- they rightfully feel they can't justify spending this much on a dog and all its clothes and toys......

Perhaps only "well-off" people should own purebred dogs - this is an unfortunate state of affairs. I know a family on welfare who own a Yorkie as well as a pit bull and a poodle --- all purebreds. And, actually, I know a lot of people who own dogs and spend money on dogs who really can't afford it and shouldn't be doing it. At least it is evident to their neighbors that their children are going without things they should have.

I really applaud people who work hard, manage their money, take care of their children and property, and are financially responsible and realize that they can't afford a $1000 (or much more) dog and everything that goes with it. This is just being a responsible person to me. Hopefully, at some point, the price of some breeds will come down - and these same people will have a little more money and be able to get the dog of their dreams.......

*** I know for a fact that a lot of breeders don't spend anywhere near what they sell their puppies for..... not just Yorkies - other breeds as well. Saying the possibility of other expenses (C-sections, illnesses, vet care, etc. etc.) doesn't justify the price --because often these expenses never happen.

A lady I know whose little Yorkie had 5 puppies was flabbergasted at the price she could get for them. Her dog didn't need a C-section - but she took good care of her dog and the puppies. They all went to the vet, had their shots, worming, dew claws, tails docked, etc. She still thought it was unreal the amount that people were willing to pay for them. They were papered and had very good looking parents (one 4 pounds - the other 8 pounds).

She had no clue what she could sell her little puppies for -- so, she looked in the paper to see what the average price was -- she couldn't believe it!!!

I wish everyone could have the dog they want - but a lot of people just can't afford it - and a lot of other people just get the dog anyway.

Sometimes we forget that people love their mutts (I use this word with love) as much as we love our Yorkies -- shame on us!!!!!!

Carol Jean

[topknot]

Actually cost does happen. I had a litter once where my female ended up with a C-section (puppy was breech which is common in yorkies and was stuck). she only had two pups. The one that was stuck did not make it. So luckily here I am with my female momma alive and one male pup. I ended up keeping that male puppy and he looks just like his mom.

But when you think of price you are not just paying for a pup you will own for around 15 years, and a companion, but you are paying for vet care, shots, hours it takes to be with the momma dog while whelping the litter, food/feeding, cleaning and changing pads or papers, supplies ~pillows, blankets, and the long long hours that the breeder did researching and learning all she could to have good quality pups. It is not just for your one pup, but what quality and care the breeder gave to her mom and the sire to produce this healthy happy puppy.

Of course the above are about reputable breeders that care and love their babies and it shows. So buyer beware - educate yourself before buying and research the breeders - so you get a breeder that has put her heart and sole into your pup.

[Amber_lv]

Well i think all puppies should be FREE!!! Or at least only cost what the breeder had to pay to up keep them like shots dew claws tails stuff like that. (I can dream can't i)