Might never get a yorkie....

[Amber_lv]

Originally Posted by Bradley Wieseha

The little girl i want is 4 months old and has had all her shots. I dont know what to do. Im starting to wonder if a Yorkie is even right for me!

Don't be discouraged all animals can be expensive if she has no health problems and is through with her shots and you can get enough money to buy her what she needs to bring her home i say go for it!

[Amando]

Most of us have waited a long time to get the yorkie of our dreams. I am exceptionally lucky and received my little Izzie as a Valentine's present. I've been waiting for her for 4 years!!!

I've read your other posts... I could not imagine taking care of Izzie as a high school graduate/college freshman. I'm still in college, but I have an AWESOME best friend/roommate who helps me take care of Izzie. So far, her vet bills have been $150 and I've only had her for 2 weeks. I don't even want to think about how much money I've spent on all of her toys/bedding/food/piddle pads... I'm flying back home (California) for Easter. I'm taking Izzie with me. That's another $200.

I hope that you do what's right for you. I just want to prepare you, like others have for the expenses. Sometimes it seems that the puppy itself is the least expensive thing...

At the same time, please know that your life at 17/18 is going to be completely different than at 23. I would know!!!

[rachelsyorkie]

And so many people get there pups & go out & buy a cute shirt & carrier but then post there pup is sick & they dont know what to do-the expense for emergency vet . I would make sure they are UTD on shots & wormed before leaving her home. Why would a old woman have 4 or 5 ,3 & 4 month old pups? Is she a breeder? That strikes me as odd... You will need flea prevenative & training aids-puppy pads, a crate. They are living creatures, that stress & immune lowers, they get sick & die when not properly cared for. I wouldnt borrow the money, what if later you need money for vetting. I would wait til I could pay for my responsibilties on my own.

[lolabella]

I, too, agree that you should save some money before owning a pet. Any pet. Luckily our Yorkie's health has been fine so far (and she has pet insurance just in case), but our cat, whom we adopted from the shelter (cost 30 dollars I think) had an awful intestinal infection a couple of months ago. X-rays, overnight stay at the vet for 3 days, IV, medicine, cost us well over a thousand dollars. He is an indoor cat, never goes outside, and we take very good care of him (best food, etc.). We still don't know what caused it (the vets couldn't determine). I never thought he would have that big of a vet bill when he has always been in excellent health and so young too! So, you never know. I am glad we had enough money to cover his vet bills because no matter how much or how little money you pay for them initially, you are responsibile for their lives, and you end up loving them with all your heart. I wish you luck, and I do hope you will save enough money as soon as possible.

[scrapindee]

You've got some excellent advice here. I think you should wait until you can really afford the yorkie of your dreams.

When I first read your post, the thought of scammer came to mind too--anyone else see this possiblity?

[Buddah<3r]

if you have to borrow to get them then wait. There will always be another puppy.

A puppy is a luxury not a need.

I bought Buddah in January and since I have had him I've paid over $1100.00 in up keep. Vet visits, shots, food, potty pad ($$$ those things are not inexpensive), play pen, bed, toys, leash and harness, Worming medication, Flea medication, shampoo, brushes, the list goes on and on. Everytime I go to Petco I leave speanding 50-60 bucks. This cost is all basic. Buddah hasnt been sick or had any problems.

It might be hard to wai, but it's the responsible thing to do...for the puppies safety and also for your financial future.

[Sweetums]

I luuuuuv my furbaby, but truthfully, I had no idea how expensive they get after you buy them. I would definitely get pet health insurance, which I have, so that's about $15-$20 a month. But even with that, having our furbaby spayed will be around $350. Then we had shots, which cost money even with the reimbursement from the health insurance. Then she had to have some toys, a bed, a playpen (otherwise you can plan on pee and poo everywhere in the house), peepads which have to be changed daily, to the tune of about $20 a pack, special shampoos and conditioner (these babies often have sensative skin problems and without conditioner they will get flakey and their hair will look like crap), special food because they have sensative stomachs and they are picky picky picky eaters (but if they don't eat often enough - and believe me when ours doesn't want to eat her food she'd just rather starve - then they get hypoglycemic which is a life threatening condition and will cost you an ER visit, quite expensive), eye-wipes, ear-wipes (you can figure about $10 a whack for all the grooming items) without which you'll have a dog with infections which will cost more vet bills. You'll need special floor cleaner so the puppy won't use accidently soiled areas as his toilet area. You'll also need a sweater or two if you live in a colder climate since Yorkies have only hair not fur and tend to get cold which can send them into hypoglycemia; you'll need a leash but probably more because they chew them; you'll need a harness, not the cheap ones but the padded kind since they will pull on the leash and practically strangle themselves which predisposes them to tracheal collapse; you'll need some sort of carrier so you can take it with you because when they are little they will cry if you leave them, you'll need special wire brushes for grooming - approx $30 ea. for the good ones (I found out today that my baby had a humongous hairmat which took me two hours to loosen up and trim with thinning scissors so I could get it out without cutting out a bald patch) and detangling spray for brushing. And of course there is monthly grooming from about 5 mos on which can cost from $35-$100 each.

You getting the idea now? It is expensive just to maintain them, so think carefully before you borrow money to buy one. Oh, and incidently, since they are so little to start off, they are prone to getting some ailment that can take them down within hours. So after all that investment, you can lose your puppy suddenly.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but it's the reality of owning a Yorkie.

[SRD]

I think all these people have good points. even though your pup is perfectly healthy, there could be accidents. I used to think that will never happen to my girls, until one day my youngest girl Dolly jumped out from the tub and broke her leg, she is my third tiny dog (not even the smallest one) and I thought I was pretty much experienced with them, but things happened right at that second which I was busy/didn't think anything would go wrong. so I ended up paying well over 2000 to fix this little incident.
just keep in mind that things could happen other than what you've planned, it's heartbreaking when your little girl/boy's life is on the line and you just can't afford to pay for the treatment.

[PANAMA69]

Yeah you will, but becarefull this sound like a scam ,but if is not, can you get other people that may want a Yorkie and split them, I will get only one, because the after care could be expensive, try with one, and if you can afford another later go for it, but don't give up. I prayed for my Pheobe and she came just in time, she is perfect, and just what I wanted.Do not settle for less, maybe is not the time or the ONE for you, if you feel presure about it. I have encounter numbers of people that want a yorkie, I even know a girl that want her hubby to get her one, but she don't want to brush her and stuff like that, is crazy . Yorkies take time and money.

[YorkieGuru]

keep us updated on what you decide to do, but I'm with everyone else, I would wait until the time is right.. trust me there will be other good deals out there. Just be patient.

[michiko]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Ugh. That's a tough call. It sounds like a good deal, and I don't blame you for being excited about the prospect. However, if it were me, I'd wait until I could afford it. Yorkies have a tendency to be expensive. If you go in debt now and wind up with a big vet bill in a month, it could take a long time before you catch back up. If the seller offered a great health guarantee, it might be different. But I'd still urge caution. Sorry, I'm old and tend to be cautious!

I agree with him. I am not as old as he is but I am very cautious as well.

I have waited for long time myself to buy a yorkie. It was really tough for me, but I am glad that I did that. As I waited for the right time, I also found the right yorkie for me. The perfect yorkie came to me at the right time. We tend to just look at only the price of the pup, but as everyone said, we also need to think about other expense as well. Haruka has been healthy but I pay health insurance for her $30 a month just in case of any emergency. There are also expense for pee-pad, food, clothing... and grooming. Clothes and grooming are depends on the owner.. I tend to spend on clothes often

[Sugar's Mom]

Aren't you the same guy that posted on the "for sale" forum looking for a yorkie recently and decided not to because you are a college student? having said that, any one of these puppies sou nds like a good deal. One word of caution tho, if you go with a male, you will have to deal with the leg lifting on your furniture, neutered or not, and you don't want to keep him in a belly band 24/7. not good for him

[Bradley Wieseha]

Well heres a small update. I havent yet decided what to do. Im not worried about the yorkies being sold. The ad had been in the paper for weeks and i kept telling myself if it was ment to be it would. Well its still there and shes reduced the price. I already have a playpen and pee pads and some of the grooming supplies. Im just so confused on whether or not the time is now and if this is the yorkie i waited forever for.

[stewartslucy]

Purchasing your pet is only the beginning of the expense involved in caring for your loved one.

The first year of pet ownership is an expensive one bcuz they will go in periodically for checkups, neutering/spaying, booster shots, microchip, etc...

When our Molly was young, she was throwing up foamy saliva. We ran her to the vet. He took an X-ray and we found out she was constipated (thank goodness that is all it was) but it cost $150! And it will go on that way for the life of your dog. It is always something.
Grooming, dog food, toys, well-care, healthcare.

I often wonder how many of the YTers can afford more than one Yorkie. Our one gal ran us a couple grand a year if you added it all up.

You are wise to consider the costs involved with this type of committment before you get your dog.

[chattiesmom]

I agree with the previous posters. The purchase price if only the beginning. Even if your baby is 100% healthy and only requires annual checkups and shots and dental cleanings -- you still have the day to day maintenance -- good quality food (not cheap), grooming supplies such as shampoo & conditioner & brushes & combs and we must not forget toys and cheweys- although toys don't have to be a huge expense they are very necessary. On top of that there are the "just for fun" things that most of spoil out furkids with -- treats, bows, clothes....

If your baby ever gets sick you face HUGE vet bills.

There will always be Yorkies. And the right Yorkie will be there waiting for you when you are truly ready. Hugs