So my girlfriend wants a yorkie...

[sandshara]

Here is my 2 cents worth. Yes they are work and yes you must do your homework. Research, talk here, and read. It should be agreeable with you and it sounds like you are halfway there. my husband and I both work and luckily my daughter comes and gets my baby. however she just started nursing full time and my neighbors daughter will be walking him and playing with him when she gets home from school. My husband was BIG TIME against me getting one, but he LOVES BEBE-I MEAN LOVES HIM!!! like a child. If you want it to work it will. Do not be scared & they are high maintenance but if you have love in your heart -you wont be sorry. You have to let go of the NEW FURNITURE< NEW HOUSE thing too. you have to keep an eye on them and train them to learn to potty outside or on pee pads. Bebe usually never pees in the house only has a pooh accident now and then and that is only if I ignore him when hes telling me he has to go. It is MY FAULT-not his. Patience, Love, and consistency (just like a child) I say you will be fine -Yorkie parents just need to be educated and self is no longer a word for you it must be family. Hope this helps A yorkie will change you-I promise

[chachi]

Originally Posted by Ozzie'sperson

Get a cat.

You still get the cute and cuddly factor -- not to mention powerful personality which, not coincidentally is why many people get Yorkies -- but cats are infinitely more self-sufficient.

I agree and I am not saying it to be mean. Cats are easy to litter train. Yorkies can be difficult to potty train. I think that people who work the kind of hours you do can have a yorkie but it takes alot of work in the time they have off. If you can give up being gone all day on Saturday I think you can make it work.

[onelovelylynn]

I can understand taking him or her with you to go shopping on saturdays but,

What about all the long lonely hours during the week, remember this is gonna be a puppy not an adult dog. And what about potty training? How are you gonna train a dog if your gone 55 hrs a week?

I think getting a puppy now would put alot of stress on you and girlfriend and dog. Maybe wait until your settled in your new home and then get a dog. You could try and find one thats 6 months or older and already potty trained.

Thats and idea.

[LoveMyGirlz]

Well I think its a great thing that you have come here to ask questions! She (and you) can get a lot here - from what to "look for when choosing an AKC yorkie" to advice when they don't feel well to potty training to just plain bragging about how yours is the cutest!
Maybe if and when you really look for a puppy, you might start with some of the breeders here.
As for moving to a new home and not wanting the dog to "soil" your new place...they are tiny enough to gate off, say your kitchen area to keep them from your carpet. At least while you are training and if need be while you're not home. I think "most" of us use potty pads for indoor use so I would suggest those for potty training.
Is doggie daycare an option? or maybe at least coming home for lunch or having someone come by in the middle of the day? Alot of people have to work...just life, and these little guys survive. But I'm sure any dog would rather have your company. One of mine has anxiety seperation when I'm not there
We are gone often I'd say...but I started taking Vixxen with me everywhere I could in her carrier. Movies, short errands, even dinners...I know some don't agree but I do "sneak" her in with her carrier. I travel with her, car and airplane. I do feel guilty if I have to leave her home, especially if its for too long.
I have spent thousands on my babies....vets and grooming! We also have big dogs and have never had to spend a portion of the same money on them! Smaller dogs, yorkies, have tiny little, sensitive systems and you can't afford to just "wait and hope it goes away." They often need to go in right away, sometimes making that an ER visit! $$$
So...pee pads, quality food, grooming (weather long or short coat, unless you do it yourself), vet bills (unexpected and routine), teeth cleanings (these little guys tend to get food build up and need their teeth brushed/cleaned), extra money for airline tickets and hotel stays (if you take them everywhere), not to mention the fun stuff...clothes and beds and leashes and bows....lol.....that is just some of the expense you can expect.

[TLC]

I agree too!

I love puppies, but next time (this is when Roxy and TJ go to heaven) - I will get an adult or senior Yorkie to love on

[Ozzie'sperson]

Just was having this conversation last night. It IS a huge responsibility to have almost any kind of pet but Yorkies are exceptional.

I love my guy and I can't bear to think of life without him but I'm not sure I am able to go through puppydom all over again. I forget sometimes about how hard it was and then I see posts on here and go, "Ohhhhh.... yeah, that was so not fun."

Not to discourage, just being honest.

[Dina_Nichole]

Hi again, I definately don't mean this rude but moving into a new home can be so stressful. Adding a new puppy to the mix can become a nightmare. The puppy will absolutely have potty accidents. Is this something either of you will be botherd about in your new home? I don't mean this towards you guys but I've seen a friend of mine get a yorkie after moving into their new home and they went nuts because it was a puppy and having accidents, being a little descrutive and the couple began fighting over this. I'd hate to see that happen with your relationship. Not saying it would but its something to consider. None of us are happy when they ruin stuff but it does happen sometimes.

[missPenny]

Just want to put my two cents in here.

I completely understand (as will everyone here) why your girlfriend has Yorkie fever! As with any pet, you are making a lifetime committment. Since we got Penny three years ago, our lives have not been the same - always for the better, of course, but owning a dog does make some situations difficult. For example, every day care & maintenance, scheduled grooming and vet care, boarding when you travel if you cannot take your pet, etc. There will no longer be those days when you can leave in the morning and stay out all day and night if something comes up. In a lot of ways, it is like having a child.

When we got Penny, my now husband and I were gone working from 7:45-5:15ish every day. We always made sure, however, that one of us was home to feed Penny over lunch and take her out. We kennel trained so that made a big difference with house training, but she will still make an occasional mess. Yorkies can be the pits with house training!

Also, we had to start getting up earlier every day to make sure she was fed and taken outside before we left. I also had to get up every night at 3:30 a.m. to take her out because she couldn't make it through the night. We do this with our new puppy now; in the beginning, it was 3x a night! Now we are down to getting up just once or twice, but it does cut down on your sleep.

Grooming: if you don't keep a puppy cut, Yorkies need to be combed every day to prevent matting. If you keep up with it, you really will only need to spend a few moments on this. But if you don't, you could spend 2 hours detangling the matts or have to have the hair cut short to remove them.

She will also need to clean the Yorkie's eyes regularly as they have a tendency to goop up and matt the hair. Ears must be kept clean as well since the long hair can lead to infections. Oh, and if you keep a longer coat, you should be prepared for messes from outside. Yorkies tend to pick up leaves, twigs, dirt, etc. in their coats. And because I live in Kansas, I have to keep a sanitary cut on Penny because the wind always causes some issues when she uses the restroom!!

With all of this being said... Owning a Yorkie is a tremendous responsibility. Owning a dog is a life-altering decision that I think the two of you should make together and be in agreement. If you do not plan to help her with the dog's upbringing and care, I don't think it is a good idea for her to get a puppy. It may only cause resentment later.

Getting Penny (followed by Riley) was the best decision we've ever made. I commend you for taking the time to research the breed and ask for opinions. There is a wealth of information and experience available on this forum, and someone is always willing and ready to offer advice and tips.

I would start out by just browsing here, asking questions, etc. and have your girlfriend do the same. Only then will be able to make an educated decision whether or not a Yorkie is the right breed.

Good luck with whatever decision you make!

[stinky]

I really wanted a Yorkie and my BF didn't really think I would take care of it either. He figured the novelty would wear off and she would stop being cute as soon as she messed the carpet. There were some times when she was young where I felt stressed and a bit tied down, but I made a commitment and I was going to follow it through. The good times really out weighed the hard, and the work pays off. I love her so much and she's totally worth it.

If your girlfriend is serious and fully aware of the responsibility, then this will be a great thing for both of you. You guys may find that instead of shopping on Saturdays you'd rather spend it with the puppy. That's what happened with me.

Everyone warned me about the cost too, and I guess it does add up, but seriously, I love spending money on Ginger. Lol. She's my baby.

Just the fact that you're on YT, looking into this, shows that you are going about this the right way and not just carelessly jumping into it. I wish you two the best!

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by NODAK
I think one of her main problems is that she realyl wants to feel like she's taking care of something...and since we're not having kids just yet...well, a cute little dog will work.

Honestly, I've had little one's all of my life and from what I read in your original post I don't think it would be fair to a puppy because you really don't have the time to devote to it and there will be times that she will not be able to care for it. Who else will? People who work have a much more difficult time housebreaking a yorkie. They can be very difficult. They need exercise and yes they do get sick occasionally and can't be left at home alone if they are sick. It just doesn't seem fair to the yorkie. The yorkie should be of the utmost concern before the desires of your girlfriend. Good luck.

[vainchick5]

Originally Posted by stinky

I really wanted a Yorkie and my BF didn't really think I would take care of it either. He figured the novelty would wear off and she would stop being cute as soon as she messed the carpet. There were some times when she was young where I felt stressed and a bit tied down, but I made a commitment and I was going to follow it through. The good times really out weighed the hard, and the work pays off. I love her so much and she's totally worth it.

If your girlfriend is serious and fully aware of the responsibility, then this will be a great thing for both of you. You guys may find that instead of shopping on Saturdays you'd rather spend it with the puppy. That's what happened with me.

Everyone warned me about the cost too, and I guess it does add up, but seriously, I love spending money on Ginger. Lol. She's my baby.

Just the fact that you're on YT, looking into this, shows that you are going about this the right way and not just carelessly jumping into it. I wish you two the best!

Excellent post Liz! Many in my life also thought I was going to give up once the glamour wore off, but now they see and even say "WE WISH WE COULD DIE AND COME BACK AS COCO"
On a side note, I'm not sure why everyone on YT makes it sound like you can't have a yorkie if you have a full time job. Well guess what? I have always had one since I had my pups and they were potty trained earlier than most people who were stay at home folks. Its all about consistency. Most of us have no choice but to work full time. The pups just sleep anyway. I'm watching my two on my webcam from work and all they do is sleep. SO just because someone has a full time job doesn't mean a puppy is not right for them. There are other factors that would make the puppy not right for them.

[sashajade]

ive had yorkies for years , my first when i was just 8 and im now 32.
i have 3 yorkies now and a shih tzu, i think one dog left for such a long time on its own is not a good idea but if you had 2 it would be fine as they would keep each other company.
i dont think it would be a good idea to get a pup as they do take up a lot of your time and if you dont want to have things ruined dont get a pup.
i also dont think it would be a good idea to get a tiny yorkie as you really need to know what you are doing with them or you will have problems.
i would say get 2 larger yorkies from a rescue home, they will of hopefuly got over all the puppy problems, be trained somewhat, keep each other company when your not there but also will not need as much of your time as they have each other.
as for all the other stuff needed for a yorkie i wouldnt say they need anything more than any other breed of dog, i clip there hair my self, clip there nails my self, and i dont have a stroller, pet bag or clothes for mine, they would go mad if i tryed to put them in any of them
if you have a larger yorkie you also wont have a problem with injurys or low blood suger.
also dont be fooled in to thinking you wont fall in love with a yorkie cos my partner never liked yorkies but fell in love with mine within an hour of meeting them and now calls his self daddy

[sondra2004]

I agree Get a cat. They are cuddly and soft and lovable. You can Stay away for longer time frames.We had cats first then our first dog-yorkie-.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by vainchick5

On a side note, I'm not sure why everyone on YT makes it sound like you can't have a yorkie if you have a full time job. Well guess what? I have always had one since I had my pups and they were potty trained earlier than most people who were stay at home folks. Its all about consistency. Most of us have no choice but to work full time. The pups just sleep anyway. I'm watching my two on my webcam from work and all they do is sleep. SO just because someone has a full time job doesn't mean a puppy is not right for them. There are other factors that would make the puppy not right for them.

I have to agree with you on that. I got Codie at 3 months of age and he was fully potty trained in 4 weeks flat. I got Tia when she was almost 5 months old and she was potty trained by 7 months old. I got Cali when she was 6 months old and she was potty trained by 8 months old. All of my dogs were FULLY potty trained before they reached 1 year of age and hubby and I both work full-time.

I don't think it's fair to say that someone working full-time should definitely not get a Yorkie. Every situation is different and if you REALLY want something in life, you will go out of your way to make it work. The best thing is turning a seemingly impossible situation into a workable solution!

[yorkieusa]

How much does a Yorkie cost you monthly would you say??

This is one of those questions where I would reply that if you have to ask then you probably can't afford one. Why? Because you never really know how much they can cost. It depends on the individual yorkie. What if it had to have surgery? Could you manage thousands of $$$$ for the care?