The $1000 for vet bills MAY BE all at one time. And $1000 is on the low end. I just added it up and in the last year I have spent over $6000 on vet visits/surgery, medicine and grooming. For TWO dogs.

Heck just the $135/month I spend on Loki's medicine is $1600/year. EVERY YEAR FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. Yes, his genetic condition is rare and it could occur in any dog but there is no denying that YORKIES ARE EXPENSIVE. Sammy had to get her knees fixed - BAM! $3000. Sure you can groom yourself to save money, but I think the OP is talking about the big expenses that come with owning a dog, any dog, but especially Yorkies.

I think it's interesting that most breeders only take cash, and therefore prevent people from financing their dog like they do a TV... It makes them think about how much they cost.

What I disagree with is how people who just breed their pets think the "going rate" for a Yorkie is $1000. But there are reasons that good breeders get $1000-$2000 for their Yorkies and it has to do with a combination of the expense of vet bills, genetic testing and the fact that Yorkies only typically produce 1-4 puppies. If you had the same costs (say $2000) each time you bred a litter of labs, you would probably have 8-10 puppies to spread that cost among. With a Yorkie you might have 2 puppies. So, while no one should OVER-pay for a Yorkie (don't pay $1000 to your crazy neighbor who's pet Yorkie had puppies!), a quality Yorkie costs that much and there's nothing anyone can do about it...

(I'm not referring to anyone in this thread... we have crazy people around here that just breed because they see $$$ signs and that is wrong wrong wrong!)

Don't you want my address?? :rolleyes::D

I agree with the frusteration! lots of people see my pup and think i just was like today ill get a dog. I SAVED for 3 years $4,000. That money was going to include the purchase of the dog, the supplies, the 1st year vet bills and insurance. During those years, I read books for a whole year (and i hate reading..lol) i watched every dog training show( i too can whisper).. I dogsat my friends yorkie, pitbull, and cat for 2 weeks to get the feel of how my schedule would change. ONce i did that than i went on a search for a breeder, I already knew Yorkies were just for me:D...
ALL that and thannnnnnnnnnnnnn i got my pup... I knew what i was gettn my self into, some folk just have no clue and just want something cute on there arm to go to the mall with.:thumbdown
I want the best for my pup and i will stave and not go food shopping if i have to, and its worth every penny. and i know that good dog owners feel the same way..they would do all they can to make it happen for there dogs!:animal36

I'm so glad. I'm not the best at explaining things clearly all the time...maybe next time I should just start out with the story to begin with. :p

Well, if you decide to give her one, be sure and have her join Yorkietalk, wouldn't that be fun!

Well now aren't you just he comedian! :p Besides, would require her to have a job to pay for her utilities, much less a pc and internet service. If it ain't Bingo or Cigarette's, you'd be hard pressed to get a penny out of her. :rolleyes: Besides, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

Yep, it's frustrating for sure! But, what's really frustrating to me is that some people give their 'want' list for what they are expecting in their free or cheap Yorkie...it must be female, under 3.5 or 4 pounds full grown and absolutely stunning...also must come with a total wardrobe and tiara! ;) People crack me up!

About 2 years ago I mentioned I was thinking about rehoming my Riley and someone PM'd me. This person gave me her sob story about how her Mom just lost her little lap dog and she was sick and lonley...wanted to know if I would 'give' her my Riley and all of his supplies and pay to ship him off to Florida but first she wanted to know what he weighed, how he was registered and if he was neutered. Yah...I'll get right on that for ya :rolleyes:

The new one that gets me now is people asking for free or cheap doggie clothes because their babies are sooo cold. If you take a minute to look at the whole picture (or their website) you'll see things just don't ad up there either. I really get tired of people trying to take advantage of the good hearted members of YT.

Yes, but sometimes it can be $2,000 plus in one year for surgery for luxating patellas, for instance, or even emergency pancreatitis. Dentals in some areas of the country are $400-500 and many toy breed dogs need them yearly.

It's a general estimate that shows that over it's lifetime, a healthy dog costs about $14,000 minimum (and up to $40,000). I posted it to try to put the purchase price, whatever it is, in perspective.

Yes!! :yay_jump: Then she can search all of Bama's posts!! :D

Yeah, we, like many others have posted, had to pay way more than that. A month after we got Franklin we had to shell out $1700 to pay for his parvo treatment. Not to mention shots, neutering, grooming, the monthly Frontline and Interceptor, shampoo, food, playpen/baby gates, leashes/harnesses, ...etcetcetc!

I agree with the post completely. I think the part that I agree with MOST is the "extenuating situation" argument. Just because your family is going through a tough time does not entitle you to a free dog. :thumbdown I also hate when people think $1000 is expensive for a dog. I mean, yes, but if you know anything about dogs, you would realize that ANY pure breed dog from a reputable breeder is going to cost a lot of money. You pay for the quality of the dog. When we got Franklin, we knew little to nothing and so we went with a cheaper dog. Well what a load of crap THAT turned out to be. I could have paid $1500 in the first place and have paid a lot less.

I actually have a credit card set aside for "animal emergencies". That way, I'm never stuck without a way to pay for something that could happen.

Triss is 8 months old now, and I believe I've already spent over $1000 on her this year. Her shots, tests, flea treatments, heartworm pills, grooming, food, clothes, grooming supplies, bedding/crate/xpen, treats, chew toys, leash/harnessess, mircrochipping, spaying. It's definately a lot you have to be prepared for ahead of time.

With the interest rate on credit cards, an even better idea is to start a savings account just for unexpected vet bills and add to it monthly. Have it automatically deducted if you can.

PrincessDiana, you are absolutely right. Those "bargain" puppies are usually no bargain in the long run. They can really rack up the vet bills, especially as they get older and genetic conditions begin to appear. It's much smarter to save up a few hundred dollars more and get a puppy from a reputable breeder.

I too keep a credit card for animal emergencies but we pay it off each month...that way there's no interest. If the money was in a savings account it would be pretty tempting for a lot of people but everyone has to do what works for them.

i know what ya mean... i agree cuz i have seen it A LOT lately!! :rolleyes:
i'm not saying you have to pay $3849280439 for a yorkie.. but please!! :cool:

TRUST ME... i would love a YORKIE, ASTON MARTON:p, etc etc etc for free.... but i don't actually ask for one!! :cool: i'm sure we all have issues/problems that would "entitle" us to one, as well ;)

I'm in the process now of saving for my Yorkie. I figure it will take me about 6 months, and I am just fine with that! If one was ever offered to me for free, I would REFUSE to take it! The wonderful people here on YT have opened my eyes to how much it costs to properly breed, as well as how much time it takes and how emotionally taxing it can be. I actually believe that saving up will make the purchase mean more to me, I wanted it, therefore I saved up and I got it. I have to be careful because I have college loans to pay off. I plan to NOT get my Yorkie until I have an extra $500-$1000 in the bank as a just in case, which I will continue to add to each month.

Unfortunately, you will find some people who just expect everything to be handed to them. I've met a lot of people like that... some eventually grow up and realize that they have to work for what they want... and others never learn. I was taught at a young age to work hard for what I need and want, and I will always do that.

We got lucky with our first dog.. other his neuter and yearly shots, he cost us very little until he got older. When he turned 9, he cost us well over $3000 in a year for a major surgery, and then medications to keep him alive so we could enjoy his company just a little longer. Many people told me I was insane to be paying $1500 (my parents and I split the cost), but all I could say to them is how could you not? Would you deny your CHILD a surgery they needed, their only chance at survival, because you couldn't afford to?! My dog was my child... My yorkie will be my child. I may not be rich (far from it) but I'll always be prepared.