How much is a Yorkie puppy?
 

From talking to various people, the prices for yorkies from breeders who show seem to be around $1500.00 to $2,500.00 for a pet yorkie. These are breeders who are breeding for the right reasons, and that is improving the breed. They are not breeding to produce more pets; they are trying to improve the breed, and produce the "perfect" yorkie. In the process of doing this, they have offspring that, while not perfect, are great examples of the breed, and make wonderful pets. These breeders, sometimes, hold back a puppy that has show/breeding potential to evaluate its suitability for the ring. Since this can't be determined until 6-8 months, the dogs that don't quite make the cut are often sold at discounted prices because of one tiny flaw. It could be something the average pet owner would never notice, and in no way affect the health of the dog. Breeders, who show, are trying to improve the breed and also sell on strict spay/neuter contracts, and do not sell pet puppies on open registration. For those, who aren't familiar with the show world, the purpose of showing is for others to evaluate the dogs and see if they should be bred. It's extremely difficult to evaluate your own dogs with a critical eye. Remember, the cost of showing is high, it's not just the cost for shows, but also the cost for travel, hotel bills, restaurants, grooming supplies, and on and on. Beware of those breeders who call themselves "show breeders", many times they have just shown a dog or two, they have never championed one, and their dogs are not good representatives of the breed, but they just show so that they can call themselves "show breeders." Remember, that not everyone who shows is a good breeder, and paying more does not equal a better dog or better breeder.


Breeders who don't show can afford to charge much less for yorkies; these breeders seem to charge $500.00 to $1500.00. The purpose of breeding should never be profit, or to suppliment your income. Some people might wonder, "Why not breed for profit", this is a free country, and Americans are very enterprising. The reason breeding for profit is a bad idea is that when you need a profit, you will take horrible shortcuts. You will not test your lines for health problems, you will breed dogs that are poor representatives of the breed and don't have the qualities that a yorkie should have. Besides physical attributes, a good breeder looks at personality because many aspects of personality are inherited. A breeder who breeds for profit, cannot afford to eliminate a dog from the breeding program because of genetic flaws, and often can't afford suitable vet care. Breeding is not as easy as it seems, in nature, animals breed without human intervention, and nature decides which animals will survive, and later reproduce. However, when man steps in, everything changes, and we need to realize the seriousness and responsibility that comes with this intervention. Breeders are creating LIFE that has feelings and experiences pain; they are not creating some inanimate object. If their work is shoddy, the puppy, as well as the family it lives with, suffers. There is NEVER any excuse in supporting breeders who breed for profit, you are enabling them! This doesn't mean that all breeders who don't show are breeding for profit, but it's easy to sort them out, if you've done your homework, but you have to be smarter than them, because many have learned to "talk the talk". Even breeders, who don't show, should understand the importance of showing.

The third class of breeders is what I would call "marketers." Their prices reflect their advertising and marketing ability and not the quality of the dogs. Prices range from $1,800 on up to $10,000 and more. They produce puppies merely for the pet market, although they often sell on open registration. They are usually one-trait breeders and breed only for that trait, usually, some supposed "rarity", and have carved themselves a corner of the market. Their businesses are purely profit motivated and they are breeding for money. They often appeal to the pet buyer who interested in status, not quality.

Buyers who buy puppies online or in pet stores are supporting the second and third class of breeders, you are enabling poor breeders to survive and great breeders to die. I urge everyone who cannot afford to support a REPUTABLE breeder to support a REPUTABLE rescue and shelter! Reputable rescues should charge around $300.00 and the dogs are spayed/neutered. Reputable rescues, like reputable breeders, are not profit motivated.

While I think it's great that Americans are enterprising, I think Americans need to be more forward thinking, and think of the FUTURE, even if it doesn't affect them directly. What we do today, affects the future significantly, support great breeders and the future of the Yorkie is protected!

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Excellent Post Nancy!!! ;)

Thanks for this post, Nancy. One question: I remember last year that... Brooklyn? posted that puppies from show breeders were of comparable price to those that weren't. This seems to say otherwise?

I see in your post that at one point the prices are comparable, however I don't think it is your point. It is more about the differances in the breeding practices; one type a breeder putting their heart and soul into their lines and another type breeder, breeding to fulfill a buyer market.

Well, all I can say is that I bought Mia for a ton of money from Petland. She was sick and almost lost her like 3 times.

I bought Max from a wonderful, well-known, exhibitor/breeder (with over 100 champions) and paid so much less than Mia it would knock your socks off! He's never had any health issues.

My son and I flew to Dallas, rented a car, stayed 2 days at a motel and I still paid less for Max. (don't forget about eating :D)

I really can't believe how much pet stores get for their dogs! The pet store up the road from me - ALL their puppies are well over $1200, and most are mixes (Puggles, etc). :rolleyes:

So you very well now understand the reasoning for supporting reputable breeders over what Nancy identifies as Second and Third Group Type Breeders.

Great post. Can you believe I actually got told by some-one I thought I knew that she wished instead of working that she'd gone into breeding. Her only reason for not doing it was they didn't have a garage or out building to keep the dogs in, as after all you cant keep that many dogs in the house. All they needed was somewhere warm and feeding.
I asked what about exersice and freash air, attention from their owner, being kept clean and healthy. She did have the grace to admit you would have to take them to the vets. Her breed of choice was Chi's, because they're popular and sell for alot of money.

I purchased my puppy from a member of YTCA who shows dogs and I didn't pay as much as you say Yorkies from show breeders normally are? Would you agree that prices also have to do with what area of the country the breeder lives in?

I'm sorry, I can't tell if this is directed at me or Nancy. I am genuinely confused. I believe it was Brooklyn who wrote out a long post about how puppies from show breeders did not cost more. I can try to find it if anyone is interested.

excellent post Nancy...pleasure to read it. My personal experience shows that you can even get a dog from a local newspaper ad for even cheaper than the prices listed on your information but that you are asking for a lifetime of health/behavioral issues. not that these cannot be treated, but they cost more money than you pay for the dog and they are difficult to stomach.

for my next dog i'm going a totally different route and most likely will adopt my next dog from a shelter and rescue and rehabilitate it.

thanks again for the wisdom Nancy.

Not necessary, I remember the post as I posted on it. And Donna and I think on the same lines and operate pretty much the same, since we both started in Texas and belong to the same Yorkie Clubs.

The prices are comparable, and of course, approximate, as I stated, a breeder who shows may charge $1500 and even less for an older puppy, I know of several people who have paid $800.00 for 8 month old puppies that had been held back and of course, this is a close to a "show dog" as most pet owners will ever get. I just don't want to give the impression that show breeders prices are unrealistically low. If you look at prices in Yorkietalk classified you will see the average price is around $1,500 and these are not breeders who show.

I think Nancy is attempting to put forth the thought of supporting a certain type breeder over another. Yes, she has outlined prices from various breeders, but these prices were a ball park figure and can vary from region to region and breeder to breeder.

Pet stores would fall into the third category, and that would be the marketing category. You don't get what you pay for.