New Jersey (Brick) HELPPPPP PLEASE!!!!!!
 

Hello All ,

My name is Vanessa and i am a single mother of a 2 in a half year old little girl named Taliah. She is Very very affectionate and loves doggies. I want to get her a yorkie for Christmas ( i always wanted a puppy under my christmas tree with a red bow when i was yuonger) Anyway i am looking for a yorkie that i can pick up Christmas Eve , however the thing is iam not in the position to spend an obsene amount of money , and was just wondering a little bit about the Yorkies ,

- How much do they normal cost ?

-do you know of any breeders in Central jersey area?

-are they hard to potty train ?

-are they good with children ?


my friend had one and all it did was shake CONSTANTLY is that normal ?

First of all, welcome to YT!

For starters, you may want to check the "rules" sticky at the top of this section. Members are actually asked NOT to post in this section if they are looking for Yorkies "on a budget," so to speak. I fyour funds are limited, you may be interested in checking the Rescues section.

I know that this is not likely the answer you were hoping for, but well-bred Yorkies from reputable breeders are generally pretty pricey. But, it's for a very valid reason. Breeders have costs they have to cover--vet bills, vaccinations, medical testing, stock, food, registration fees, whelping and grooming supplies, etc etc. It adds up quickly and they have to charge accordingly.

Also, due to their smaller size and somewhat fragile nature, they are not generally recommended for homes with small children, as is the case with many smaller dogs. Many breeders actually will not even consider placing their dogs in homes with younger kids. And they are also generally sketchy about placing them around the holidays.

At least, that is what is typical of REPUTABLE breeders. I'm sure a local puppy miller would give you a dog no questions asked for the right price.:(

Realistically, I'd say you are going to be pretty hard pressed to find what you are looking for. BUT, if you are interested in gaining a better overall understanding of the Yorkie breed, you have come to the right place. :)

First Christmas time is not a good time to get a new puppy no matter what breed.

Yorkies are fragile because of their size and many breeders won't sell to families with very young children.

And you need to be able to financially take care of a Yorkie, they are expensive to maintain. You have to figure out the cost of shots, spaying or neutering, food and unexpected vet bills. We had to take one of our Yorkies to the emergency vet and had to put over $900 down as a deposit for them to take her (they were planning on keeping her overnight and calling in the neurologist, so they wanted money upfront)

A nice pet quality Yorkie can run around $1000. I paid over $1000 for Beamer, and he is pet quality.

You can also probably find a nice Yorkie through a Rescue group. Check your local shelter out as well.

But, I really would rethink a Yorkie with a 2.1/2 year old and being a single mom with financial limitations.

Oh, and no, it is not normal to be constantly shaking.

Cost: anywhere from 1000 to 1500 from quality breeder
Potty training: Difficult to train and some never do. Smaller breed dogs are more difficult than larger.
Good with children: Some are some are not. They are a rather fragile breed and bones break rather easy when around small children.
Breeders: You are welcome to check the YTCA for breeders however as stated here not many would sell to someone with small children, and not many rescues would either. Now unethical and less than moral greeders would probably jump at the chance to make a buck, but buyer beware. You may get one for cheaper and to you but you will most likely end up with a sick baby that will cost you over a grand the first 6 months! Do your homework is what I would suggest to you.

Hi Vanessa. I'm from Jersey too. Not too far from you. Point Pleasant is my stomping grounds. I am going to be very straight forward with you from one jersey girl to another. You may not want to hear this, but I really would not reccomend a Yorkie for a 2.5 year old child, no matter how well behaved and gentle they are. Personally would wait on any dog until your daughter is around five or six years old and go with either a bigger Yorkie or an all together different breed. If you are set on a Yorkie, try to find the teapot of the litter which simply means bigger then standard, like 10 pounds or more. They are still small but not quite as fragile. YES, tiny Yorkies do tend to shake, especially around small children. Yorkies are great with children as long as the children are good with them as with any animal. You get what you give. If you are constanly pulling on them and chasing them then of course they are going to protect themselves. As far as potty training, they are notorious for not training well, especially the smaller Yorkies. Again , a bigger Yorkie 10 or more pounds is going to have a bigger more developed blatter and will train a little easier but they still will have their accidents. Yorkies are also high maintances so if you're a single mom with limited income it is another something to consider. If I can help you in any way please let me know but again I would strongly reccomend NOT getting any animal until you daughter is older around five preferably six. AND, certainly not around Xmas. it's really not a good time. You are better waiting until after the holidays when it's calmer and less stressful. It's always neat to want to surprise our children but sometimes we have to look for what is in the best interest of the animal. Also when you're ready www.petfinder is a great place to look. You can adopt for around $300 - $400 and that will include the necessary vetting, shots and spay or neuter. It's a great deal and you're saving a life.

Elaine (mom to five yorkie rescues and one more)

I don't have any advice on the cost of a puppy or references on breeders. I do however, have 2 rescues. I adopted a yorkiepoo at 4 years old and a yorkie at 6 months old. They are now 6 years and 1 yr, respectively. With rescues, there are sometimes an issue of a history or past, but most rescues are placed with foster parents and they could tell you about the dog's personality or if the dog is a good fit for you. Max has some social issues but is mostly a momma's boy and Lily is the sweetest thing ever...she wouldn't hurt a fly. Adopting a rescue can be very rewarding....its something about knowing that you are giving them a second chance at a happy, loving life. I believe they know it too...they have so much love to give us.

I also have advice on being a single parent and having a dog. The cost to purchase a puppy is one thing. It can be quite costly when you start thinking about premium food and treats, grooming, vet bills, monthly flea & tick (not over the counter Hartz) and heartworm prevention. If you are looking for a smaller sized yorkie, be prepared for a lot of vet bills because they are very fragile.

I'm not trying to discourage you but I think a lot of people buy a dog not realizing the true cost and commitment it takes. Hence the overpopulation in shelters.

the cost of any dog but particularly a Yorkie is minimal compared to the lifetime cost of a dog. And that with any dog is what you are going into. When you |buy" or adopt a dog, you are giving a promise to this being to love, to shelter, and to care for this pup, until they die. You will promise inyour heart of hearts, to give timely and needed vet care, be it regular vaccinations, specialty drugs to help your dog with various health problems.
You will need to familiarize yourself with all the health concerns of a pure bred Yorkie, and there are many. And should you decide on a Yorkie, be prepared to fund all the medical costs if your dog does indeed have health problems.

Just to give a comparison according to the standard a full grown Yorkie will only weigh 7 pounds. Your 2.5 yr old is at least 4x that weight right now.
Are they delicate? Well yes and no. They will surprise you with their vigor, but please understand this big dog in a little package is only 7+ lbs or so. and yes that means they can be hurt by a 3 yr old.

You will need to spend at least 10 hours per wk on the following, potty training, socialization, obedience training, and grooming, walking, and feeding. do you have this time to spend?

All interactions with your female baby for the next 8 years or so must be constantly monitored and supervised by you. Are you prepared to do that?

Should you decide to go forward with this idea, then there are stickies in the YT library that will help you select a breeder, etc.

Unless you are commited and prepared to safeguard your pup to the same degree you safeguard your human baby, most reputable breeders would pass.

FYI: the absolute worst time to get a pup is on Xmas EVe and those Christmas holiday.s

Good post! :thumbup::thumbup:

Out of curiosity.....why is chistmas the WORST time to get a yorkie?

I've been reading that a lot lately around here, but no one has explained why?:confused:

Several reasons. People are always extremely busy during the holidays. Not really a lot of spare time to stay home with a pup while it adjusts. Also, it's crucial for Yorkie pups to have a stable, calm environment when they are first placed and adjusting. They are prone to low blood sugar and it takes very little to cause them stress when they are young. Christmas or busy holidays--lots of things going on, traveling, family and friends in and out is anything BUT calm and stable. Also, many people have wonderful visions of giving pups as presents for Christmas, so lots of time, it's an impulse bought on impulse in an attempt to make a story book worthy story, but soon after, families realize that the reality of caring for a pup long term is not what they'd envisioned.

Responsible breeders do whatever they can to ensure that they are placing their dogs into good environments. You can't be there every minute when a pup is placed to ensure an easy transition into a loving home, but many do what they can do and refrain from placing pups around holidays to help avoid any of the aforementioned issues. :)

@ Jrsygal37....WOW that's deep! That is just terrible....it really breaks my heart to hear that.

@Bamafan121s, yea that makes sense. When you 1st get a puppy they need their rest, & get used to their new home. Everybody is going to want to touch it or hold it or want to play with it all the time & that can be a lot. :(

The reason for me asking is because I was thinking of (FINALLY!) getting my yorkie during the holidays or next summer. Not as a gift though, I've always wanted a yorkie but I'm in school right now & I wanted to wait until I was off from school. I think ill just wait until next summer. :)

This is a great article:

PUPPIES AS CHRISTMAS PRESENTS?

Hi Vanessa, I can tell from your post that you and your family sound very excited to get a puppy (who can blame you, puppies are great) I wanted to share my experience with you.

There are two experiences that I've had that may help you make the right decision for your family.

I have a two year old Yorkie, Sophie Kate she traveled with us this year to Michigan to visit our family which includes a 2 year old little girl who LOVED Sophie Kate. It was so stressful for me, Sophie Kate was kind of afraid of the little girl and Ava (the little girl) wanted nothing more than to play with her. It required a lot of supervision by myself, my husband and the little girls parents. Now Sophie Kate is not a little Yorkie, she is 8 lbs but we still had to make sure Ava didn't pick her up and was playing nice with her. I have no doubts someday Ava will be a Yorkie owner and probably posting on Yorkie Talk but for right now she is sticking with her family dog, a sturdy Black Lab who loves kids and can get away when needed.

If you decide to get a family dog I would suggest perhaps you look at local rescue, some place you and your family could visit to see how the dog fits in. There are so many wonderful dogs in rescues who are just thankful for a person to stop and give them some attention.

My thoughts on a dog for Christmas, who wants to clean up pee on Christmas? Sorry if that sounds rude but really that is what would happen.

Don't give up on finding a dog, just make sure the time is right and you pick the right breed of dog for your family.

This wanders off topic a bit...but after reading the posts and the one that referred to rescues saying come in February for the Christmas puppies...I wonder if that's common? I find it hard to believe some would pay $1200 plus for a dog and dump it at a shelter because it's inconvenient (difficult to potty train, not 'exactly' the type of dog they were looking for, things like that); however, I could see someone giving a dog with significant health issues (maybe because they bought from a poor breeder) to a rescue because they couldn't afford the unexpected medical care nor anyone to take it that could afford the care and rather than put the dog down they hope it will find a good home and the proper care.
Secondly, whether to get a puppy at Christmas is a good time I think it depends on your lifestyle. After the initial tearing open of the packages by the kids, Christmas is pretty mellow at our house and I'm sure a lot of people don't overextend themselves during the holidays.
My experience with my Yorkies I would say Yorkies aren't the best pick for a small child and after raising several children I firmly believe in not getting them any animal when they are so young as the animal generally dies when they are teenagers and that being an emotionally rough time anyway for kids, having their beloved pet die just adds to the turmoil. Wait until your child is a bit older and when they lose their beloved pet ( and they will ) they will be old enough to understand the circle of life and death better.
Kendra

I want to add, that losing a pet hurts at any age ( I was not saying that only teenagers grieve extensively over a lost pet), we lost one of our dogs (old age) 2 months ago and I cried like a baby (literally sobbed) for a week, though I understand and have come to terms with it. My (youngest)--14 year old -- child still keeps saying how weird it feels not to have Emma, he says" "it feels so weird she's not here as that's all he knew...she was around him every day of his life, that there never was a time she "never was". something is missing. For another teenager, possibly without strong coping mechanisms I could see this situation being very detrimental to their emotional state.

I just wanted to welcome you to YT! Also, just to say although getting a puppy is always a happy time and super fun.....its still alot of work. Your daughter, being only 2 will have to be supervised around the puppy, for both their sakes and for you it will be like having another real baby in the house.

I'm not trying to discourage but just give information.

As a breeder myself, I have spent many hours educating and explaining and teaching new puppy owners and sadly have had to take puppies back before just because they were not prepared for all it takes to care for a Yorkie puppy.

I wish you luck in your decision and hope you stay around here on YT, if and when you add a family member!

Take Care!

Ladymom posted a good link and I Firmly agree with the read. As far as the price people pay for their puppies and dumping them at shelters after they have paid such prices, Yes it happens every day. Probably more in the months after Christmas because sooooo many people buy puppies as Christmas gifts. I'm sure ladyjane could tell a story or two about puppies and adult dogs who end up in shelters and rescues because the owner simply could not be bothered with cleaning up after them any longer when they soil the carpet because they never took the time to train the animal properly. I have 5 dogs now and 3 are pure bred dogs , all ended up homeless because the owners could not afford their medical needs and/or chose not to house break or train them in any manner. All are wonderful dogs and none deserved to be thrown away like a piece of trash. I also do not believe people should buy "Their Children" of any age a pet. Adding any pet to any family should be a family affair, meaning all should want the animal and all should take part in it's care. I am so sick of hearing parents say " if you don't take care of your dog I'm getting rid of it" or "if you don't clean up after your cat it's going to the pound". Parent's need to be the ones who take the lead & show/teach their children that pets are a very big and important responsibility and they are not toys and they are not disposable.

:thumbup: I'd just like to add that my Lilly who is a rescue came to rescue and then to me at 13 weeks of age. She was BOUGHT at a pet store for big bucks and then when her family realized the work etc. they dumped her at a shelter. She had barely any hair and was less then two pounds. The shelter contacted our rescue and we took her. I am happy to say that now Lilly is a very happy, beautiful three year old Yorkie. Happy endings with rescues. You give and you get back ten fold.

Elaine

Hi Vanessa. Welcome to YT!

I think its really terrific that you are thinking about such a surprise for your daughter. At the risk of coming across a bit negative, and that is not my intention, I would give you my honest opinion.

I would not consider getting a puppy for a 2 1/2 year old child. Particularly a small-breed dog. While your daughter is likely very affectionate, she does not yet have the ability to understand how to care for the needs of a puppy. She is just learning how to care for herself :)

Puppy Potty training, socialization, feeding, all require a significant amount of time, attention, and diligence. You may be thinking that this is the opportunity to "teach" her those things, by IMO she needs to be older to really grasp this, and also to serve the best interests of the pup.

Simply handling a puppy (especially a small breed) requires a lot of care and a small child is likely to mis-interpret handling a puppy with handling a "stuffed animal" and that can endanger a tiny pup, or cause it to build behavioral traits you will not find desirable

Ultimately the decision is clearly yours, however IMO I'd hold off a bit.

Maybe there is a way you and your daughter can begin working with animals - volunteering at the ASPCA - or something like that - so she can begin to experience what it is like to be around animals - in "preparation" for getting a pet of her own

Yeah I suppose people might dump off an expensive dog if they didn't pay for it and it was just given to them. That's why I don't believe people should give a "gift" of an animal if that animal wasn't specifically requested (by an adult!). Years ago someone gave my mother a "retirement gift" of a Pom --- she didn't want a little dog and did go to great lengths to find it a good and caring home (and would have NEVER just dumped it at a shelter if she had not been able to find it a good home, she would have kept it, but she interviewed several people and finally settled on the one she thought could give him the best home --- and they did, they kept in touch with her over the years).

I do agree people need to think through acquiring a dog before they get it. There have been times in my life I admit to getting a dog when it probably wasn't the best time, but all my dogs have lived long lives and died (in my arms) of old age, thus even if I "shouldn't have" gotten the dog, I kept my commitment to it no matter what. Which is what people should do. Commitment is a long lost art I guess.:confused: Post New Year's would probably be better if the holiday times are hectic. BUt for many, the holidays are merely another day, thus Christmas time can be as good as any time and if someone wants a puppy and one's available at that time, why not? So again, Christmas time can be a great time to acquire a pet...if one's lifestyle can accommodate the new little being.

If you believe that people who pay big bucks for dogs for them selves and those dogs don't often end up in shelters you are sadly mistaken. It doesn't really matter if a person pays big bucks or get's it for free off the nearest street corner, as you said and you are correct on this , a pet is and always should be a lifelong commitment to that pet. But Sadly more people feel ( it's just an animal ) then those who believe it's a family member. This is why shelters are full of homeless pets who the majority of will never find love and happiness again and millions will die , even the ones who were purchased buy a person for themselves and not as a gift for someone else. If Christmas time is not a hectic time for a person wanting a pet then they should by all means go for it, but that's not the case with most who purchase pets as gifts and why many are rehemmed or taken to shelters. As someone here has said and I agree, if I were a breeder I would NEVER advertise my pups for sale during Any holiday. Think about this, what happens to Most rabbits purchased for kids for easter ? It's no different for the Christmas present Puppy. If we lived in a perfect world maybe it would be different , but we don't and this is Sad reality.

It happens all of the time. Potty training issues, allergies (to a dog with no dander), barking, dog is afraid of the children who have been torturing it, husband does not like, moving and cannot take the dog with them.........oh, the list is endless.


Dogs are disposable to many. It is disgusting and the magnitude of it is just unimaginable.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Yeah, I guess you're right, sometimes it's hard for me to believe that people can be so cruel. I need to accept just because I commit to a dog for life not everyone does. My husband pointed out that for those that can afford an expensive dog are probably the ones that don't hesitate to get rid of the "hard to potty train" ones as those dogs are are the "pains-in-the-rear" and those people can afford to go out and get another one...and another one...and another one (dumping the "inconvenient" ones off before moving on to the next "try").
As far as Yorkies go (yes, I know other dogs are the same way, just speaking from my experience with Yorkies) they get sooo bonded to their humans I just think it's a double whammy for the little dogs to get 'dumped'. That's why, in part, I can't understand the breeder who just sells off a dog after it's served it's breeding purposes...that dog has bonded to them and is suddenly "dumped" (dumped is dumped, whether some cash was exchanged in the process or not) and I'm sure that dog can't understand why it was suddenly sent away from its only known home. Yes, I understand it would be "inconvenient" for a breeder to keep all the dogs once they are done breeding it...but to the dog there is little difference in the reason behind the "inconvenience". I don't think the dog understands: I'm getting rid of you because: 1) you aren't potty trained and are a pain, 2) you bark too much, 3) I can't afford you, 4) you're no longer breedable, 5) need a new young breedable bitch, 6) insert reason for dumping/unloading/getting rid of/selling off...
Maybe breeding should be a time-limited position. Breed for a few years and when you can no longer keep your dogs (as they've aged-out for breeding), time to get out and let the next breeder step in. That might be worthwhile legislation.
Kendra

An example of this, is our Lilly. She came into rescue at 13 weeks of age. Full breed Yorkie and one that some breeder's would call a Tea Cup. She was soooo tiny. Many may remember here on here when I first took her in. She weighed just a little over a pound, and had hardly any hair. I was posting looking for something warm in her size. Anyway, not to get off subject. She was bought (paid big bucks) from a pet shop and then dumped at a shelter. Can you imagine dumping something so small and helpless at a shelter? Well, the shelter knew they could not give her what she needed and they contacted rescue. Rescue had over 100 applications on her. I was the lucky pick. She is now a healthy happy four pound three year old:) And, I now volunteer with this rescue. So, YES people do pay big bucks for animals and then just dump them. Some just don't care about the money. I see people I know all the time make big money purchases and then don't take care of what they get; cars, computers, furniture etc. but it's really bad when it's a life at stake. :( Elaine

I hope Vanessa comes back and reads all this great advice and I hope she rethinks (very carefully) about getting a very small dog for a 2yr old at Christmas.

Vanessa - Labs are fantastic dogs to grow up with if your heart is set on getting a dog now.

They are great dogs, but that is another breed that people need to research before getting. They are difficult if not trained well...you really have to be committed to training them! Of course it is the same for any breed....I just say that because I have a good friend who rescues Labs and she finds that most people just assume that they are going to be great dogs for the family without any work at all!

Great post!

The SPCA in Raleigh won't even adopt out pets the week before Christmas. :thumbup:

Labs are wonderful dogs when they are properly trained. The problem most people don't realize is that their bodies grow so much faster than their brains do. You very quickly have a 60 pound puppy who's teething and jumping all over you.