Yorkshire Terriers, or Yorkies for short, have been around for about two centuries, with the first recorded appearance having occurred around 1861.
Thanks to their small, graceful frame that makes them easy to carry around, it’s not a wonder that celebrities and unknowns alike are rushing to get one.
Their popularity and cute appearance earned them a #9 ranking among the American Kennel Club’s most popular dog breeds.
Yorkies normally weigh around 4 to 7 pounds and have a lifespan of around 12 to 15 years, provided that they are healthy with no genetic conditions.
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Want a Yorkie? Pay up!
The price of a Yorkshire Terrier can depend on various factors such as age, gender, and documentation, and more.
If you plan to get one from a reputable breeder, expect to shell out an average of around $1,000 to $3,000 for a regular Yorkshire Terrier puppy, though you can also find them for as little as $400 and all the way up to $4,000.
Of course, this price range only covers the purchasing of the dog itself. It does not include the expenses of keeping it alive and well for the next 12 to 15 years.
One-Time Expenses
Once bought, there are a few other things that you should be prepared to take care of financially. Thankfully, many of these things only need to be bought once.
- Shelter to Sleep & Hide
Yorkshire Terriers have proven to be difficult to housetrain. Because of their quaint appearance and cute frame, most homeowners let their misdemeanors slide, but it’s essential to stand firm with them and establish rules. Otherwise, as they get older, they will believe that it is okay to ignore you and thrash your home.
Crate training them is a better option than leaving them to roam around and destroy your possessions. Crates also give your dog a space of its own, which can help prevent it from acting out due to anxiety.
A typical Yorkie grows up to 8 or 9 inches from the shoulder to the ground. Your crate, then, must be 4-5 inches above its shoulders in order for it to move freely. Better yet, bring your pooch when you go crate shopping to give you an idea of whether or not each crate is the right size for it.
A decent crate will cost you around $15 to $60 depending on the size and materials used. The crate must not be so small that your dog cannot stand and move around inside, and not so large that it can take a potty on the other side of the crate and ignore it by moving to the other side.
- Transportation Costs to Visit the Yorkie & Bring It Home
Choosing a reputable dog breeder may require you to travel across states just to check the quality of its breeding practices and the quality of the dog itself.
Some breeders insist on transporting the Yorkie themselves in order to see your living conditions so that they can assure that the pooch that they labored and cared for will be staying in a safe home where it will be well cared for.
Others prefer hiring a pet transport service. Some pet travel services charge as much as $350 for air travel across the continental US, and it can shoot up to $950 for international flights.
In any case, consider the transportation costs involved in visiting the breeders’ area and in taking the Yorkie home. That includes fuel and possibly food and overnight accommodations if you’re traveling to get the dog yourself.
- Papers to Prove the Yorkie Is Legit
If the breeder you chose has not taken care of this yet, you might need to do it yourself. Or better yet, you have to question why it has not been done since official papers can solidly certify that the Yorkie is purebred.
It is important to note that undocumented Yorkies cost significantly less than documented ones–usually ranging up to $800.
Care and Maintenance Expenses
These include the things that you’ll have to buy throughout your pooch’s life in order to give it a great quality of life under your care.
- Food
The food cost you may incur for taking care of a Yorkie varies greatly.
One, you have to choose if you prefer giving wet or dry food. The former, of course, would be more expensive to maintain in the long run because it would require a huge amount of wet food to give the daily nutritional requirements a Yorkie needs compared to dry food.
For Yorkies, feeding them both while they’re still a puppy may stop them from being picky eaters upon growing up.
The brand you choose may affect food cost as well. The more meat it contains, the higher the quality and the price. The good news is that for between $10 to $40, you can buy a 7 to 10 lb. bag of good quality dry food, which will last for about a month.
- Veterinary Care
If you got your Yorkie from a reputable dog breeder, chances are that it has completed at least initial rounds of vaccination against popular viruses and illnesses, including rabies. However, you may need to finish their puppy vaccination schedule and some vaccines will need to be readministered every 3 to 5 years depending.
Initial shots may cost you around $60 for the 5-in-1 (DAP + Parvo) vaccine and about $15 to $20 for additional shots, depending on the clinic and vaccination type.
Yorkies are prone to joint problems because their limbs are quite tiny in proportion to their frame. If fed too much, Yorkies’ legs might find it difficult to support the weight of the dog.
Dogs also need annual checkups to monitor their health and prevent illness. Routine vet visits may require you to shell out as much as $40 to $60 depending on the veterinarian’s experience and where you live.
As for spaying or neutering your dog, prepare $200 for the former and as much as $435 for the latter.
- Hygiene Supplies
Yorkies do not magically maintain their long mane all by themselves. Their hair is just like human hair; it must be brushed and cleaned to stay healthy and beautiful.
For this, you should expect to need to give your Yorkie a bath about once a week or as frequently as needed. For example, if you bring them outside very frequently, you may need to bathe them more often.
A dog shampoo made from hypoallergenic ingredients will do the trick. However, be careful when choosing the brand. If the Yorkie develops an allergic reaction, switch products immediately.
A good quality shampoo may run from $10 to $30 depending on the brand. If your Yorkie needs a specialty or medicated shampoo, expect to pay more.
After bathing, brush your Yorkie’s hair gently using a wide-tooth comb. Tangles can be a nuisance, especially if the Yorkie loves skipping around the house. You can buy a wide-tooth comb for only around $10.
- Miscellaneous
Yorkies typically require only a small amount of exercise. Experts say that a 15-minute walk each day is enough for them. However, this does not mean that you should skimp on the supplies such as toys, harness, collars, and food bowls.
Choosing dog toys will vary greatly on the Yorkie’s personality.
Are they a biting type? A cuddly type? Do they love playing Fetch? Do they prefer moving around a lot or sit in one corner? Whatever their personality, finding the perfect toy is a must. Most dog owners rarely acknowledge it, but toys are an essential part of a dog’s growth and development.
Depending on the quality and type of dog toy, prices may range from $1 to $45.
Avoid buying low-quality dog toys, which can be easily torn apart. Because of the Yorkie’s small size, they are at particularly high risk of choking, so you don’t want them to accidentally swallow broken bits of toys.
Yorkshire Terriers are also good walking dogs despite their small stature. However, this same quality makes them prone to bullying from bigger dogs. In this case, buying a secure harness gives you an opportunity to pull them away from potential altercations with other animals. A good quality harness can set you back about $10 to $25.
In choosing a dog harness, make sure to have one that avoids placing pressure on the dog’s throat and does not require being attached to the dog collar. Yorkies are prone to a collapsed trachea, again because of their small frame.
Why So Expensive?
Thinking that shelling out $2,000 for a Yorkie is too much? Here are some factors that contribute to their price:
- Age
Buying Yorkies young is relatively more expensive because of the preliminary costs of vaccines, paperwork, and keeping it alive. Plus, puppies are just much more sought after.
Young Yorkies can also be prone to accidents and illnesses because of their fragile bodily systems and tiny frame. Dealing with these issues requires even more money.
- Gender
Maintaining a female Yorkie is more expensive than a male one because of reproductive issues. Spaying is a more invasive surgery than neutering and therefore costs more. On the other hand, breeding females need more rigorous care during pregnancy and through to the time when her puppies have finished being weaned.
- Pedigree
As mentioned earlier, the more accomplished the parents, the more expensive the offspring because of their genetics.
- Location of the Breeder
Some breeders may live far from you, which could shoot up your transportation costs. As previously mentioned, visiting the breeder and checking out the puppies before buying is a must before splurging on a Yorkie in order to get your money’s worth and make sure you’re getting a healthy dog.
Is the Yorkie Right for You? Here are Some Tips!
Before bringing your Yorkie home, make sure that your house is ready to welcome the newest member of your family. That means laying down their food and water bowl, setting up the crate or sleeping area, and placing their toys where your new Yorkie can easily find them.
If you have other pets, do not introduce the Yorkie immediately. Give it some time to adjust to the new environment before bringing in other animals.
Before bringing your Yorkie home, you should also make sure that you have an emergency fund specifically for your pet. Yorkies can be very much susceptible to illnesses and bone problems, so having a special fund for them may keep you from being surprised when accidents happen.
You may also find it helpful to invest in pet insurance to help cover the cost of medical expenses. Accident and illness coverage costs an average of about $45 per month, while accident only coverage runs an average of around $15 each month.
Finally, make sure that the whole family approves of bringing a Yorkie home. Pets can sense fear and hostility, making them stressed and anxious. Ensuring that the household approves of it increases the chances of it growing up happy and healthy and will avoid conflict among family members.
