I've been looking into buying a Yorkshire Terrier for several months there. I have never been the person to jump into anything, and maybe a little advice from someone just starting off with a Yorkie will help. I started off by checking on the internet for a Yorkie, as I'm sure many other people do. One thing to keep in mind, is that many of all dogs sold in the US come from Puppy Mills, and yorkies, due to their size, are a "puppy-mill-best-seller". It's a sad thing, so make sure you checkout your breeder! I've seen the prices on the net, and yes they are crazy. If you're looking for a "pet quality" yorkie, I think the lady with $350 will do just fine. Granted, it will be hard to find, but they're out there, the trick is just to find a responsible breeder, who WANTS their puppy to go to a good home. Start off my asking the local vets. I've sent over 300 emails to vets all up and down the East Coast, looking for references, and more than half of them were able to reply with owners of Yorkies they treat on a regular basis. So, right of the bat, you'll know of any genetic problems in the doggie'sfamily. Liver shunts are a big problem with Yorkies, but it's a genetic trait and a test can easily be done on the parents and the puppies. A good seller will not have a problem performing this test, many that I have spoken to, show the test results as almost the first things. Also start by checking the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America's website for referred breeders. They have a nice list of people who are a member of the organization, and conform to very strict guidelines for breeding. Last but not least, you can check the AKC'ssite for breeders. Many of these people certainly do have very expensive dogs $2000-4000, but they also have puppies who are not quite the run of the mill show quality, and these people really care about their pups, and will gladly chop down the price for someone who will truly love the dog. I had found a wonderful breeder in Canada who was willing to let me adopt one of her retired champion's pups for $300... too bad she is 2800 miles away. Be prepared to give veterinarian referrals, and if this is your first dog, go find yourself an excellent vet, and tour the facilities. Tell him the situation, and if he thinks your okay as an owner, he/she will gladly be your referral. Even if one of the places you contact does not have a puppy in your price range, they will gladly give show you to another breeder that you can trust. Now, if you're looking for adoption... try www.puppymillrescue.com ,there are are some truly heartwarming yorkies on there, but we warned, many of them have had very very very hard lives, and will require extra training and love. I think that adoption fees for yorkies on there are $300. I know at this moment, there is a gorgeous yorkie on there named "Sassy" who is about 5 years old, who will probably go fast! So, how much should a Yorkie cost? I would say anywhere from $300-$550. Don't jump into the hype of the expensive puppy. These dogs are getting a lot of recognition due to celebrities owning them, and having their pictures on the news with them. A true, loving breeder doesn't care about that, and will reflect prices that they know a loving parent will be able to afford.
Bryan
|
