If the Yorkshire Terrier price is on your mind it's likely because you are thinking about purchasing a Yorkie. No doubt the amount of money you spend to get your hands on your Yorkshire Terrier is super important. However, it's the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the true lifetime cost of owning a Yorkie.
For example:
- Does the Yorkie have any health concerns you may have to budget for?
- How much will buying food cost you each month?
- What about grooming needs? Will you need to pay for professional’s help, or can you manage by yourself?
What follows is a glimpse into this particular breed’s temperament, as well as other factors you need to consider before you decide whether the Yorkshire Terrier is right for you.
Additionally, by the time you’re done reading this, you’ll have a better idea of how much a Yorkie costs on average, and why what you spend doesn’t end with the breeder.
The Yorkshire Terrier, Up Close and Personal
People originally bred Yorkies as hunters to clear out any underground pests, such as rats, foxes, and badgers.
The Yorkie first appeared in England in 1861, though the Yorkie we know today is actually smaller than the breed was when it initially debuted.
Today, the Yorkie is more like a fashion accessory, rather than a hunter. People have come to adore these little dogs as precious possessions, rather than as vicious hunters.
Yorkshire Terrier Temperament and Personality
The Yorkshire Terrier temperament varies greatly, depending on who’s raising her. She can be bubbly and sweet, or pampered and diva-like.
Yorkies love to be the center of attention, and they will do whatever it takes to get there.
Of course, this may mean she’ll get into some less-than-desirable behavioral patterns. You need to nip that in the bud early on, though, by training her out of them before they have a chance to stick.
Yorkies are clingy, territorial, and protective. You may get annoyed when it seems like they won’t leave your side, but when they feel like they need to protect you, it’s a whole other story.
Yorkies are also dominant little creatures who don’t realize how small they really are. It’s not uncommon for a Yorkie to pick a fight with a dog who is truly not her equal!
Yorkshire Terrier Size
It stands to reason that smaller dogs are obviously easier to take care of than larger dogs – at least in terms of food. But how small are Yorkies really?
The full-grown Yorkie’s weight ranges, on average, between 12 and 15 lbs. As for height, adult Yorkies can range from a mere 6 inches tall to 9 inches. They’re pretty tiny teacups!
Yorkshire Terrier Price – How Much Do Yorkshire Terriers Cost?
You may think the Yorkshire Terrier can’t cost much at all – after all, she’s barely a dog! But the true Yorkshire Terrier price range may surprise you.
Breeders will typically command between $1,200 and $1,500 for a Yorkie pup.
You may be thinking, why can one breeder charge $1,200, while another charges $1,500 for the same kind of dog?
It’s important to remember that there are a number of factors that ultimately determine the Yorkshire Terrier dog price.
These factors include, but do not limit to:
- The current popularity of the breed (how in demand the breed is)
- The pedigree of the dog (is he the pup of show parents?)
- The reputation of the breeder (is the breeder well-known and respected?)
In this case, the size of the dog can also factor. For instance, the Teacup, or Miniature, Yorkshire Terrier price can reach as high as $2,000. This is probably due, in part, to the added cuteness factor of such a tiny dog.
Scarcity
The Yorkshire Terrier is not a difficult breed to find. However, one thing that can be rare about them is their coats.
For one thing, an incredibly rare coat color for this breed is the blue born Yorkie.
Normal Yorkie pups are born black, but their coats gradually lighten as they grow up. Blue born Yorkies are born blue and stay blue.
You should never buy a born blue Yorkie. This is because pups who are born blue rarely live longer than a year, as it is a genetic disorder.
Any breeder trying to sell you a born blue pup is, disgustingly, just looking to make money off someone who doesn’t know any better. Meanwhile, you’re buying a puppy who will ultimately die within the year.
And don’t buy a Yorkie puppy from a breeder whose main sales pitch is the “rarity” of their pups. This type of breeder is only breeding dogs for their color and does not care about whatever health or temperament you end up with.
There are five categories of Yorkie colors that the AKC recognizes as legitimate, and they are:
- Combinations of black and tan, or black and gold
- Combinations of blue and tan, or blue and gold
- Parti (black, white and tan)
Demand
According to the American Kennel Club, the Yorkie is the ninth most popular breed.
While this is a good thing, because there are always Yorkies enough to go around, this also means someone may scoop one up before you can.
Yorkshire Terrier breeders want to make sure the person arriving to purchase a dog is worthy of bringing home said dog. Therefore, you should prepare to undergo a rather competitive screening process before the breeder even considers selling a dog to you.
Even then, you may have to wait for the breeder’s bitch to produce a new set of pups before the breeder has pups available for purchase.
Especially if the breeder you’re seeing is a well-respected one, you may have to prepare for a bidding war not unlike when you are trying to buy a house.
Pedigree
Your friend may brag about how she purchased a “show dog” quality dog. You may think, who cares, as long as the dog is healthy. However, show-quality pups are actually a good sign that the breeder truly cares about her output.
A respectable breeder won't pratice inbreeding and will not sell inbred pups. A good breeder will also do whatever it takes to eliminate any potential genetic defects from their pups’ lines.
However, don’t forget – you get what you pay for. A breeder who has taken the time to breed high-quality dogs is sure to charge a higher Yorkshire Terrier puppy price.
It may seem ridiculous to you to spend thousands of dollars on a dog. However, remember that paying more now could save you thousands of dollars in medical bills in the future.
Yorkshire Terrier Adoption and Rescue
Now, of course, you may just love dogs and want one as a pet, regardless of his or her health. You have the money, and you’re willing to do whatever it takes to take care of a new family member.
In that case, so long as you’re ready to accept the risks that could come from rescuing a dog who isn’t “show quality,” consider adoption.
You can choose to rescue or adopt a Yorkshire Terrier from a dedicated shelter or rescue organization. This is a great way to save money on the cost of the dog itself.
Plus, you’re opening your heart by giving a home to a dog who might otherwise never find one.
One such organization is the Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue. You can learn more about the organization by visiting their website.
You can also opt to adopt a Yorkie from your local animal shelter. If none are available when you’re looking, you can always ask to be put on a waitlist.
Yorkshire Terrier Cost of Ownership
Of course, getting a “cheaper” dog through adoption is only the tip of the iceberg. You must consider all the other costs involved in adding a dog to your family.
What follows are some of the possible expenses you need to account for when debating the price of a Yorkshire Terrier.
Cost of Food
Due to the smaller size of the Yorkshire Terrier, the cost of food here isn’t that much of a concern. However, the exact diet they eat is possibly a factor.
Interestingly, while you may believe all dogs are carnivores, Yorkshire Terriers actually require carbs, vegetables, and even fruit on a daily basis.
You can ask your vet to recommend some brands that are the most nutritious for Yorkies.
Just prepare to spend more on their food than you might otherwise spend on, say, a bag of Purina or Iams dog food. You can’t go cheap with this breed, as Yorkies have sensitive stomachs and will vomit up anything that isn’t in their pre-approved diet.
Health Care Expenses
No matter what breed of dog you buy, if you go cheaper, there’s a good chance you’re bringing home a dog with a murky bloodline.
This could mean he could develop health issues at some point. For the Yorkie in particular, these issues can include:
- Bronchitis
- Cataracts
- Lymphangiectasia (an intestinal disorder)
- Portosystemic shunt (a liver issue)
- Keratitis sicca (an eye condition)
These are all things that can not only make your dog miserable but can make you miserable too in having to watch your dog go through them. You’ll also end up spending even more money trying to treat these things.
Training Programs
Training a Yorkshire Terrier has its challenges, the most popular of which being housebreaking. However, as long as you remain consistent and persistent, you can train this little dog to do anything.
The key is to start young. You can start training a puppy as early as six weeks old.
If you’ve owned a dog before, then you know what it takes to get the job done with training. However, if you think you may need some help, there’s no shame in enlisting a professional’s help.
You can choose from a wide variety of dog training programs, including group classes or more private, one-on-one sessions. You can even enroll your dog in doggy boarding school if you want!
Depending on how unruly your dog may act, training can cost you anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
No one’s ever going to argue, though, that training your dog isn’t a worthwhile investment.
Grooming Costs
Another expense to consider when researching the Yorkshire Terrier average price is the cost of grooming. When you think Yorkie, you think a tiny dog with long hair, not fur, so her grooming needs are unique.
You may opt for a professional groomer, but you can do most if not all of it yourself to save money.
The most important thing to remember is that while you should brush your Yorkie daily, don’t brush her fur when it’s dry. This can cause her already fine hair to break off and look uneven.
Spritz her with water first, and brush her in the direction her hair grows, not against it.
Final Thoughts on Yorkshire Terriers
Yorkshire Terriers are little spitfires who are protective and bubbly pets for owners who are able to take care of them, both physically and financially.
If you’re thinking about adding one of these little cuties to your home, you must consider all the possible factors when looking over the Yorkshire Terrier puppies price.
As you can see, the Yorkshire Terrier price reaches far beyond her “sticker.”
Kailyn has worked as a professional freelance writer since 2012, and during that time she has written about nearly every dog breed imaginable. Her mother loved Collies, and so Kailyn grew up with three of them throughout her childhood – including a blonde one who was half-blind! Now her home belongs to her first official dog, Macho, a Dogo Argentino rescue.
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