You often hear of people giving away puppies for free.
There are some elements that significantly affect price. You can significantly lower the cost of a Yorkie by making some sacrifices if you’re willing to do so.
Continue reading to find out how much a Yorkshire Terrier costs and what factors affect the cost.
Unseen Costs
Yorkies are extremely small and fragile in the event of an accident or if they fall from great heights.
You must take into account the unforeseen expense of any emergency veterinary procedures. If at all possible, keep a fund for unexpected veterinary expenses available in case your dog requires immediate care.
Yuki, my in-laws’ previous Yorkie puppy, required numerous expensive vet visits. As a puppy, she had surgery for a liver shunt. She tore ligaments in both of her knees as an adult. In total, these bills were well over $10,000.
You might want to think about getting pet insurance if you get a puppy. We immediately enrolled our most recent puppy, Elsa, in pet insurance when we got her in case we needed to make any unforeseen vet visits.
The Yorkie’s Size
The typical Yorkie puppy weighs between four and seven pounds and is pure joy. Teacup or Pocket Yorkies, however, are deliberately bred to be much smaller than typical Yorkies. The breeder must spend a lot of time breeding them smaller.
Due to their high level of fashion, teacup Yorkie puppies are more expensive. You can read my article about these adorable little balls of fur and puppy love to find out if getting a Teacup Yorkie is the right time, love, and money investment for you!
Teacup Yorkies will set you back a lot of money up front, and they’ll keep costing you throughout their eight to ten-year lifespan. This is due to the numerous genetic disorders that are bred into them along with their diminutive stature.
Bringing Home a New Yorkshire Terrier: One-Time Costs
When purchasing a Yorkie, the dog itself will be the most expensive initial expense. Adopt instead of buy to reduce costs, and if you must purchase a puppy from a breeder, decide whether you require an exhibition quality Yorkie with registry papers or whether a pet quality pup will suffice. Pet quality puppies are much less expensive than show quality puppies.
Free Yorkies typically come from close friends and family who are willing to part with one of their most recent litters or from friends or family who can no longer care for the dog. Ideally, the puppy should still have parents who are healthy and free of genetic conditions; otherwise, you run the risk of your puppy developing the same issues.
Many owners prefer adopting over buying. For a variety of reasons, dogs are turned over to rescues and shelters. While some Yorkies are very well trained and perfectly well behaved, you should meet the dog before adopting to ensure that this is the case. This is because Yorkies are popular with senior owners and frequently put up for adoption after the death of their owner.
Although adoption costs are less than purchase costs, you do not have the same freedom of choice or assurance of screening and health checks, and they do vary by shelter.
The cost of purchasing a Yorkie from a breeder varies greatly. A companion or pet-quality Yorkie puppy costs between $500 and $800 at the lower end of the spectrum. Although its parents should have undergone screening and health checks, it won’t have kennel club papers.
Expect to pay at least $1,000 for show dogs of exhibition-quality.
You might be required to pay fees of $2,000 or more for those with the best pedigrees, boasting award winners throughout their family tree.
On average, this breed costs around $1,200 per puppy.
The supplies will be the next-highest cost associated with owning a dog. While some items may need to be replaced every few years or even more frequently than this, others may last for the entire lifetime of your dog. It will depend on the materials used, your puppy’s propensity to chew objects, and even how well-trained it is in using the restroom.
The costs listed below are an example of what you might incur during your first year of ownership, but they can change.
| Spay/Neuter | $150 – $700 |
| X-Ray Cost | $100 – $300 |
| Ultrasound Cost | $250 – $500 |
| Microchip | $50 |
| Teeth Cleaning | $150 – $300 |
| Bed/Tank/Cage | $100 |
| Nail Clipper (optional) | $7 |
| Brush (optional) | $8 |
| Toys | $100 |
| Leash and Harness | $40 |
| Food and Water Bowls | $20 |
FAQ
Are Yorkshire dogs expensive?
They work well with slightly older children and are appropriate for both large and small families. Yorkies are very expensive and range in price from $800 to $3,000; if you want a puppy from flawless championship breeding, expect to pay up to $10,000.
Are Yorkies a good dog?
Yorkies are affectionate but also demanding, making them a good breed for someone who wants to spoil their dog. Yorkshire terriers make excellent watchdogs. However, if not given appropriate respect or care, they may become aggressive toward other kids.
Is a Yorkie a smart dog?
In a study of 90 dog breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier came in at number 27, tied with the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Puli, in the category of above average intelligence. This indicates that after 15 to 25 repetitions, the Yorkie will generally learn a new command.
How long does a Yorkie live?
The average lifespan of a Yorkie is 12 to 15 years, with 13 being the average. 5 being the median. Female Yorkshire Terriers live an average of 1. 5 years longer than males. The Yorkie, at 12 years old, is a little older than the average dog in the United States. 5 years old.