$1,500 for a Yorkshire Terrier?

[Disneyland1084]

You've got to be kidding me!!!! I would have guessed $700 at the most. Last weekend at a neighborhood BBQ a lady told me she's looking for a really small dog. I told her about a friend of mine who breeds Yorkshire Terriers and she got really excited. I looked up my friend's ad on Breeders.net and she was listing them for $1,500. Good grief! I guess in her "defense" she doesn't breed them on a regular basis, and does struggle. But maybe I'm wrong. Are Yorkshire Terriers worth that much? I can see maybe spending that much on an extremely rare breed, but Yorkie's aren't rare to my knowledge. Needless to say, that lady at the BBQ will be looking elsewhere.

 

[tennvalgirl]

You've got to be kidding me!!!! I would have guessed $700 at the most. Last weekend at a neighborhood BBQ a lady told me she's looking for a really small dog. I told her about a friend of mine who breeds Yorkshire Terriers and she got really excited. I looked up my friend's ad on Breeders.net and she was listing them for $1,500. Good grief! I guess in her "defense" she doesn't breed them on a regular basis, and does struggle. But maybe I'm wrong. Are Yorkshire Terriers worth that much? I can see maybe spending that much on an extremely rare breed, but Yorkie's aren't rare to my knowledge. Needless to say, that lady at the BBQ will be looking elsewhere.

Ridiculous.

That isn't even a real dog

 

[MrsDuck]

You've got to be kidding me!!!! I would have guessed $700 at the most. Last weekend at a neighborhood BBQ a lady told me she's looking for a really small dog. I told her about a friend of mine who breeds Yorkshire Terriers and she got really excited. I looked up my friend's ad on Breeders.net and she was listing them for $1,500. Good grief! I guess in her "defense" she doesn't breed them on a regular basis, and does struggle. But maybe I'm wrong. Are Yorkshire Terriers worth that much? I can see maybe spending that much on an extremely rare breed, but Yorkie's aren't rare to my knowledge. Needless to say, that lady at the BBQ will be looking elsewhere.

Pro-adoption here so I can't say that I have firsthand knowledge of breeder costs. HOWEVER, 13 years ago my grandparents bought a Yorkie for around that same price. Doesn't seem super far off if you care about pedigree, blood lines, etc.

Without preaching too much, encourage your friend to check out local humane societies and shelters. Lots of small dogs there, with small price tags... and you're saving a life.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Pro-adoption here so I can't say that I have firsthand knowledge of breeder costs. HOWEVER, 13 years ago my grandparents bought a Yorkie for around that same price. Doesn't seem super far off if you care about pedigree, blood lines, etc.

Without preaching too much, encourage your friend to check out local humane societies and shelters. Lots of small dogs there, with small price tags... and you're saving a life.

What she said.

 

[bittybabygrower]

A good reputable breeder is not out to make a profit. They take into account the breeding (ie was the dog inseminated, etc are the parents champion line AKC registered), mama dog's care thru out the pregnancy, then the cost of the pups vet visits, shots etc. We paid 1100$ for our Chessies, but we did show them and use them in retrieving exhibitions. My parents raised and bred WireFox terriers and made little money, they did it for the love of the breed and to keep the lines pure.

So I guess you get what you pay for lol has she looked into rescue groups?

 

[LJSquishy]

Reputable breeders actively show their dogs in AKC Conformation. If a breeder does not show their dogs, they are nothing but a backyard "greeder" or a puppymill looking to make money. Stay far away from those people.

I'm the owner of 2 Maltese so I'm quite familiar with the expense of these toy dogs. Yes, they are super expensive!!! But, there are reasons for that.

Dogs in the toy group have smaller litters, frequently with only 2 or so puppies vs a large breed dog that may have 9+ puppies. With a Yorkie being so small, they are also much more succeptible to having a C-section which is $$$$. A reputable show breeder only breeds dogs to improve the breed/maintain the quality of the breed -- NOT to make money. Quality breeders will ALWAYS keep a puppy until they are 12 weeks old. If a breeder is releasing puppies at 8,9, 10 weeks, run. You will also receive a health guarantee from a reputable breeder, usually from 1-2 years. Also, a contract will be signed stating you agree to spay/neuter the dog. You will receive limited AKC registration (meaning you can NOT breed the dog you get)...show breeders do not want you breeding your dog (plus it's irresponsible to do so). Usually one (preferably both) parents will be AKC Champions.

Yorkies are prone to many health problems, especially liver shunts (due to puppymills & backyard breeders) so it's especially important to get a Yorkie from a reputable show breeder unless you plan to adopt from a shelter or rescue. My first Maltese years ago was from a backyard breeder/possible small-scale puppymill and he had a liver shunt. He died before his 2nd birthday and it was heartbreaking trying to save him. We fought so hard for him giving him meds several times per day, having to see him incontenent and stumbling into walls, and he was too sick to have surgery (which was $3,000 and certainly not a guarantee it would work) or we would have done it in a heartbeat. He's been gone for 6 years and I still miss him and it still makes me tear up thinking a bad breeder essentially caused him to die by not being responsible.

 

[Albort]

we paid $1,200 for our dog (pure breed Pomeranian) 17 years ago...

hes still my fluffy little bro... :] worth every penny!

 

[aaarcher86]

Ridiculous. That isn't even a real dog

Laughed so hard. Big dogs for the win!

 

[Nolcrest]

I'm not even going to get involved in a conversation of rescue vs. breeder or ethical breeder vs. backyard breeder.

In any purchase, buyer beware. However, I do feel that you just can't look at the "sticker price" and make an assumption on that. There are many variables as to the asking price.

Also, what may seem ridiculous to one may be reasonable to another.

My brother spent $60,000 on a car. To me absolutely ridiculous. No way I would have ever done that (even if I could). However, to him he is quite happy with his purchase and maybe he wouldn't spend a couple hundred on a dog.

Again, many variables when it comes to price, especially when breeding dogs. There are reputable breeders that are worth every penny. Even rescue dogs aren't cheap but they do need to subsidize their rescue group to keep it going.

 

[Desnik]

We paid that 13 years ago when we got our Yorkie.

 

[GotLabradors]

I'm obviously a lab person. A well bred labrador can run anywhere from $1200-$3000. If you're not planning to show it or breed, why bother with pedigree? I am pro-rescue groups. I'm sure there are plenty a yorkies looking for a home.

 

[Laura66]

We expect to pay about 2k when we get our next cavalier King Charles spaniel. When you go to reputable breeder who cares about the dogs they raise that's what it costs. They invest a lot of time and money to make sure they don't breed dogs with health problems. We got our first cavalier from a "back yard breeder" and were very lucky. He has a low grade luxating patella and shoukd it get worse you're looking at a surgery that between 700 - 1000 bucks. A good breeder will not breed dogs with health problems and find good homes for the animals he breeds healthy or not.

 

[Poohforyou]

We have a pure bred dog from champion akc lineage. Our breeder breeds about every other year and does it to get champions for herself. She sells the puppies she doesn't keep for $1800. She pretty much breaks even.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

My dads toy yorkie who is a pure breed just no papers......no idea why....just had puppies and my dad was offered $$800 for one. So I believe it for a registered one.

 

[Disneyland1084]

A good reputable breeder is not out to make a profit. They take into account the breeding (ie was the dog inseminated, etc are the parents champion line AKC registered), mama dog's care thru out the pregnancy, then the cost of the pups vet visits, shots etc. We paid 1100$ for our Chessies, but we did show them and use them in retrieving exhibitions. My parents raised and bred WireFox terriers and made little money, they did it for the love of the breed and to keep the lines pure.

So I guess you get what you pay for lol has she looked into rescue groups?

She just adopted a dog today from a breeder. I don't remember what kind, but oh gosh it was adorable. I got to hold it.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

My mom has a Yorkshire Terrier, very cute little dog. I believe she paid something in the 600 range, she has papers and all.

I don't know if they are all like my mom's dog, but hers is VERY high maintenance and demanding. She is about 3 lbs of terror

 

[PizzieDuster]

Ridiculous.

That isn't even a real dog

(My father has had 3 yorkies in his time but this made me giggle)

one more

Our first pup was a yellow lab and we were at a football fundraiser that was all the free margaritas, beer and wine you could have. I liked my clean house and never wanted a dog. Ever. I won't tell how much we bid for him...I will tell you, there were mornings I would go crazy and said "We can't get our money back!". Best dog ever. I was drunk and got into a bidding war. Once I held him and he cuddled up to me, it was all over.
My husband knew there was no other way he would ever get a dog in the house. Then we woke up the next morning. What the heck did we do? Who did this? But....best thing that ever happened to us. He passed.

Later, we paid $2,000 for our golden retriever. Another best thing we ever have done. We found him on youtube. We got to watch him grow on a live cam, well, after we picked him out they put a colored collar on him and I swear I got nothing done but just watched him all day long. He was perfectly potty trained and he is so loveable and cuddly and my shadow. We lost our lab tragically, so, my husband was going to do anything to make his daughter happy (she watched our lab die).

one more My golden's head is as big as my dad's entire yorkie.

 

[Skywalker]

Our first pup was a yellow lab and we were at a football fundraiser that was all the free margaritas, beer and wine you could have. I liked my clean house and never wanted a dog. Ever. I won't tell how much we bid for him...I will tell you, there were mornings I would go crazy and said "We can't get our money back!". Best dog ever. I was drunk and got into a bidding war. Once I held him and he cuddled up to me, it was all over.:

Are you serious? What kind of fundraiser allows people to get drunk and bid on a dog to take home? That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. I guess the dog was just lucky he got a good home then.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Are you serious? What kind of fundraiser allows people to get drunk and bid on a dog to take home? That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. I guess the dog was just lucky he got a good home then.

Its a funny story. Must everything be so serious? I'm sure it was back in the day when that type of thing was perfectly normal.

 

[sjs314]

I paid $2000 8 years ago for my Nordic Golden Retrevier