If you’re looking to get a Yorkshire Terrier, the number one question that’s probably bugging you is: How much is a Yorkshire Terrier? Well, your search ends here, as in this article, we will be answering that exact question.
Is a Yorkshire Terrier the dog for me?
Before we get into the prices, let’s see who a Yorkie is great for!
Yorkshire Terriers, or Yorkies, are a small-sized dog breed likely named after the region in England with the same name. They are an energetic, protective, and cute breed that seems to never grow up!
Yorkshire Terriers are perfect dogs for people who live in the city and are short on space. Don’t have too much time to walk your Yorkie? No problem, they don’t need as much exercise as other dogs! They’re also a good fit for you if you have allergies. Yorkshire Terriers have hair similar to humans, rather than fur. This makes them hypoallergenic and as a result, they won’t irritate your allergies as much as regular dog fur.
All in all, Yorkshire Terriers are loyal, protective, and loving dogs that almost everyone loves.
Adopting vs Buying
While you are asking about the cost of a Yorkie, you must also know that you can adopt one! The Adopt vs. Buy topic has been long debated amongst animal lovers and pet owners. On one side, you have the rescuers and activists that believe that buying from a breeder isn’t ethical, and on the other side, you have potential owners that want to make sure they get a healthy, purebred puppy.
Let’s give this matter a quick look to see the pros and cons of each and which one is right for you.
Adopting
Adoption is often seen as the more humane way to bring a dog into your family. Dogs are often adopted from shelters or foster owners where lost or abandoned dogs usually end up. When you adopt, you’re giving a pup a second chance at a happy home. Another plus of adopting a dog is that the process is much cheaper (or free) than buying from a breeder.
A couple of disadvantages to adopting a dog are that since adopted dogs from shelters are usually older, you don’t get to see them as pups and might have a tough time bonding with them or training them. Unfortunately, a possibility also exists that the dog has behavioral issues stemming from its past, making it harder to gain its trust. The second is that you don’t always know the medical history of the dog or any problems in its bloodline that might need attention.
Buying
Dogs are usually bought from breeders, who breed the finest specimens of the breed together to get purebred, genetically superior dogs. With these dogs, you’ll have details regarding their medical history, parent’s temper, and other possible issues and you can also get in touch with the breeder if you happen to have any issues with the dog.
A litter has many dogs with varying temperaments and personalities. A breeder can connect you with the dog that best suits you and your temperament.
Buying a purebred dog is the obvious choice for you if you want your dog to perform at dog shows, as these dogs are genetically chosen and bred to be the best at what they do.
The problems with buying from a breeder include inbreeding, poor living conditions for pups, and high prices.
How Much Is a Yorkshire Terrier?
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s actually get into our main question at hand. How much is a Yorkshire Terrier? The price of your Yorkie can range from anywhere between $1500 to $3000, with some variations above and below those figures.
Some factors that influence the price of a Yorkshire Terrier are its overall health, appearance, lineage, behavior, and even the gender of your puppy! Healthy, purebred dogs that fit the beauty standards for Yorkies ultimately cost more than the rest. Female Yorkies, on average, cost about $300-$500 more than their male counterparts. This is mostly due to owners buying female puppies for breeding once fully grown.
When it comes to lineage, aristocratic pedigree Yorkies that are born from winners in the AKC (American Kennel Club) tend to cost more than regular Yorkies. These puppies usually go on to become winners themselves!
Is a Yorkshire Terrier Expensive?
When it comes to dog prices, Yorkies are on the higher end of the spectrum. With prices coming at around $1500 to $3000, Yorkshire Terriers do not come cheap. That’s a lot of dough for a bite-sized pup!
Let’s compare that to other popular dog breeds like the Labrador, which can run you anywhere between $400 to $1500, averaging a price of $800. Or another small dog, the Chihuahua, which also averages a price of $800 in the US.
What’s the Lifetime Cost of Owning a Yorkshire Terrier?
Yorkies usually live till they’re 15 years old, which is higher than most breeds.
The lifetime cost of owning a Yorkshire Terrier is plus or minus $20k. This includes the cost of the dog itself, training, vet costs, food, grooming, and other important expenditures.
Why Do Yorkies Cost So Much?
You might be wondering why a little dog like a Yorkshire Terrier costs so much. This is because the Yorkshire Terrier is a popular purebred dog with a respectable track record in dog shows and exhibitions.
A not-so-nice reason behind Yorkies being so expensive is due to them currently being trendy and a status symbol. Yorkshire Terriers are a “royal” breed associated with the rich and upper class, which further drives their prices up like a self-fulfilling prophecy. This unfortunately leads to people treating the animals like accessories rather than companions.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Yorkies are adorable dogs that can cost you a pretty penny if you want to take one home. The answer to the question, how much is a Yorkshire Terrier is that they cost around $1500 to $3000, and are quite an expensive breed.
However, being the lovable pups they are, we’re sure that they’ll be worth everything you spend on them and then some!
