How to Choose a Yorkie Puppy

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You’ve been thinking of getting a family dog, and after hours, weeks, and months of browsing, you’ve finally settled for a Yorkie. Or maybe you are like I was when I got my first Yorkie. It was something I had dreamed of getting since I was a child and I finally made that dream a reality.

Before we get to the nitty-gritty of Yorkie shopping, congratulations and welcome to the Yorkie universe, you’re in the right hands. Consider this an orientation blog post. By the end of this blog post, you should know how to inspect your Yorkie puppy’s health before buying them, the price range, the best age to buy your puppy, and much more. 

How Do I Make Sure My Puppy is Healthy?

One major concern I had when buying my first dog was how to tell whether they were in good shape. Veterinary fees are high, and you don’t want to buy a puppy with health issues.

Here is what to expect from a healthy Yorkie puppy. 

• Weight. A healthy Yorkie is rarely overweight because they’re active. If the puppy is overweight, consider having the vet run some tests to confirm their health status. 
• Eyes. A Yorkie’s puppy’s eyes should be clear; talk to your vet if they have any discharge. 
• Ears. Ear health is especially crucial because ear problems can cause unbearable pain to your Yorkie and, in worst-case scenarios, cause hearing loss. A Yorkie’s ears should be free of redness, odor, and discharge. 
• Coat. A Yorkie’s hair is their greatest pride. It should be shiny and smooth. Unless they have a cotton coat, which will be more cotton-like, and not so shiny.
• Nose. It should be free of sores and discharge. 
• Bladder. Unfortunately, you can only monitor this when you buy your puppy. If you notice any change in your Yorkie’s bladder or bowel movements, report it to your vet. 
• Mouth. A healthy Yorkie’s gums should be pink. Their mouth should also smell fresh and free of plaque and sores. 

Now that you know what a healthy puppy looks like, what’s not normal? Here are some red flags to check out when buying a puppy. If you’re buying one and notice the following, contact your vet immediately. 

• Constipation. If your new puppy is struggling with constipation, talk to your vet. It can result from several factors, including ingesting hair, bones, or other substances, inadequate water consumption, or an underlying ailment. 
• Vomiting. Puppies usually eat in a hurry or ingest weird stuff, so they’re likely to vomit. However, call the vet if they’re vomiting blood, or vomiting a large volume of vomit. 
• Diarrhea. This can be caused by viruses, internal parasites, or bacteria, so it’s best to take them for a checkup. 
• Abnormal urination. Bloody urine or straining to urinate may signify a painful urinary tract infection. 

TIP: It might be hard to spot a sickly Yorkie without professional knowledge. The best thing is to buy your puppy from certified breeders who provide comprehensive health records for their pets. Buy from breeders who are willing to provide the health records of your puppy’s parents and share their history with you. Also, to be safe, allow your vet to carry out some tests before you pay any deposits if possible. 

Male vs. Female Yorkshire Terrier: Which Is Better?

When buying a Yorkie puppy, another dilemma is whether to buy a female or male Yorkie. While both are a delight and adorable, they have a few differences that may influence your decision.

I do want to stress that every dog has their own individual personality so the following are general observational tendencies seen in the genders. They could be completely different, regardless of their gender.

Here is how a male and a female Yorkie may differ. 

Training

Yorkshire Terriers are generally brilliant dogs, and training them is easy. However, it might take a shorter time to train a female Yorkie than a male Yorkie. The latter always want to establish themselves as pack leaders, making them slightly rebellious. 

Female Yorkies also mature first, and they’re not very distracted, making them very responsive to training. That said, female Yorkies can be sensitive, so they may shut down temporarily if you use a harsh tone. 

Temperament

Both Yorkie genders are affectionate and sweet, but the male Yorkie has a more consistent mood. The female Yorkie’s mood swings can change based on their heat cycle due to the change in their hormones.

Therefore, when a female Yorkie is in heat, they might prefer to be left alone. Of course, getting your female spayed will alleviate those mood swings.

Generally, female Yorkies are moodier and more sensitive and you need to be careful and mindful of how you treat and talk to them. 

Coping with other pets

Yorkies are generally friendly dogs, and they easily get along with other animals. That being said, male Yorkies are easy to socialize with other pets because of their outgoing personality. 

Lastly, if you’re planning on getting two Yorkies, it’s best to get a male and a female dog. Having two Yorkies of the same gender can cause jealousy, competition, and hostility between them. Although I have 2 Yorkie males and a Chorkie male and they all get along great.

Affectionate

Although both genders are loving, male Yorkies are cuddlier and more affectionate because they’re almost always in high spirits. Male Yorkies are always receptive to cuddling, making them a great choice in a house with kids. 

When your female Yorkie shows some attitude, it’s best to give them space and let them come to you. 

Maintenance

Since both genders are small and weigh 3-7 pounds, their maintenance cost is not really different. Both require frequent grooming and dental and health checkups. 

However, when spaying and neutering, female Yorkies cost more because the spaying process is a more invasive procedure compared to neutering.

If you choose not to spay a female Yorkie, she will require more attention and care during her heat cycles. For instance, she’ll require diapers, panties, or napkins based on preference. 

Which gender is best for you?

The female and male Yorkies are great and make good house pets. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, so it all comes down to choosing what you’re ready to deal with. 

• A male Yorkie warms up to people so it may be a good choice for a household with kids. Female Yorkies latch on to one individual and may take time to warm up to the kids. 
• Also, male Yorkies are more playful, so they’ll be happier in a bigger space where they can run and play. 
• In addition, male Yorkies require more grooming than female Yorkies, so the latter are lower maintenance. 

Don’t overthink the gender part. At the end of the day, after training and socializing, you’ll have a loving family dog that you’ll cherish for life. 

Once you figure out which gender you want, these posts will help you decide on a name:

Names for Yorkie boys

Names for Yorkie girls

What is the Best Age to get a Yorkie Puppy?

10 to 12 weeks is the ideal age to bring your new puppy home.

8 weeks is the earliest age to take your Yorkie puppy home to give them enough time to learn from the litter and their mother. In many states, including the United States, it’s illegal to sell puppies younger than eight weeks old. 

The longer the puppy stays with the litter, the easier it’ll be to socialize them. For example, they learn to inhibit their bite, which is crucial for households with kids. By 8 weeks, your puppy will also have learned to eat solid food. 

It’s also important to wait for the puppy to get their first two vaccines (at 4 weeks and 7 weeks). 

If this is your first time raising a puppy, it may be best to take them when they’re 10-12 weeks because they require constant attention in their 10 first weeks.

What Do I Need to Know About My Yorkie Puppy?

I would need to write a whole blog post on what to expect from a Yorkie puppy, but in a nutshell, here is what you need to know about a Yorkie puppy.

• They’ll require to go out quite a lot at first as they can only hold their bladder for one hour for every month. This means a four-month puppy might need to pee every four hours! Consider getting them potty pads. 
• They can be aggressive as they overcompensate for their little body. You’ll need to be very vigilant when it comes to training them. 

• Since they’re very small, especially at their puppy stage, it’s easy to stumble on them and hurt them accidentally. Consider puppy-proofing your home and teaching your kids how to handle your puppy with care. 
• Their personality will be built based on what you expose them to in the first days. Therefore, consider introducing them to people and other pets early.

• Yorkie puppies are very needy and will require your constant attention. Male Yorkies are especially clingy. 

If you still want to get a Yorkie puppy at this point, then nothing else will shock you along the way. 

How Much Should a Yorkie Puppy Cost?

If you’re ready and convinced that a Yorkie puppy is the best choice for your family, the last question is how much you should consider paying for a Yorkie puppy. 

Here is the price range of a Yorkie in different circumstances. 

You can see the prices that puppies are going for on Puppy Spot.

Breeder ($1000-$3000)

If you’re buying your Yorkie from a breeder, it can go as low as $500 (usually from a backyard breeder if the price is this low so do make sure they are healthy before buying them). Sometimes breeders will sell Yorkies at $500 when they decide to discontinue a dog’s family line. This means the dog may be spayed or neutered. 

On the other hand, puppies with an excellent pedigree and a winning family tree can cost up to $3000.

Adoption ($50-$200)

Many unfortunate circumstances may lead to a puppy being in a shelter, like their human parent passing away. 

Adoption centers will only ask for a minimal fee as they want the Yorkie to find a home and be around people who love them and are well provided for. 

Free (from family & friends)

If you don’t have funds to buy a Yorkie, you can still get one from a family member or friend looking to rehome their puppy.

There are multiple reasons why pet parents may decide to rehome their pets. Some reasons include a sudden move to a location that doesn’t allow pets, conflict between the Yorkie puppy and their current pets, and aggression toward their newborn. 

However, even in this scenario, you should still get proof of their health records to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into.

Final Words

Buying a puppy is not an easy process in a world full of people who want to con you. Before buying a Yorkie puppy, it’s important to know the right questions to ask, the documents to get, and what to look for in a puppy. When you know what you want, your breeder won’t conveniently forget to mention something like “vitiligo” that runs in your puppy’s bloodline. 

You can read more here about how to avoid being scammed when buying your puppy.

We hope we answered all the important questions about what to look for when buying a Yorkie. If there is something we left out, let us know in the comment section, and we will get back to you or direct you to helpful resources.

Also, be sure to check out this post of interesting Yorkie puppy facts.