Adopting a Yorkshire Terrier Puppy

So you’re thinking about adopting a Yorkshire Terrier puppy?

There is not a more personable companion dog in the whole world. The Yorkie is sweet, fun & full of sass. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Yorkie is a VERY popular dog; it’s been at the top of the AKC’s most popular breed list for decades. That means that it’s more important than ever for Yorkie parents to be super-careful which breeder they are buying from. Because as we all know, Yorkie puppies are THE BEST, but puppy mills are the ABSOLUTE WORST!

That means that you must know who the breeder is and be very comfortable with them BEFORE you adopt your new puppy. After all, this puppy will be with you for a long time, and you will want to make sure it’s as healthy as possible. That only happens when you know your breeder.

The American Kennel Club has a Yorkshire Terrier puppy finder, which is a great place to start searching for your new puppy.

Once you find breeders in your area, call them and ask them the suggested questions from the AKC How to Pick a Puppy pamphlet:

• How long have you been breeding?
• Are you a member of an AKC Parent Club or any other dog-related club?
• Describe the breed’s characteristics?
• What is this breed’s temperament like?
• How big will the dog get?
• How much exercise does the dog need?
• Does this breed bark a lot?
• What are the best training methods for this dog?
• How old will he be before he acts like an adult dog?
• Does this breed do well with children?
• Does this breed do well with other pets?
• Do you do health screenings before breeding a litter?
• Do you show your dogs at AKC events?

Yorkies will not shed, and they will need regular grooming. Be sure you’re ready to pay (or DIY) grooming every 6-8 weeks.

Look for a groomer whose personality you like, and whose dogs you like the look of. That will probably be a good match.

Also, know that just because you’re buying from an AKC breeder doesn’t mean you have to show the dog. In fact, if you’re willing to agree to spay/neuter the puppy,  many breeders have what they call “pet quality” dogs that they sell for less than show quality. These dogs are wonderful in every way, except there is a small defect that will cause them never to be “Best in Show.” These defects have nothing to do with their loving personalities or even their health. You may not ever even notice the “defect” and it’s a great way to adopt a high-quality dog.

Quality Yorkshire Terriers are not cheap. Expect to pay more than $1300 for a good quality dog. But when you consider that cost over a lifetime of love…it’s a bargain indeed.