How Much Do Yorkshire Terrier Puppies Cost?

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If you are in the market for a pint-sized dog that is as cute as a button, you may be wondering, “How much are Yorkie puppies?” Not to worry, I have the answer!

Yorkshire terriers are fun-loving dogs that enjoy the company of their owners and do not need a very large home to live in as long as they get enough exercise (only about 20 minutes a day).

They are suited to large or small families and are great with slightly older children.

Yorkies are very expensive and cost between $800 and $3,000 dollars! If you want a Yorkie puppy that comes from impeccable championship breeding, then you could pay as much as $10,000!

There are a number of factors that can affect the price of a Yorkie puppy.

I will discuss each of these factors and how they affect the price and the overall health of the dog below. Read on to find out what other costs you can expect when buying a Yorkie puppy, too.

My in-laws love Yorkshire Terriers and Silky Terriers. They’ve been on the lookout for a Yorkie and their price range is between $800 – $1,000. This is on the low end nowadays with the pandemic and inflation boosting the price of well-bred puppies.

What Is A Yorkshire Terrier?

The adorable, silky-haired, delicate little Yorkshire terriers of today were originally bred for their small size and high prey drive to be ratters on the mines and textile mills in northern England in the 1800s!

These little dogs, although lovely to look at, were originally bred for their feisty natures to delve into the dark corners of coal mines and mills to exterminate pesky rodents.

According to legend, they developed their long, silky hair because they worked in the textile mills.

Later on, owing to their stunning coats and petite nature, they became the fashionable lap dog of well-to-do Victorian ladies.

Over the years, they have retained their reputation as a dog of status and are one of the most desired breeds in the champion market.

According to the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, “The dog’s high head carriage and confident manner should give the appearance of vigor and self-importance.” This should tell you something about their inherited reputation!

Yorkies are small in size with a proportioned body and have a snout that protrudes slightly, which means they do not suffer the same issues other small breeds do that have flat faces. They live for 12 to 16 years on average.

Their color is typically a combination of blue and tan or black and tan. There are also variations that can be all black or include large white patches. However, these variants are not considered ‘standard’ according to the AKC breed guidelines.

What Factors Affect The Price Of A Yorkie Puppy?

The price of a Yorkie puppy can vary significantly from around $800 to $3,000 depending on a wide range of factors. In total, there are about seven main factors that affect the dog’s price the most, which I’ll go over in detail below.

1. The Reputation Of The Breeder

Breeders of Yorkshire terriers need to be registered with an authority on the breed. They can be registered with the American Kennel Club or the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America to be truly trustworthy.

It is important to do your research on the breeder you are getting your puppy from, as some ‘official-looking’ breeders are actually puppy mills.

To find a reputable breeder in or near your state, have a look at the list of breeders on The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America’s breeder registry.

Breeders can up their prices when they are considered top-class breeders who have championship dogs.

It is a good idea to contact a number of breeders before purchasing your Yorkie puppy to see which price suits you best considering the puppies they have on offer.

If you do not want to go the route of a breeder or the price is too high but you still desperately want a Yorkie, then consider adoption!

Reputable shelters and adoption agencies will ensure the dog is in good health before allowing you to adopt them. An adopted Yorkie usually goes for $100 to $800.

If you decide to look for a shelter or rescue Yorkie here’s a little more information based on our experience.

We’ve seen some reputable shelters have “free” adoption” days for their dogs.

However, the adoption fee is usually a small amount compared to what you’ll have to spend during the lifetime of your dog. So, please beware of all the potential expenses of owning a dog.

We adopted Linus (an Aussie mix) from the Carson Animal Shelter over 17 years ago and his adoption fee was only $37.

I just checked the prices at our local Animal Shelter and they are still very reasonable at $50 for dogs ($30 if in the animal care center for more than 10 days).

Of course, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll be able to find a Yorkie at your local shelter. Be patient and check in on a site like PetFinder.com frequently.

2. The Yorkie’s Documentation

Every Yorkie puppy that comes from a reputable breeder should come with documentation.

Documentation ensures your puppy is purebred, it does not come from a puppy mill, and it has been screened for genetic issues that Yorkshire terriers are prone to.

The documentation costs money to procure, so this will up the price of your puppy.

Yorkies who are going to be entered into competitions need documentation proving their lineage to ensure that they are 100% Yorkshire terriers with no other crossbreeding having taken place.

Documentation includes information about the dog’s lineage, their siblings, their parents, the kennel number, the breeder’s information, and what characteristics they are likely to inherit, which will tell you what your puppy will look like as an adult.

However, if the documentation is not important to you, then you can find a breeder where the documentation is optional. If you opt to not get the documentation at birth but may want it later, then keep in contact with your breeder.

A final word on documentation: it is always better to get a Yorkie puppy with papers, even though it is more expensive because there is a reduced risk of genetic health problems arising as they get older.

3. The Yorkie’s Bloodline

Your Yorkie puppy’s bloodline will greatly affect its price.

If your Yorkshire terrier comes from a line of championship show dogs or from stud breeding, then it can cost you up to $10,000 for a single puppy!

Having a puppy with a proven and recorded bloodline will help you determine what your puppy will look like as an adult and what kind of genetic or health issues they may have if they have any.

As Yorkies are so intensively bred, they are very susceptible to genetic and health issues such as slipping joints, collapsing spines, and knee cap issues, which are very painful to experience and not much can be done about them because Yorkies, as a breed, do not react well to anesthetic.

If Yorkies are back-bred with their parents or other relatives with genetic issues, then those issues become concentrated in the bloodline, resulting in puppies with guaranteed issues.

The bloodline of the puppy you are buying should be made available to you from the breeder and will be documented in their papers.

4. The Yorkie’s Health

If a Yorkshire terrier has proven genetic or health issues, then their price will drop quite sharply by several hundred dollars.

If you are purchasing a Yorkie with known health issues, then you will probably have to agree with the breeder to have them sterilized so they cannot be bred in the future either intentionally by you or accidentally by the neighborhood rascal!

Yorkies are prone to health issues, so a puppy or dog with no known health issues will be more expensive than a dog with known health issues. However, Yorkies with no health issues in their lineage will fetch the highest price of all.

5. The Yorkie’s Age

As Yorkies are so small, they should not leave their mother and the breeder before they are 12 to 14 weeks old. Their bodies take a little longer than other puppies to fully form and become robust enough to leave their mother’s care.

Yorkie puppies who are 12 to 14 weeks old will cost the most, as they are very young and will bond more immediately with a new owner. It is also easier to start training them at this age.

The older the Yorkie is, the less they will cost. Adult Yorkies are the least expensive, relative to all of the other factors that contribute to the full cost of a Yorkshire terrier.

6. The Yorkie’s Size

The standard Yorkie puppy is between four and seven pounds of pure love and fun. However, Teacup or Pocket Yorkies are specifically bred to be much smaller than standard. This process of breeding them smaller takes the breeder a long time.

Teacup Yorkie puppies are very fashionable and, therefore, they come at a higher price. To find out if a Teacup Yorkie is the right investment of time, love, and money for you, read my article dedicated to these tiny balls of fur and puppy love!

Teacup Yorkies will cost you a lot upfront and will continue to cost you throughout their shortened lifespan of eight to 10 years. This is because they suffer from a huge number of genetic issues that are bred into them along with their small stature.

7. The Yorkie’s Standard Appearance

According to the American Kennel Club, a Yorkie must fit a certain description to be considered part of the registered breed.

Their heads, bodies, and legs all have to be of a certain shape or size. Along with their proportions, they need to fit certain coloring standards.

A mixture of blue and tan or black and tan with a small white spot on the chest are the only acceptable coloration combinations.

A Yorkie that does not fit the AKC standard will often be sold at a cheaper price because they are seen as ‘less desirable’ than the perfect picture of a Yorkshire terrier.

However, on the other hand, Yorkies are sometimes bred to have ‘designer’ coats that have red or more tan or white in them, and these ‘designer’ Yorkies will be priced much higher than the standard coloring.

Other Costs You Need To Consider…

There are still plenty of other costs you need to consider when purchasing a Yorkie puppy.

For example, there are the start-up costs of bringing home a dog for the first time, the monthly costs of their upkeep, the yearly vet checkups, and any unseen emergencies.

Bring Home Costs

You will need to set up your home with the normal essentials for caring for a dog, such as

• Puppy Toys – This is one of our favorite toys for puppies that helps them sleep better during their first few nights at home.
• Food & Water Bowls – We prefer simple stainless steel bowls, especially when you first get a puppy.
• Dog Food – We’ve fed Wellness Core to our puppies for a long time but we also feed other premium brands as well
• Crate – We’ve been using Midwest wire dog crates for over 17 years.
• Blankets – any plush blanket will do.
• Brushes – You might want to invest in several different brushes for your Yorkie. This one is a slicker brush that should work well with your puppy’s long coat.
• Puppy Pee Pads – if you’re pee pad training your Yorkie then be sure to stock up on these babies.

This will ensure your new dog is as comfortable and happy as possible from the start in their new home.

***For a list of everything we think you need for your new puppy, check out our new puppy checklist.

Monthly Recurring Costs

As a monthly cost, you will need to consider the price of food for your Yorkie. Luckily, Yorkies are very small and only need half a cup of food a day, meaning food is fairly inexpensive for them in the long run!

Additionally, Yorkies have beautiful long coats. Unfortunately, they grow quite rapidly, and your Yorkie will need to go to the groomers every four to eight weeks depending on how quickly their hair grows for a good trim.

Yearly Recurring Costs

The safe thing to do with Yorkies is to take them for yearly checkups and vaccinations with their vet. Seeing a vet at least once a year will ensure you and your vet are able to manage and treat any of your dog’s health issues that may arise over time.

It is important to do this with Yorkies because they do not handle surgery well, and if they develop a health problem, it is best to start treating it as early as possible instead of waiting for surgery.

Unseen Costs

Accidents happen, and Yorkies are very small and fragile if not handled correctly or if they fall from heights.

You will need to consider the unseen cost of emergency vet visits for any procedures. If possible, have an emergency vet fund on hand to pull from if your dog needs emergency treatment.

My in-law’s last Yorkie puppy, Yuki ran into many costly vet visits. As a puppy, she had surgery for a liver shunt. As an adult, she tore ligaments in both of her knees. In total, these bills were well over $10,000.

If you get a puppy you may want to consider pet insurance. When we got our most recent puppy, Elsa we immediately signed her up for pet insurance just in case we had to make any unforeseen vet visits.

FAQs About The Real Cost Of Yorkshire Terrier Puppies

I keep hearing about puppy mills. What are they?

Puppy mills are terrible places. They are also known as backyard breeders. These breeders prioritize profit over their dogs’ well-being, resulting in unhealthy and unhappy dogs.

To find out more about puppy mills, read my article on how to spot and avoid them.

I want a puppy that looks kind of like a Yorkie, but breed purity isn’t so important to me. What should I get?

There are many cross-breeds of Yorkshire terriers and other breeds of dogs that produce the adorable teddy bear-like face of a Yorkie in a slightly different package.

Morkies, for example, are crosses between a Yorkie and a Maltese. Morkies are slightly more robust than purebred Yorkies and come in a larger range of colors.

Rolling Over On The Cost Of Yorkie Puppies…

Many different factors can affect how much Yorkie puppies cost. When considering the price of the Yorkie you plan on adopting, you will need to also think about:

1. Who their breeder is 
2. Whether the dog has documentation or not 
3. How big they are 
4. What they look like (coat color, body type, etc.)
5. If they have health issues 
6. Their lineage
7. And their age.

To recap, let’s have a look at these factors and how they might affect the price of your Yorkie puppy:

Do you have a Yorkie?

If so, what did you pay for your Yorkshire Terrier?

We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comment section below.

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UPDATE: This post was originally published on August 21st, 2022. We periodically update blog posts with new experiences and information to keep them as relevant as possible.

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