FAQ

How big will my Yorkie get?
By AKC standards Yorkies will be between 5-7 pounds. We’ve found our average size of Yorkies to be between 4.5 – 5 pounds. This doesn’t mean that your dog can’t be a little less or a little more. While a lot about your Yorkie is influenced by its parents there is also a lot you can do. Having a standard feeding schedule and using food that fits your dog’s lifestyle will also help determine your dog’s weight.

How long will my Yorkie live?
Yorkies tend to live about 12-15 years. It’s often said that the Yorkie’s body will give out before the Yorkie is “ready-to-quit.” They do a lot of things to such a little body in 15 years! Because of their lifespan, it’s not uncommon for illnesses to get more frequent and serious as it ages. Arthritis, loss of sight, loss of appetite are just a few of the things you might experience (these things are not unique to just Yorkies – but because of the Yorkies’ small stature and weight they tend to be more severe and detrimental). Your Yorkie will continue to love you until its last days we promise!

I want a “Teacup” Yorkie…Do you have those?
First let me start by saying that there is NO such thing as a teacup, tiny, mini, teddy bear, or any other “small” classification for Yorkies. The one and only classification for Yorkies is TOY BREED. Any breeder that purposefully breeds for such tiny dogs should not be allowed to breed dogs, in our opinion. These dogs are fragile enough at 4-7 pounds – the complications only mount when you have one that is less than 4 pounds! Some breeders will charge upwards of $5,000 for said dogs – but trust me it’s not worth it! From time to time breeders will have a “runt” – a naturally small dog – this is NORMAL. A breeder that breeds specifically for small dogs is NOT NORMAL and is not taking the dog’s health into consideration. With smaller dogs and more complications, not only was your dog expensive but so will your vet bills! If you’re considering buying one of these teacups, tiny, mini, teddy bear dogs I urge you not to! You don’t need to buy a dog from me, just not that type of breeder! Don’t line the pockets of these breeders who have completely disregarded the health and well-being of their own dogs, as well as your next possible puppy!

What’s the difference between AKC, ACA, or any other registration?
AKC stands for the American Kennel Club and is one of the premier Clubs in dog registrations. This club is responsible for the more popular dog shows and has been an elite kennel club since 1884. Yorkies have been apart of the club since the late 1800s.

ACA stands for the American Canine Association they are less popular but growing in popularity. Their fees tend to be a little cheaper and they would be like the “Silver” in dog registrations.

AKC vs ACA – it’s a simple as one being the more respected of the two. AKC has very very strict regulations, guidelines, and procedures to register litters with them. So if you’re getting a dog with AKC registration you know that the breeder has gone through quite a bit for it. Also, AKC registrations can only be done if both parents are AKC registered. ACA on the other hand will allow you to register just as long as 1 dog is registered with the club.

AKC has been the standard for dog registrations for a long period of time. Some people are really looking for that AKC dog look while others just want “a” dog. It’s really your choice, we have AKC and ACA puppies. While you can bluntly tell the difference between some, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between others. We prefer AKC over ACA because it is more strict, more controlled and it holds all those involved to the highest standard.

What is a Parti-Color Yorkie?
Parti-color Yorkies have been registered with the American Kennel Club for about five years. The designated number for the color is 014 and the designated color is Black and Tan, Parti-color. They are very rare. The Parti-color gene has been in the breed since the 1800s. Since the Parent Club designated the traditional colors of Blue and Tan, etc. The Parti-color gene is a simple, recessive color gene. In order for it to be expressed, it must be on both sides of the pedigree. Here is a break-down of what you get when you breed Parti-colors to different combinations of Parti-colors, Traditional colors that carry the Parti-color gene, and Traditional colors that do not carry the Parti-color gene. If you breed Parti-color to Parti-color, all the puppies will be Parti-color. Parti-color to Parti-color carrier will have two Parti-colors and two Parti-color carriers. Parti-color carrier to Parti-color carrier will have one Parti-color and two Parti-color carriers and one traditional color that does not carry the Parti-color gene. Parti-color to Traditional that does not carry the Parti-color gene will have all traditional color puppies that carry the Parti-color gene. Parti-color carrier to Traditional color that does not carry the Parti-color gene will have two traditional color carriers and two traditional colors that do not carry the Parti-color gene. AND, of course, Traditional to Traditional without the Parti-color gene will have all traditional color puppies that do not carry the Parti-color gene. These figures are based on a litter of four and as you know, you may get more Parti-colors in one litter and less in the next, but in the long-run, they will average out to these figures. The AKC DNA’d about 42 litters before they accepted our Parti-colors. The DNA proved they were 100% purebred Yorkshire Terriers. AKC does not require DNA on the dams but the same requirements for the DNA on traditional-color, breeding sires apply. Registering a Parti-color litter is exactly the same as registering a traditional litter. When registering an individual puppy from a Parti-color litter, the AKC requires four-color photos (front, back, and both sides), and the puppies are registered on a “case-by-case” basis. The coat textures, temperaments, etc. are all the same as Traditional color Yorkies. These Parti-color Yorkies are simply AKC Yorkshire Terriers with all the “Bells and Whistles”!

What kind of food should I buy?
We raise all of our puppies and dogs on Royal Canin dog food. We will give you enough food for a few feedings after you receive your puppy. We’ve had great success with Eukanuba and highly recommend it. It’s not the cheapest dog food around but it’s not the most expensive either. They even have a “Yorkie” formula – we can vouch for it as we’ve never used it. Really you can feed your Yorkie any kind of dog food you want dry or wet as long as it is sustaining him/her. Just make sure you are casually blending in the new food (old food with new food slowly becoming all-new food). This will help avoid any digestive problems. If you have any doubts contact your veterinarian.

What is hypoglycemia how can I prevent it?
Hypoglycemia is the medical term for low blood sugar. In puppies, it is a condition that results in a drastic drop in blood sugar levels. It is fairly common in toy breeds but 100 % preventable. Symptoms tend to show during stressful times, such as bringing the new puppy into your home, shipping, or any other stressful situations. It is most common in puppies from 3 – 5 months of age but has occurred in adult toy breed dogs as well.

The signs you will see:
Your puppy will be very lethargic and limp. If you check the puppies tongue and gums they will be a very dull pink or lack the pink pigment altogether. You will be able to tell that your puppy can not focus on you or an object and the puppy could even begin to shiver or tremble in the earlier stages (this doesn’t mean that every time they do that they have hypoglycemia – they could be scared too! If you have the other symptoms than most likely they are related). If you do not take preventive measures your puppy could go into shock. We ship all our puppies with Nutri-Cal which is a high-calorie supplement that is like candy to these little dogs – if your dog is not eating give him/her some Nutri-Cal and it will hold them off for a while.

Causes of Hypoglycemia
Some of the causes are:
1.Over handling and not allowing your puppy to get enough rest (they should sleep close to 75% of the time when you first get them! Don’t play too hard with your puppy at first, limit sessions to about 15 minutes)
2. The puppy refusing to eat (give um a little Nutri-cal)
3. Change of environment or food
4. Stressful Situations (travel, vet visit, etc)

What you can do
Make sure the puppy has food that is palatable (they may not have strong enough teeth for hard food) – you may need to get soft food and slowly mix in harder food. If you suspect your puppy isn’t eating very well then offer them the Nutri-Cal – this stuff is amazing. Just let them lick it off your finger, maybe a couple of dabs out of the tube, and it will be good for. If your puppy is really refusing to eat you may need to get some of it on their tongue or lips so they realize what it is – trusts me – once they know it’s irresistible to them! Our eldest Yorkie still comes after us when he sees that tube! Last but not least if you think a serious situation is brewing, do not waste time taking your puppy to the vet! The early you catch it the better!

How often should I bathe my Yorkie?
Really you can bathe them as much as you want. If you’re going to be bathing them a lot be sure you’re using high-quality shampoo and conditioner in order to not try out their hair and skin. Their hair is much like yours and mine – too much of anything is going to damage it and dry it out. When you’re bathing your Yorkie be sure to keep water out of their ears! If you need to put some cotton balls in each ear to be safe. It is really bad for them to get water in their ears. You’ll know when it happens because they will dive at the towel rub their head around like crazy. After you wash him/her you can towel dry and comb or use a hair-dryer. If you use a hair-dryer we recommend putting it on the lowest possible setting!

How do I potty train my Yorkie?
We use potty pads while the puppies are still in our care. For our older dogs,  we slowly weaned them off the pads and worked them towards our backyard. This is simple, as long as you’re consistent. If you want them to go on house pads when the wake-up, after they eat, and before they go to sleep take them to the pad and encourage them to go potty. When they do make it a big deal! Eventually, your puppy will start going wherever you had the pad on its own. When this happens start moving the pad little by little to the location you want them (whether it be a corner in your utility room or outside). If you’re working them outside get the pad to the door and start letting them out when they go towards the pad. Follow them outside and praise them when they go potty outside. Again, be consistent. Right when they wake up, after they eat, and before the sleep (also if you’re going to be gone for a while let them out). Consistency is the key! Without it, you’ll both be very frustrated!

My Yorkies ears droop now! What can I do?
We shave the tips of the puppy’s ears so that their hair doesn’t weigh down their ears. We’ve had excellent success with this and really try to avoid taping if at all possible. On occasion, even when their ears have been propped up for weeks, they will droop. This is caused by many factors including teething, growth spurts, and environmental changes. We’ve seen many dogs with ears straight up, droop and be straight up again all within a 2-3 week period without any involvement by us. If you’re really concerned about it we recommend shaving the tops of their ears again – if you really want to you can tape them. If you google something like “dog ear taping” you’ll find a ton of techniques and tutorials. Pick the one that suits you best.

Will Yorkies get along with my existing pets?
This really depends on a lot of factors. One of the most important things is that both animals have to feel they are in a non-threatening environment. If your dog(s) feel uneasy about the situation they will be really tense with each other. The largest dog we’ve had with our Yorkies was a 20lbs Jack Russell Terrier. They got along well and played hard but we were sure to not leave them unsupervised for very long – you just never know. It doesn’t take much to hurt a 5 lbs dog and it tends to be more severe on these little guys. I’ve seen and heard of people having 90 – 100 lbs dogs with their little 5 lbs dogs and it’s a “Kodak Moment” every time they are together. Just respect the fact that they are still animals, and the bigger guy/gal usually wins. Just be careful and if you see aggressive behavior start nip it in the butt right away so it doesn’t grow into something worse.

How will my puppy be shipped?
Your puppy will be shipped via American Airlines, counter-to-counter on a non-stop flight. There are several restrictions for shipping including temperature at all locations.

Could you explain your warranty a little more?
We established our warranty which is fairly common with most breeders. It affords protections for both the buyer and the seller. If there is a hereditary life-threatening illness within the first year we will replace the puppy with the same sex as soon as one becomes available. We reserve the right to ask for a second opinion to determine the exact illness. After one year this warranty is no longer standing. There are many illnesses and diseases common to Yorkies that may or may not be life-threatening. Rest assured that your puppy will be in picture-perfect health when it arrives. If you have further questions please go to our contact page or feel free to contact us at 806-441-6787.

Why do I have to sign a contract?
The contract is a way for both of us to be protected. It makes sure that we hold up our end of the deal and clearly states all applicable guarantees and warranties. You will be unable to purchase a puppy without agreeing to the contract – period, no exceptions.

Can I come and pick my puppy up?
You are more than welcome to come and pick-up your puppy. Please call us or send us an e-mail so that we can establish a date and time. We will also meet you within a 2-hour radius of our home or the next largest city (no more than 3 hours).

Why is there a non-refundable deposit?
The initial deposit for your puppy is non-refundable because by putting the deposit down you are preventing anyone else from taking that puppy, so you are taking a commodity off the market. You have up to 30 days to pay the remainder of the puppy, which must be paid before the animal is shipped or picked up. The non-refundable deposit will be 25% of the puppy’s value, excluding shipping, not to exceed $500.

If you have a question that’s not here please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’ll get to your question and add it to our list!
Yorkielicious Yorkies