Owning a Yorkshire terrier has become fashionable, which is why buying a dog of this breed is not usually cheap. In addition to the initial cost, there are other important expenses to consider, including food, supplies, vet visits, and training. How much does a Yorkshire terrier cost? How do I know if a Yorkie puppy is pure?
Keep reading below to find out all this and more…
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How much does a Yorkshire terrier cost?
Typically, the price of a Yorkshire terrier ranges from $600 to $2,500 US dollars, with the average price hovering around $1,200 – 1,500 dollars. However, those interested in purchasing the puppy from a reputable breeder can expect a price of $1,500 to $3,000.
In general, Yorkie prices go up or down markedly depending on whether the dog is a puppy, a highly desired color, or a pedigree. For example, pure Yorkie puppies, descendants of a show lineage, can cost up to $10,000 (or its equivalent in euros, Mexican pesos, etc).
How much does a Yorkshire terrier cost in…?
United States
Yorkshire Terrier prices in the United States range from $600 to $2,500, with an average price of $1,200. A purebred puppy, with all its documents in order, can cost up to 5,000 dollars. And if he descends from a lineage of great competitors, the price goes up to $10,000 or more.
Mexico
The price of a Yorkie Terrier in Mexico commonly ranges from 5,000 to 25,000 Mexican pesos, with 18,000 being the average price for a puppy from a good breeder. The truth is that this can vary greatly depending on the quality of the dog, color, sex, and condition.
In Mexico, a female Yorkshire terrier with a pedigree can cost between 30 and 40 thousand pesos.
According to the Mercado Libre platform, there is greater availability of Yorkshires for sale in the Federal District, Jalisco, and the State of Mexico.
Spain
In Spain, the most common is that a Yorkshire puppy costs between 500 and 1500 euros, with an average price of 900 euros. If it’s a reputable breeder producing offspring with good pedigrees, you can expect the price to skyrocket to €2,000 or more. Likewise, mini or teacup Yorkshire terriers always sell for more than the original toy-sized specimens.
Chili
In Chile, a Yorkshire Terrier dog usually costs between 200,000 and 550,000 Chilean pesos, with $400,000 being the average price. If it is a legitimate female puppy with a pedigree and registered in a Kennel Club, the cost generally goes up to 750 thousand pesos or more.
Greater availability of Yorkshires for sale in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago.
Argentina
The price range of a Yorkie Terrier in Argentina can range from 60,000 to 100,000 Argentine pesos. A Pomeranian puppy from a good breeder costs 65,000 pesos on average. Yorkshire terriers with a pedigree and a certificate of registration with the Argentine Cynological Federation (FCA) are usually much more expensive.
Greater availability of Yorkshires for sale in Capital Federal, GBA Sur, and Cordoba.
Colombia
In Colombia, a Yorkshire terrier puppy costs around 1,900,000 Colombian pesos. This price usually varies in the range of 1,500,000 to 3,000,000, it all depends on the characteristics of the dog, the color, the location of the breeder, etc. Female Miniature Yorkies are usually the most expensive.
Greater availability of Yorkshires for sale in Antioquia, Valle del Cauca, Santander, and Bogota.
What can affect the Yorkshire terrier price?
Here are the 10 factors that most influence the price to pay for a Yorkshire dog:
1. Reputation of the breeder
Reputable breeders often charge more for their puppies since they put more time, effort, and money into the breeding process. Their puppies not only meet the breed standard but are less prone to disease. That is the reason why box breeders always offer their puppies for less money.
2. Purity
As you might expect, purebred Yorkshires are more expensive. Too low a price is usually a strong indicator that the Yorkie is not pure, but mixed.
3. Pedigree
When the puppy’s parents are purebred and of show quality, the price skyrockets, and can cost around $10,000. If the breeder is a member of a kennel club and has their puppies registered, the dog will cost even more.
4. Age
The age of the Yorkshire terrier greatly influences its price. Most buyers want to get a puppy, hence the demand and price of these are higher.
If you’re not worried about age, then one way to save may be to buy a young or adult Yorkie.
5. Type
The original Yorkshire Terrier, which meets all the requirements of the standard, is often more expensive than other popular types of Yorkie (tricolor, black, poorly marked, etc.)
6. Color
As with other breeds, some Yorkie Terrier colors are more coveted than others. Black and tan, black and gold, blue and tan, or blue and gold coats tend to command a higher price because they are the true colors of the breed.
However, non-standard colors such as chocolate, white, parti, and blonde can also sell for quite a bit. Many breeders advertise these puppies as exclusive or rare Yorkshire Terriers.
7. Gender
The price of a female Yorkie is usually higher than that of a male given the possibility of having offspring. However, there are cases in which a male puppy can cost much more, especially if it is a male with an excellent pedigree.
8. Health status
As a buyer and prospective owner of a Yorkshire terrier, you’ll want to make sure your puppy has been vet checked, vaccinated, and dewormed before going home. This, together with the possible implantation of a microchip, also influences the final price.
9. Size
The smaller the Yorkshire Terrier, the higher its price.
Although this is a toy-sized breed, many breeders strive to get even smaller puppies; These are called Teacup or Miniature Yorkshire Terriers. Minis are often coveted by buyers because they are considered rarer or more exclusive.
A teacup Yorkshire terrier is not only more expensive for its purchase price, but also because there is a higher risk of long-term diseases.
10. Country or region
Prices also vary greatly depending on location and your cost of living. Even within the same country, the Yorkie can be worth more or less depending on the region where it is located.
See also: 7+ Golden Tips for Buying a Dog – Key Questions
What does the price include, besides the dog?
Generally, the price of a Yorkshire dog for sale always includes up-to-date vaccination status, as well as deworming treatment. Depending on the breeder and the Yorkie in question, this may also include:
- Implanted microchip
- Castration / Sterilization
- Pedigree certificate
- Sale guarantee
- Shipping costs (if located elsewhere)
- Basic training (if it is a young puppy)
- Care and maintenance instructions
Note. It is common that several of these elements are not included in the total price, but are considered optional costs so that the buyer must decide if he wants to pay extra money for them or not.
What are the most expensive Yorkshire terriers?
The price of a pure Yorkie is always significantly higher if:
- He has an excellent pedigree.
- The breeder only produces show-quality puppies.
- It is a miniature or teacup.
- It is a female.
- It has a very unusual color in the breed.
How to know if a Yorkshire terrier is original?
Many will wonder “how do I know if a Yorkie is pure when I don’t have his pedigree papers?”
The most obvious trait that helps differentiate a purebred Yorkie from a mixed Yorkie is coat color. The original Yorkshire terriers are black right at birth, but as the days go by, the typical combination of black and tan, black and gold, blue and tan, or blue and gold should begin to emerge.
Other characteristics that should not be missing in a true Yorkshire are:
- Well proportioned and compact body, with a short back.
- No more than 7 pounds of body weight.
- Small flat head.
- Moderate muzzle with a noticeably black nose.
- Very bright round eyes.
- Small, erect ears covered with short hair.
- Hairy tail with the tip always black.
- Smooth, soft, and fine hair.
Just because a Yorkshire terrier has all of these traits doesn’t guarantee that it’s purebred. And that it does not comply with 100% does not mean that it is not. For example, there are the black, tan, and white specimens, known as Yorkie partis; Although they are not common, nor do they have the desired color, they are still pure specimens.
When the dog’s coat is completely black or chocolate, it is highly likely that it is a Yorkshire mix.
Note. A good purebred Yorkshire terrier breeder will be able to provide official documentation confirming the pedigree of his puppies. This is the quick way to know for sure if a Yorkie is genuine.
Where to buy a Yorkshire?
The best place to buy your Yorkshire terrier puppy will always be a recognized kennel, where ethical, controlled and legal breeding practices are maintained. The vast majority of purebred Yorkshire breeders are passionate about this breed, which is why they are concerned about the health and well-being of their puppies.
As a prospective owner, you’ll want your Yorkie to come from a breeder who not only maintains the purity of the breed, but also considers the genetics, health, and temperament of the parents.
Where not to buy?
The only thing worse than a bad breeder is a puppy farm.
Avoid buying your Yorkshire terrier from a puppy mill or an illegal breeder. The main interest of these types of facilities is to make money, so they do not pay much attention to the health, genetics, and well-being of the mothers and their puppies. Very often, they are dogs that live and are raised in precarious conditions.
Many of the puppies you can find in pet stores come from puppy farms.
