The teacup Yorkie sure is a hot favorite among dog owners. Many dog owners find the teacup Yorkies extremely cute, mainly due to their petite size, high demand, and price.
A teacup Yorkie can cost between $900 to $10,000. This hefty price range is due to multiple factors contributing to the rarity of the features of a teacup Yorkie, like the coat color, bloodline, and, most importantly, the size.
Standard VS Teacup
Before starting our review, it is crucial to understand the difference between a “normal” sized Yorkshire terrier and the teacup that has become popular in recent years.
An adult standard Yorkshire terrier weighs between four and seven pounds, while its teacup counterpart weighs between one and four pounds. That is a tiny dog! Aside from the difference in their size, there is no other significant difference between these two dogs.
Both Yorkshire terriers are purebreds, but one is smaller than the other. They are not considered different breeds because they come from the same parents.
The American Kennel Club has confirmed this but says that the only size considered an official size for this breed is the standard size. If you are looking to purchase a teacup Yorkie to be in dog shows, it is essential to know that they will not be able to compete because they are not the standard size.
How The Price Is Determined
Now that we understand the difference between a standard and teacup Yorkie, we can see how prices for these small dogs are determined. It is important to be aware of what to look for when searching for your perfect pup.
Bloodline
The price of a Yorkshire Terrier goes up or down depending on how pure the dog is. If you want a purebred dog, you will need to find a breeder who has papers or documents to prove it. If the breeder does not have any papers, you should be paying less for the dog.
On the other hand, if the parents of the Yorkie are AKC champions, the price of the pup can go up to $10,000.
Beautiful Coat
The way a teacup Yorkie looks also affects how much it costs. According to the AKC, there is an official set of colors a purebred Yorkie can have. If the Yorkie has a coat color that is not recognized as one of the official colors, the price can drop.
If you are curious, here are all of the coat colors that a Yorkie can come in that we have researched and collated.
High Demand
Many people think that the Teacup Yorkshire Terrier is not a natural breed, but they still cost more than regular-sized terriers because many people love the idea of having an adorable, cute dog that they can dress up and cuddle with. And when you hear about a dog that can actually fit inside a teacup, every girl’s dream comes true to be able to treat a dog like a baby doll.
The Teacup Yorkie is a good fit for this description. But what’s even better, the Yorkie has many other characteristics that dog lovers admire in dogs.
Some of these factors are their intelligence, size, and attitude. Yorkies are among the more intelligent breeds of canines, and they are easy to train and adapt well to their environment.
Teacup Yorkies can also easily live in an apartment with their petite build, which appeals to many city dwellers, thus contributing to their high popularity and, therefore, demand.
Gender
Some breeders may charge more for a female pup than a male pup because the breeder may want to keep the female pup for breeding purposes.
However, if you intend to let your Yorkie reproduce, do keep in mind that some breeders have contracts that require the pups to be spayed or neutered, so you may not be able to breed them at all.
Transportation
If the teacup Yorkie you want is far away from where you live, you will need to pay extra to have it transported to you. The cost of domestic shipping is about $200 to $300, while flying the dog in from overseas will be another $2,000 to $3,000. Although the teacup Yorkie is small, the transportation cost can still, unfortunately, add up significantly.
The Cost Of Teacup Yorkies
The cost of a Yorkie can vary greatly, depending on several factors. For example, the price range for an AKC-registered Yorkie can be anywhere from $900 to $10,000. However, when buying from an authorized breeder, the cost is more likely to be between a reasonable $1,200 and $1,500.
If you’re buying a dog for less than this price, there is a higher chance that you are not getting a purebred dog from a reputable breeder. The reason is that it takes skill and knowledge to breed a dog this small and delicate. Without proper breeding, these dogs can have dangerous health problems.
Some teacup Yorkie prices may be higher than $1,500 because the dog is from a breeder with a good reputation or a champion show dog. Another reason for the high price may be that the breed is becoming more popular.
It would help if you were careful of breeders like this because they are only looking to make more money than the pup is worth. As mentioned throughout the article, the teacup Yorkie isn’t an officially recognized breed, so any breeder who uses this excuse to raise the price is doing so wrongfully.
Final Thoughts – Is A Yorkie Right For You?
Adding a dog to your life is a big decision. That is why it is crucial to make sure that you buy a dog that is the perfect match for you and your lifestyle. Make sure to keep these factors in mind:
- Avoid scams and wrongfully priced teacup Yorkies.
- Make sure the dog is the right fit for your lifestyle.
- Be prepared for the commitment of owning a dog.
- Ensure that you are ready for the new addition to your family.
