The price of a Yorkshire Terrier (or a ‘Yorkie’ as they are fondly known) can vary greatly depending on whether you are looking for a show-quality or pet-quality puppy as well as the part of the country you live in.
In any case, you’ve come to the right place. This guide covers everything you need to know about a Yorkie puppy’s price in the USA, as well as its medical, grooming, training, and food costs, etc.
How Much Does a Yorkshire Terrier Puppy Cost in the USA?
Our team analyzed more than 15 ads to bring you different prices of Yorkshire Terriers across America.
- We found the lowest price of a Yorkie to be $450 whereas the price of show-quality Yorkshire Terrier puppies from a reputed breeder was nearly $2500.
- The national average cost of a purebred Yorkshire Terrier puppy in the United States is $1380. (Read our article here showing the data collected to come up with these numbers.)
- Adopting a Yorkie is always cheaper than buying one. Most shelters charge between $50-$500. Dog rescue prices vary greatly based on the city and the kind of organization you adopt from. Some shelters cover basic vaccinations, deworming, and neutering/spaying in the amount.
Related:
- How Much Does a Shorkie (Shih Tzu-Yorkie Mix) Cost?
- Yorkshire Terrier Puppy Price In USA
- How Much Does a Morkie Cost
The Cost of Basic Tools and Equipment for Yorkies
There are a number of basic supplies and equipment you must buy for your Yorkshire Terrier puppy, before bringing it home. Here is a list showing the same along with their price ranges:
- Travel carrier/crate/pen – $50-$200
- Dog bed and blanket – $20-$100
- Pee pads, poop bags/poop scooper – $20-$50
- Collar, harness, and leash – $10-$40
- Dog toothbrush and toothpaste- $10-$20
- Bowls for chow – $20 to $30 for two bowls. Stainless steel and ceramic bowls are better than plastic bowls.
- Grooming supplies – brushes and combs, bows and ribbons, shampoo, nail clippers, hair trimmer, etc – $30-$80.
The Price of Dog Food for Yorkshire Terriers
Purebred Yorkies are small dogs measuring about 9 inches at the shoulders and weighing no more than 5 lb. For a dog of this size, you only need around 3-4 lb. of food a month. Here are the different price ranges based on the type of food you select:
Type of food | Price per pound | Monthly cost | Annual cost |
Low-price/budget food | $1.75 | $7-$10 | $84-$120 |
Mid-range food | $3 | $12-$15 | $144-$180 |
Expensive/premium dog food | $5 | $20-$25 | $240-$300 |
Yorkies often have sensitive digestion and some are known to need special hypoallergenic diets. Your vet or breeder can recommend the best food for your pet.
Veterinary diets with hydrolyzed protein can cost almost $10 per pound bringing your annual cost of dog food to $500.
Medical Costs for Yorkies
You must take your Yorkie for a wellness checkup to the vet after bringing it home from the breeder. Your vet will provide you with a vaccination schedule for your little buddy. It is also important to get your dog de-sexed in its first year.
In addition to vaccinations and neuter/spay surgery, discuss parasite prevention for your dog with the vet. Your Yorkie will need all-year-round protection from fleas, ticks, and worms (tapeworms, roundworms, etc).
Here is a table showing these costs:
Routine checkup | $50-$250 |
Spay/neuter | $160-$400 |
Vaccines per shot | $15 to $30 |
Flea-tick prevention | $100-$150 a year |
Deworming | $5-$35 per dose |
Physical exam | $45-$55 |
Fecal exam | $25-$45 |
Heartworm test | $45 to $100 |
Dental cleaning | $100-$300 |
Blood tests | $80-$200 |
X-ray | $200 |
Ultrasound | $400 |
Hospitalization | $2000 |
Surgery | $1000-$3000 |
Yorkies are healthy dogs but they often suffer from health issues like skin problems, eye issues, joint problems, etc. These conditions can cost thousands of dollars to diagnose and treat. You can buy pet insurance to help cover some or all of these costs. Plans vary based on the coverage but cost about $7-$30 a month.
Dog Training Costs for Yorkshire Terriers
Training your Yorkie in basic obedience commands (sit, stay, heel, etc.) is very important to prevent behavioral issues in your pet. You can always train your dog at home using some online training videos or a dog training book from the library.
If, however, you opt for professional dog training, then expect the cost to reach almost $200-$600 per package. These costs naturally depend on the type of training you choose as well as the city you live in.
Group training (cost per class) | $30.00 to $50 per class |
Private training (cost per session) | $45.00 to $120 |
Dog boot camp | weekly about $500 to $1250 |
Minimum online training program price | $99.00 |
YouTube videos | $0.00 |
Minimum puppy basic training cost (total) | $500.00 |
Maximum puppy basic training cost with boarding (total) | $2000.00 |
Service dog training | $120 per hour |
Yorkshire Terrier – Grooming Costs
Yorkies are high-maintenance when it comes to grooming. Grooming is an aspect you must not overlook. These dogs do not have fur; rather they have human-like silky hair which needs to be brushed daily. It also needs a trim every 2 months to maintain its length and prevent matting.
Here are some grooming costs – although these will vary widely based on your location:
- Dog fresh breath – $9-$15
- Nail trimming – $8
- Healthy skin and coat treatment – $20
- Ear-cleaning – $10
- Bath – $20-$45
- Basic cut – $20-$50
Basic dog grooming packages start from $35 to $50 in most cities and include bath, blow dry, nail trimming, and ear cleaning.
Miscellaneous Costs of Owning a Yorkshire Terrier
Here are some other costs Yorkie owners could incur:
Dog Day Care
Yorkies are prone to separation anxiety, so if you work away from home all day, it may be better to enroll your fur baby in daycare for pets. This can cost $10-$30 per day. Hiring a pet sitter can cost $20-$40 an hour.
Boarding/Travel
There may arise a need for you to board your dog when you cannot travel with it. Dog boarding starts from $20 per night in most cities, although some facilities might charge $50 per night.
Should you choose to travel with your small dog, you’d need to invest in an airline carrier. The cost of flying with your Yorkie in-cabin is $150-$250 one-way.
Dog Walker
This is an optional cost as most Yorkie parents love to walk their Yorkie. In case you are too busy or have limited mobility, then a dog walker service can help.
Most dog walkers charge between $10-$30 for small dogs like Yorkies (the cost is for one walk of 15-20 minutes). This can increase your monthly budget by $300-$900 if you opt for a single walk service every day.
Other Expenses
Other costs of Yorkie ownership include the cost of microchipping ($45), license, and registration ($7 to $35 based on your pet’s neuter/spay status).
You’d also need to make some changes to your yard and home to keep your buddy safe. Adding in a fence or making other structural reinforcements to keep predators out can cost $500 to $750 depending on the size of your yard.
Summary – Yorkshire Terrier Price
As can be seen, although the Yorkie is small, it can lead to some big expenses!
The average price of a purebred Yorkshire Terrier puppy in the United States is $1380. You can always save money by adopting a Yorkie.
The first-year cost of raising this gorgeous dog comes to nearly $2500-$3000 (mainly spent on vaccinations, spaying/neutering, food, training, etc.)
After the first year, the cost of raising a Yorkshire Terrier could come to $1500 per year spent mainly on basic medical costs, food, grooming, etc. This amount does not include special costs like emergency vet costs, dog walking, etc.
This can bring the lifetime cost of raising a Yorkie to almost $10,000 to $22,500.