The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog, but it has a big personality. It makes a feisty but loving friend. The “Yorkie” is the most famous breed of small dog in the United States. It has won many fans with its loyalty to its owners, its elegant looks, and its ability to live in an apartment.
Even though these dogs are purebred, you might be able to find them in shelters or with rescue groups. Don’t forget to adopt! If you want to bring a dog home, don’t go shopping.
Yorkies can be great pets for people who live in apartments, but they tend to bark a lot, which your neighbors might not like. They will also need some care, especially when it comes to their teeth. Even though these puppies are playful, they are small enough that children could hurt them. But if you give it lots of love, attention, care, and playing, it will be a loving, cute friend who will follow you around like a shadow.
Overview of Yorkshire Terrier Breed
The Yorkshire Terrier, also known as a “Yorkie,” seems very proud, and why shouldn’t he be? The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most beautiful dogs. With his long, silky coat and perky topknot, he is sure to draw notice wherever he goes. Because he is so small, his loving owner often carries him around in a special dog bag.
The Yorkie’s long steel-blue and tan coat may be his best feature, but it’s his attitude that makes his family love him. The Yorkshire Terrier is a big dog in a small body. He doesn’t care that he only weighs about seven pounds. He is always looking for excitement and maybe even a little bit of trouble.
Yorkshire Terriers are loving with their owners, as you would expect from a companion dog. However, like most terriers, they can be wary of strangers and bark at strange noises or people who come into their space. For the sake of your neighbors, it’s important to teach them when they should and shouldn’t bark.
They can also be mean to strange dogs, and no mouse can escape them.
Even though they act tough, Yorkshire Terriers also have a soft side. They need a lot of time and attention from their families. They don’t like being alone for long periods of time. You shouldn’t try to protect your Yorkie too much, though. They will quickly pick up on how you feel, and if your actions show that the world is dangerous for them, they can become nervous.
Due to their size, Yorkshire Terriers do better with older children who have been taught to respect them than with babies and small children. They can be rude if they are surprised or made fun of.
Yorkies are great city dogs as long as they get some exercise every day. This could be a good game of fetch in the living room or a nice walk around the block.
As long as they were raised with other dogs and cats, they will get along with them wherever they live. When a new pet comes into the house, Yorkies may become protective of their owners. As terriers, they might want to face the “intruder,” and if a fight breaks out, the terrier spirit is to fight to the death. When putting a Yorkie with a new animal, you should be very careful.
He had a stylish coat, was small, had a spunky personality, and would never leave his people. Why do you think Yorkshire Terriers are the second most popular type of dog in the U.S.?
Yorkshire Terrier Facts
- People say that Yorkshire Terriers are hard to train to go to the bathroom outside. We suggest crate training.
- Yorkshire Terriers don’t like the cold and often get chills, especially if they’re wet or in a damp place. Because they are small, fragile, and act like terriers, Yorkshire Terriers aren’t usually suggested for homes with toddlers or young children.
- Some Yorkshire Terriers are “yappy,” which means that they bark at every sound they hear. Training that starts early and keeps going can help. If you don’t think you know how to teach this, talk to a skilled dog trainer.
- Yorkshire Terriers’ stomachs can be sensitive, and they may not like all kinds of food. If your Yorkie has bad teeth or gums, it might have trouble eating. Take your Yorkie to the vet for a checkup if he seems uncomfortable while eating or after eating.
- Yorkshire Terriers think they are big dogs, and if they are allowed to, they will try to fight with a big dog. Make sure you can handle your Yorkie. Even better, take your Yorkie to training classes when he is young to help him get used to people.
- Especially the canines, Yorkies tend to keep their baby teeth as adults. Check your puppy’s teeth often when he is about five months old. Take him to the vet if you see that an adult tooth is trying to come in but the baby tooth is still there. Keeping baby teeth can make the adult teeth come in at different angles, which can lead to tooth decay later on.
- Never buy a puppy from a careless breeder, puppy mill, or pet store if you want a healthy dog. Look for a reliable breeder who tests her breeding dogs to make sure they don’t have any genetic diseases that they could pass on to their puppies and that they have good temperaments.
Yorkshire Terrier History
During the Industrial Revolution in England, workers from Scotland moved to Yorkshire to work in coal mines, textile mills, and workshops. They brought with them a dog called a Clydesdale Terrier or a Paisley Terrier. These dogs were much bigger than the Yorkshire Terrier we know today. It is thought that their main job was to catch rats in the mills.
Most likely, the Clydesdale Terriers were made by crossing the English Black and Tan Toy Terrier with the Skye Terrier. The Waterside Terrier may have also helped the Yorkshire Terrier grow and change. A long, blue-gray hair covered this small dog.
In 1861, a Yorkshire Terrier was shown in a bench show as a “broken-haired Scotch Terrier.” A dog called Huddersfield Ben, who was born in 1865, became a popular show dog and is thought to be the father of the modern Yorkshire Terrier. In 1870, the breed got its name because most of its growth had happened there.
In 1874, Yorkshire Terriers were added to the British Kennel Club’s stud book for the first time. In England, the first club for the Yorkshire Terrier breed was started in 1898.
The first Yorkshire Terrier known to have been born in the U.S. was in 1872. As early as 1878, Yorkshire Terriers could take part in dog shows. In those early dog shows, classes for Yorkshire Terriers were based on their weight: under 5 pounds and over 5 pounds. The vendors finally decided on a single class with an average weight of between 3 and 7 pounds.
Yorkshire Terrier Size
At the shoulder, a Yorkshire Terrier should be 8 to 9 inches tall and weigh no more than 7 pounds, though 4 to 6 pounds is better.
Yorkies come in different sizes. It’s not uncommon for a litter of Yorkies to have one that weighs less than 4 pounds, one that weighs 5 or 6 pounds, and one that gets to be 12 to 15 pounds.
Be wary of breeders who sell “tea cup” Yorkshire Terriers. Smaller dogs are more likely to have genetic diseases and are more likely to get sick in general.
Yorkshire Terrier Personality
The Yorkshire Terrier is smart and sure of itself. It is small, which makes it cute, and has the bold spirit of a terrier. There are many different types of this breed. Some of them are cute and lively, and all they want to do all day is follow their people around. Others are naughty, friendly, and interested in everything.
If you set limits for your Yorkie, he’ll be a great friend. But if you treat him too well, watch out! If you start teaching them when they are young, you will have much more success than if you let them do what they want and then try to fix bad habits.
Like all dogs, Yorkies need to meet lots of different people, see lots of different things, hear lots of different sounds, and do lots of different things when they are young. Socializing your Yorkie will help make sure he or she is a nice, well-rounded dog.
Yorkshire Terrier Health
Yorkies are usually healthy, but like dogs of all kinds, they can get sick.
Find a good breeder if you want to buy a puppy. They should be able to show you that both of the puppy’s parents are healthy. Health clearances show that a dog has been checked for a certain problem and found to be healthy. You should see health clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for hip dysplasia (with a score of fair or better), elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and von Willebrand’s disease; from Auburn University for thrombopathia; and from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) certifying that the eyes are normal. Checking the OFA website (offa.org) will let you know if a person is healthy enough to fly.
- Patellar Luxation: Patellar luxation, also called “slipped stifles,” is a common problem in small dogs. It happens when the three parts of the patella, which are the femur (thigh bone), patella (knee cap), and tibia (calf), are not in the right place. This makes the dog’s leg hurt or change the way it walks. It is a disease that is present at birth, but the real misalignment or luxation doesn’t always happen until much later. Patellar luxation can cause pressure, which can lead to arthritis, which is a disease of the joints that gets worse over time. There are four levels of Patellar Luxation, from grade I, which is a rare luxation that causes the joint to be lame for a short time, to grade IV, in which the tibia is severely turned and the patella cannot be moved back into place by hand. This makes the dog look like it has bowlegged legs. Patellar luxation that is very bad may need surgery to fix.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an eye disease that gets worse over time. PRA causes a slow loss of photoreceptors in the back of the eye, which leads to blindness. PRA can be found years before a dog shows signs of going blind. A veterinary optometrist checks the eyes of the dogs of reputable breeders once a year.
- Portosystemic Shunt: Portosystemic shunt is an uneven flow of blood between the liver and the rest of the body. That’s a problem because the liver cleans the body of toxins, breaks down nutrients, and gets rid of drugs. Signs can include, but are not limited to, neurobehavioral problems, lack of hunger, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), GI problems, urinary tract problems, drug intolerance, and stunted growth. Most signs show up before a child is two years old. Surgery to fix the problem and a special diet can both help with long-term care.
- Hypoglycemia: Like many small and toy dogs, Yorkies can get hypoglycemia when they’re stressed, especially when they’re young pups. Hypoglycemia happens when your blood sugar is too low. Some of the signs are weakness, confusion, a shaky walk, and events that look like seizures. If this could happen to your dog, talk to your vet about how to avoid it and how to treat it.
- Collapsed trachea: The trachea, which brings air to the lungs, tends to collapse quickly. Most people with a collapsed trachea have a dry, harsh, long-lasting cough that sounds like a “goose honk.” A collapsed trachea can be handled with medicine or surgery.
- Reverse sneezing: Sometimes people mistake this for a collapsed esophagus. This problem is much less important and only lasts a few minutes. Most of the time, your dog will reverse sneeze when it is excited or when it tries to eat or drink too quickly. It can also happen when pollen or other things in the air are irritating. When secretions from the dog’s nose fall on their soft tongue, it closes automatically over their windpipe. This can be very scary for your Yorkie, but it will stop as soon as he calms down. Stroke his throat gently to help him calm down.
- There can also be problems with the eyes, teeth, and gums.
Yorkshire Terrier Care
Yorkshire Terriers like going for walks or playing outside, but they’re also very busy inside, so it’s not hard to keep them in good shape.
Yorkies are usually easy to train, especially if they get attention for doing cute tricks or doing well in agility or obedience events. They can be hard to housetrain, though, because their “accidents” are usually so small and easy to clean up that people don’t pay much attention to them. That is wrong. It’s better to show them where to go right away and give them a prize for going to the right place. When you put in the time and work, you can have a very well-trained Yorkie.
They are definitely housedogs, and they don’t do well in very hot or cold weather. People often train their Yorkshire Terriers to go to the bathroom on paper so they don’t have to take them outside when it’s too hot or cold.
Yorkies love loud toys, but you should check them every few days to make sure they haven’t chewed them open and pulled out the squeaker. They love it when you throw things for them to get. If you are crafty, you could make a ball for your Yorkie that is bigger than a golf ball but smaller than a tennis ball and stuff it with old pantyhose. He’ll enjoy it.
Yorkshire Terrier Feeding
Half a cup to three quarters of a cup of high-quality dry food per day, split between two meals.
The amount of food your adult dog needs depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and level of exercise. Just like people, dogs are all different, so they don’t all need the same amount of food. It’s almost a given that a dog who likes to run around will need more than a dog who likes to sit around. The quality of the dog food you buy is also important. The better the dog food, the more it will feed your dog and the less you’ll have to shake into its bowl.
Make sure your Yorkie doesn’t gain too much weight. Roly-poly doesn’t look good on this beautiful breed. Don’t leave food out for your Yorkie all the time. Instead, measure his food and feed him twice a day. Give him the eye test and the hands-on test if you’re not sure if he’s too heavy.
First, look at him from below. There should be a waistline. Then put your hands on his back so that your thumbs are along his spine and your fingers are spread out. You shouldn’t have to push hard to be able to feel but not see his ribs. If you can’t, he should eat less and move around more.
See our tips for getting the right food, feeding your puppy, and feeding your dog as an adult to learn more about how to feed your Yorkshire Terrier.
Grooming
Coat: The Yorkshire Terrier has a long, silky coat that is absolutely straight and hasn’t the slightest wave to it. The hair on show dogs goes all the way to the floor. They only have one coat and don’t shed much.
Colour: Puppies are born black, and their blue and tan coats grow in slowly over the course of a year. When puppies start getting lighter before they are a year old, they usually turn gray instead of blue.
From the back of the head to the end of the tail, the hair is a dark steel-blue that has a bluish sheen in the sunlight. This color is sometimes called the blue of a gun barrel. The head is bright gold, not yellow, with tan hairs that are darker at the roots than at the tips. The hair that falls over the face, called the “headfall,” is long and has the same golden color as the face.
At the base of the ears and on the nose, the hair is a little bit darker. The tan doesn’t go past the ears, and there are no black hairs mixed in with it. The legs of Yorkshire Terriers are also tan, but the color doesn’t go up past the elbow.
A fun fact is that Yorkies tend to get lighter as they get older. Changes in hormones can also change the color. When a female is in heat, she turns lighter. When her season is over, she turns dark again.
Grooming: Grooming a long-haired Yorkshire Terrier is not for the faint of heart, especially if he has a “soft” coat that gets tangled easily instead of a smooth one. Even if you keep your Yorkie’s hair short, you should brush it every day to keep it clean and avoid mats.
Small dogs, like Yorkies, often have problems with their teeth. Yorkshire Terriers tend to get a lot of tartar on their teeth and can lose their teeth at a young age, so brush their teeth often and make an appointment with your vet at least once a year to have their teeth cleaned professionally.
As part of taking care of your Yorkie, you should check its ears often. Check them out inside and give them a good sniff. If they smell bad, look red, or have a brown discharge, your doctor should check them out. If there is hair in the ear canal, pull it out with your fingers or ask your vet or groomer to do it for you.
Give your Yorkie a bath once a week to keep his hair looking nice and shiny. You don’t have to rub the coat to clean it. After you wet the coat and put shampoo on it, all you have to do to get the dirt out is run your fingers through it. Apply conditioner, and then wash your hair well.
Spray a light conditioner on your Yorkie’s body as you dry it. When you brush him, you can also spritz his coat with a light conditioner. If you brush a dry or dirty coat, the hair will break.
After every bath, trim your Yorkie’s nails to stop painful tears and other problems. They are too long if you can hear them clicking on the floor. There are blood veins in a dog’s toenails, so if you cut too far, it could bleed, and your dog might not let you do it again the next time he sees the nail clippers. So, if you haven’t done this before, you should ask a vet or groomer for tips.
When you’re cleaning your Yorkie, make sure to check the area around its anal area. If the hair is getting too long, you can cut it with scissors. Most of the time, you only need to cut about a half inch of hair around it.
After you’ve brushed your Yorkie and made sure he’s dry, gather the hair on the top of his head by starting at the corner of one eye, going back at an angle toward the middle of his head, and then going back down to the corner of the other eye. Brush this hair up, put a rubber band around it, and then add your favorite bow.
When your Yorkie is a baby, start getting him used to being brushed and looked at. Dogs are sensitive about their feet, so touch them often and look inside his mouth. Make grooming a positive experience by giving him praise and treats. This will help him be easy to handle when he’s an adult for veterinary tests and other things.
As you clean, look for sores, rashes, or signs of infection like redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin, in the nose, mouth, eyes, and on the feet. The eyes should be clear and not be red or tearing up. Your careful weekly check will help you find problems with your health before they get too bad.
Frequently Asked Questions about Yorkshire Terriers:
- Are Yorkshire Terriers suitable for apartment living?
Yes, Yorkshire Terriers are well-suited for apartment living. They are small in size, making them adaptable to smaller spaces. However, it’s important to provide them with regular exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. - Do Yorkshire Terriers shed a lot?
No, Yorkshire Terriers are known for their minimal shedding. They have hair instead of fur, which is more similar to human hair. However, their hair grows continuously, so regular grooming and trimming are necessary to maintain their coat’s health and prevent matting. - Are Yorkshire Terriers good with children?
Yorkshire Terriers can be good companions for children, but they are better suited for families with older children who can handle them gently. Due to their small size, they are delicate and can be easily injured if mishandled. It’s important to teach children how to interact with Yorkshire Terriers in a respectful and gentle manner. - Do Yorkshire Terriers require a lot of grooming?
Yes, Yorkshire Terriers do require regular grooming to keep their coat in good condition. Their long, silky hair needs to be brushed daily to prevent tangles and matting. Additionally, their coat often needs to be trimmed to a manageable length. Regular bathing and ear cleaning are also essential parts of their grooming routine. - Are Yorkshire Terriers prone to any health issues?
Like all dog breeds, Yorkshire Terriers can be prone to certain health issues. Some common health concerns for Yorkshire Terriers include dental problems, patellar luxation (knee joint dislocation), tracheal collapse, and eye conditions such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. Regular veterinary check-ups and a healthy lifestyle can help manage these potential health issues and ensure your Yorkshire Terrier’s well-being.