Peter F. Veling

Article / Updated 05-03-2023

Many Yorkshire Terriers are waiting patiently for new homes in breed rescue programs. Adopting a Yorkshire Terrier from a rescue organization is a great way to find a lovable companion. Many of these dogs are wonderful, devoted, well-trained family members who just got the short end of the bone for one reason or another and no longer have a place to go. Yorkshire Terrier rescue groups are organizations made up of Yorkie owners, breeders, and others who love the breed and want to help and protect its most vulnerable dogs: those dogs that have been abandoned, abused, or displaced for whatever reason. If you're interested in adopting an older Yorkie, consider contacting one of the following organizations: Yorkie Rescue, Inc. Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue, Inc. United Yorkie Rescue For information about other rescue groups devoted to Yorkshire Terriers, contact your local breed club or veterinarian and ask for rescue groups in your area. Rescue groups are a great option when you're considering adopting a Yorkie. Unlike animal shelters, rescue groups have an extensive knowledge of the breed. Consequently, they can usually provide information about the dog's history and the challenges (medical, behavioral, and so on) that you may face. Rescue groups provide a number of services for abandoned Yorkies, such as Foster care: By fostering the dogs in their homes, volunteers learn the temperament and behaviors of the dogs up for adoption. Veterinary care for abandoned dogs: Rescue groups usually give the dogs thorough Vet checkups and take care of outstanding medical issues. Spaying and neutering: Before the Yorkies can be adopted, they're spayed or neutered in an attempt to stop the proliferation of unwanted and homeless animals. Microchipping or tattooing for identification: Many rescue organizations microchip or tattoo the dog to ensure that the dog will make it back home safely if it gets lost. Like adopting through a shelter, expect to fill out a detailed application and answer a lot of personal questions. Remember rescue workers want to ensure that the dogs are going to be going to a great home. They may even want to come to your home to make sure that is suitable for a Yorkie. These organizations are manned by people who work long hours, usually for no pay, to find a good home for every Yorkie they believe would make a good pet. Because rescue workers are usually unpaid volunteers, remember that they work out of their home. Be considerate when calling and don't be surprised if they call you collect when returning your phone calls.

Article / Updated 11-08-2022

Listen to the article:Download audio Some breeders have begun producing "Teacup" Yorkies that weigh 2 to 3 pounds. Compared to true Yorkshire Terriers, which weigh in at about 7 pounds, Teacup Yorkies are truly tiny. Before considering purchasing one, you need to be aware of some characteristics of Teacup Yorkies. Teacup Yorkies aren't true Yorkshire Terriers. They can also require specialized medical care. Now there's nothing wrong with having a smaller Yorkie, as long as the breeder was using ethical breeding practices. Periodically, and for no apparent reason at all, some dogs are born very small; and they steal your heart because they're so in need of love and care. Some unscrupulous and unethical breeders, however, deliberately try to produce these little dogs and call them “Teacup” Yorkies, leading unwitting buyers to believe that Teacups are an actual variety of the Yorkshire Terrier breed. They're not. But be wary of any breeder who advertises or supposedly “specializes” in Teacup Yorkies. Here's why: There's no such thing as a Teacup Yorkie. A Teacup Yorkie isn't an officially recognized by the AKC. It is simply too small to be a true Yorkshire Terrier. Anyone who tells you (or implies) otherwise either doesn't know what she's talking about or is lying. A Yorkie who weighs 3 pounds or less often requires special care. Extra-small Yorkies are more prone to serious health problems and birth defects (like portosystemic shunt or small kidneys — which you won't know about until much later). Although extra-small Yorkies are occasionally born, no responsible breeder breeds for this trait. Because the breed standard is for 4 to 7 pound dogs, responsible breeders should only breed dogs that fall within this weight range. Breeding very small dogs is not safe for the mothers. Small size does not make these dogs more valuable. A small Yorkie shouldn't cost more than a healthy, normal-sized one. In fact, it should cost less because it is not up to the breed standard. They should also only be sold after being neutered or spayed.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-26-2022

Picking the perfect Yorkshire terrier starts with purchasing the dog from a reputable breeder and looking for the characteristics that define the breed standard. Puppy-proofing your home and keeping animal emergency phone numbers handy will keep your Yorkshire terrier safe and happy.

Article / Updated 04-26-2016

Your human children, if you have any, are probably gleeful that the new Yorkie is finally home. Your other animal companions, however, may be much less enthusiastic. Your task is to make the introductions and make sure the interactions don't get out of hand. The presence of the puppy alone is going to introduce stress for your other animals until they figure out what they're going to have to deal with. To make the stress as minimal as possible, choose a relatively quiet time and location to introduce your animals to one another. Dog, meet dog Here's a peek at normal canine greeting rituals. In addition to sniffing, you may see a lot of bluffing: the showing of teeth, raising hackles, and shoulder pawing. Don't panic, even though your older dog may look like he's just barely tolerating the precocious puppy skidding around him. Your dogs are doing what dogs do when they first meet: sizing one another up in order to determine who's dominant. It's an essential first step if you ever hope for harmony in your dogs' relationship. If your other dog is much larger than your Yorkie, the shoulder pawing may be a problem just because of the sheer weight and power of the bigger dog. To reduce the risk that your Yorkie will get hurt, be extra vigilant. In fact, if you have a much larger dog — especially one who still displays puppy behavior himself, is very exuberant, or isn't particularly well trained — a Yorkie probably isn't a good choice for your family. Here are some suggestions for keeping the initial meetings between your pets calm: Stay close by but don't interfere unless you think that the bluffing is escalating to aggression. Your dogs have to come to their own conclusions about each other, and they can't do that with you cooing "Be nice" like a mantra or pacing back and forth, wringing your hands. If you notice any signs of aggression, end the introductions immediately. Signs of aggression include • Crouching and hugging the ground, with ears pinned back to the head • Glaring (hard stares) • Deep-throated growling • A general, tense stillness If you're not sure how your older dog is going to react, put both dogs on leashes before the introduction and have someone there who can help you pull the two dogs apart if things get out of hand. Don't force the dogs to interact. Some dogs rush up to sniff at the new puppy; others stand back and observe for a while. Similarly, when your older dog is ready to leave, let him. Don't force him to stay and submit to any more juvenile antics. If the puppy tries to follow him, hold the pup back. Let the dogs establish their hierarchy and then abide by it. Until the puppy earns a higher place in the pack, she's the low dog on the totem pole as far as your other dog is concerned. Although she may become the dominant dog later, she's not now. Don't undermine this hierarchy — even unwittingly. Follow these suggestions: • Don't hold the puppy up for introductions. Height equals status to dogs. The higher dog is the more dominant one. So let the dogs greet each other at their natural levels. • To help your older dog come to terms with the new arrival, reinforce his dominant status by greeting him first and giving him the most attention. After your dogs settle the dog hierarchy and accept their individual status (as either dominant or submissive), your home is going to be pretty peaceful. But as your puppy grows and her personality becomes more apparent, the dynamics between the two dogs continue to shift. Occasionally, they get along fine; other times they snap and argue with one another. You usually see these upsets at hot spots — places where dominance challenges are likely to happen: food dishes, doorways, favorite pillows, treat time, and so on. When you have a Yorkie, especially if your other dog is much larger, be aware of where the hot spots are so that you can eliminate any problems or intervene if things get rough. For example, you can feed the dogs separately, if necessary. Hello, kitty Maybe your cat will become great friends with your new puppy (a likelier scenario if she's a kitten when he's a pup). Maybe she'll consider him nothing more than a toy to wind up and let go. Maybe she'll avoid him entirely. As unfair as the situation may be from the canine perspective, the creature in control of this relationship is the cat. Why? Because she doesn't have to stick around any longer than she wants to, and she has the tools (speed and agility) to escape. The introduction between your puppy and your cat is likely to be brief, consisting of however long it takes the cat to decide she's seen enough — an opinion she may very well form from the top of the refrigerator without bothering to get up close and personal. To aid inter-species harmony, keep these tips in mind: Keep the puppy on a leash when the cat comes near. If the cat runs, your Yorkie may give chase. If the cat hisses or swats at your Yorkie, stay calm. Don't scold her and don't baby him. Simply call an end to the introduction (if the cat hasn't done so already). When your cat is ready to leave, let her go. The goal of the first meeting is simply to make introductions, not friends — yet. That may come with time (and without your interfering). And if all you manage to achieve is noncombatant status, that's fine, too. Here's the rest of the gang If you have birds, gerbils, hamsters, iguanas, geckos, or other such pets, you need to make introductions (that is, let the animals see one another) only if you let the other critters out to roam the house — even if they roam in a critter cruiser — or if your Yorkie can access their living environment. Introduce them to each other a few days after your puppy's homecoming, when she's had a chance to get used to her environment but you're still closely supervising her. Keep these pointers in mind: Make sure you don't unintentionally encourage inappropriate behavior. Laughing at her behavior, trying to coax her out of it, or giving her anything she can construe as positive attention will give her the impression that jumping and barking at the guinea pigs in the guinea pig cage is just A-okay with you. Instead, say "no" in a firm voice and take her away from the cage. If she persists, give her a few minutes of timeout in her crate. Remember that Yorkies are terriers, originally bred to hunt rats. A small animal — especially one who runs away — is an almost impossible-to-resist temptation. Unless you train your Yorkie to leave your small pets alone — and she's consistently proved that you can trust her — never let your small critter run free when your Yorkie's around and unsupervised.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Just because many standard photos of Yorkies show the long hair and top knot (tied with a bow) doesn't mean that that's the only acceptable coat style. It's not. In fact, any clean, brushed Yorkie is a cutie. But the long coat and the puppy cut are the two most popular coat styles. The long coat The long coat is the style you typically see in breed books and on many Yorkie Web sites. It's also the standard style at dog shows. The reason the long coat is so ubiquitous is the Yorkshire Terrier coat is one of the defining characteristics of the breed. Its color, texture, and length are outlined in the breed standard — as is the preferred coiffure (the single or double top knot). As cute as a shorter cut is, it doesn't show off the coat to best advantage. If you want to keep your Yorkie's coat long, keep these points in mind: Achieving the long, silky coat takes dedication and care. Your Yorkie supplies the coat, which, like human hair, continues to grow. Everything else — the daily brushing, the weekly shampooing and conditioning, the wrapping it up to keep it off the ground, and more — is up to you. If you fail to do these tasks religiously, then that beautiful coat ends up a tangled mess. Wrapping your Yorkie's coat (that is, winding the ends around folded papers and securing them with a band) is a task you don't really need to do unless you're aiming for a coat suitable for the show ring. If you are trying to grow a show coat, then keep your dog in wraps 24/7 and take the wraps out only for the show ring. Wrapping protects the coat, allows it to grow, and helps keep it clean — especially important for male dogs, who get urine on themselves. Start wrapping as soon as the hair is long enough, usually when the dog is 9 to 10 months old. The top knot and bow are musts. You can choose between a single bow right in the middle or two bows on either side of a straight part. If your Yorkie's coat is soft instead of silky, you may not be able to achieve the look you want. Soft hair mats more, is more difficult to keep clean, and breaks more easily. The sheer work of grooming a soft coat to the breed standard probably isn't worth the trouble. You may have to resign yourself to a shorter cut. If you plan to show your Yorkie, keep him in the traditional long coat. It's part of the breed standard. The short coat The alternative to a long coat is obviously a short coat. One of the more popular short coat styles is the puppy cut. Look at a Yorkie puppy, and you get a pretty good idea what that style is. Essentially for a puppy cut, you (or a professional groomer) trim the coat into short layers all over the body and around the face, as shown in Figure 1. ©Isabelle Francais Figure 1: The coat on a Yorkie pup is short and layered all over the body and face. Other short-style options include the modified Schnauzer cut, where the coat is trimmed short on the torso and left longer on the legs, and the face is trimmed in the traditional Schnauzer mustache, or the modified Westie cut, which is similar to the modified Schnauzer cut except that the hair on the head and face is trimmed to frame the face. If you opt for a shorter style, keep these points in mind: Shorter cuts mean less time grooming. If you love everything about Yorkies except for the grooming chores, go with a shorter cut. You'll probably need a professional groomer to achieve the look you want. Although you can certainly do the work yourself, trimming a dog takes quite a bit of skill, the right equipment (clippers with blades of various sizes), and a practiced technique. Unless you want to learn how to do it yourself and can stand your Yorkie looking a little (or a lot) rough around the edges until your skill improves, hire a professional. A short cut doesn't get you entirely off the grooming hook. You still need to groom your Yorkie regularly. Of course, everything's relative: Regularly with a short cut is a lot less frequent and time intensive than regularly with a long cut. Giving her a quick brush every day or every other day, a bath about every week, and a trip to the groomer once every month or two is fine. What you gain in ease of care, you lose in the traditional Yorkie appearance. These short cuts cut the blue part of the coat right off. If you plan to show your Yorkie, go with the long coat; see the preceding section. Save the short cut for when her showing days are over.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

The first Yorkshire terriers were brought to the United States in the early 1870s, and they came as parlor dogs — companions to the wealthy families that were so keen on them. Their popularity slowly grew and then skyrocketed in the 1950s. Over the past few decades, Yorkies have ranked among the most popular dogs in the United States and the United Kingdom. General appearance Yorkies have a certain look. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the general appearance of the ideal Yorkie includes the following traits: A long, blue and tan coat that hangs straight and parts down the middle: Much of the breed standard relates to the condition, quality, and presentation of the coat. Compact and well-proportioned stature: Size and body structure matter. The breed standard stipulates that Yorkies must not be over 7 pounds and, on average, adult Yorkies fall between a petite 5–7 pounds. (Remember, however, that some Yorkies are smaller and some are larger.) In terms of body structure, everything should be in proportion and just, well, fit. Want to know about how much your Yorkie pup will weigh when he's full grown? Take his weight at three months and double it. If your 3-month-old Yorkie weighs 3 pounds, he'll weigh close to 6 pounds as an adult. A 4-pound 3-month-old will weigh about 8 pounds, and a 14-pound 3-month-old probably ain't a Yorkie at all. Self-assured manner and carriage: As terriers, Yorkies have a lot of spunk, confidence, and intelligence — traits that are no more evident than when they move across a room in sassy little steps with their heads held high. You often see this demeanor in dog shows (see Figure 1). ©Isabelle Francais Figure 1: The self-assurance (some would say self-importance) of the breed is evident in this dog's demeanor. Few, if any Yorkies, actually meet all the standards of the breed. And a 14-pound Yorkie with a silver coat and a floppy ear is as wonderful a companion as the pint-sized prizewinner with the erect ears and dark steel blue silky coat. Part specifics After the general description of the breed, the breed standard outlines what the specific body parts should look like (see Figure 2). Figure 2: Highlights of the Yorkshire Terrier breed standard. If you plan to show your Yorkie, get a hold of the actual breed standards from the AKC or the kennel club that sponsors the show you're competing in. Head The Yorkie's head is small and slightly flat on top. The skull isn't too round, and the muzzle isn't too long. The teeth should be good, and the dog shouldn't have an underbite or a pronounced overbite. The nose is black, the eyes are dark, sparkly, and intelligent, and the ears are small, V-shaped, pointed, and erect. Body The body should be well proportioned and very compact, with a relatively short, level back (that is, a back that doesn't slope too much from the shoulders to the rump, or one that doesn't look humped back). Legs, feet, and tail The front legs (forelegs) are straight; the hind legs are straight when seen from behind, but the stifles (the upper thighs) of the hind legs are slightly bent when seen from the side. Yorkies' feet are round and have black toenails (think Yorkie Goth). The tail is docked (cropped short) and carried slightly higher than the level of the back. (In the United Kingdom, Yorkie tail docking is neither required nor recommended.) Coat To meet the breed standard, you should keep your Yorkie's hair long, as shown in Figure 3. Of course, if you don't plan to show your dog and don't want the hassle of grooming even a moderately long coat, you can keep your Yorkie in a puppy cut (a short-coat style that many people prefer for convenience). Remember, though, that the long hair is a hallmark of the breed's appearance. ©Isabelle Francais Figure 3:This show-quality coat is pleasing to the eye, soft to the touch, and time-consuming to maintain. Like human hair, Yorkie hair just keeps growing. In fact, a Yorkie's coat can grow long enough to drag on the ground. If you don't wrap up your Yorkie's hair, it'll break off and stay at a length about even with the ground. Wrapping is a task for those owners who are serious about creating a show-quality coat. To wrap, you need latex bands, wax-paper squares (or some other appropriate paper, like rice paper or bakery tissue), and a comb. Texture is also important. Yorkies' coats should be silky and hang straight down each side of their bodies. The straighter the hair hangs, the better. In addition, Yorkies have one long, straight part that extends the length of their bodies, starting at the base of their skulls and going all the way back to the tips of their ever-wagging tails. Have you ever tried getting a straight part on a pencil-thin wagging tail? Fortunately, when you keep the coat long, the part usually falls into place. Colors Although Yorkie pups are born black and tan, their color changes as they mature. The ideal coat color for adult Yorkies is blue (actually a deep, steel gray; no silver, black, or bronze mixed in) and tan. The AKC also recognizes black instead of blue and gold instead of tan. Bottom line? Your Yorkie can be any of these color combinations: blue and gold, blue and tan, black and gold, and black and tan. Not only are these colors the only accepted colors, but they also must appear in the accepted places: On the body: Blue or black from the back of the neck to the tip of the tail. On the head: Golden tan or gold on the fall, with a richer tan/gold on the ears and muzzle. On the chest and legs: Tan or gold on the chest. On the legs, the tan/gold should go no higher than the elbow on the front legs and the stifle on the hind legs.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Your Yorkshire Terrier will probably stay pretty healthy most of his life, but every dog can have health problems. Get to know common Yorkshire Terrier health issues, so you can get your dog the right treatment quickly. Whenaddressed promptly, most conditions can be treated successfully. As a breed, Yorkshire Terriers are predisposed to certain conditions, but that doesn't mean that every Yorkie will get sick. Most never have one of these illnesses, but if you recognize any of these symptoms, call your veterinarian immediately. Portosystemic (liver) shunt: Some unlucky Yorkies are born with this potentially fatal congenital condition in which the blood bypasses the liver. When this happens the toxins never get cleaned out of the blood. The symptoms of liver shunt include: small size and poor weight gain; digestive system problems; urinary system problems including excess thirst and urination; and depression, listlessness, uncoordinated movements, or seizures that usually appear shortly after eating. Legg-Perthes Disease: A degeneration of the dog's hip joint (also called avascular necrosis of the femoral head and neck). Symptoms of the disease start appearing when the dog is 4 to 11 months old, and they include lameness in the affected leg, pain, ranging from mild to severe, and wasting away of the muscle. Luxating patellas: Dogs with luxating patella have kneecaps that slip out of place. Like most conditions, this one can vary in severity. Symptoms can include kneecaps slipping when the vet handles it (Grade I); kneecap slips out of place when walking or running (Grade II); kneecap slips out of place frequently enough to cause lameness (Grade III), and kneecap slips and stays out of place (Grade IV). Hypoglycemia: Yorkie puppies are especially vulnerable to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Episodes are trigged by not eating regularly, stress, strenuous activity, or digestive track illnesses. Symptoms include confusion or disorientation, shivering or a staggering gait, and drowsiness. In the worst case, he may have a seizure, fall into a coma, or even die. If your puppy has a hypoglycemic episode, your need to quickly boost his blood-sugar level. Give him a drop or two of Karo syrup or honey. If the episode is severe, however, and your Yorkie falls into a coma or has a seizure, call the vet immediately. Collapsing trachea: A windpipe that periodically closes on itself. This condition typically appears as your dog gets older. Symptoms include shortness of breath, honking coughing fits (attempts to re-open the trachea), and, because of the restricted air flow, fatigue. PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy): A degenerative disease of the retina. The condition is inherited and incurable. The first symptom is night blindness, followed by a gradual loss of daytime vision, and then total blindness. Your best chance of avoiding these conditions is to buy your Yorkie through a reputable breeder who breeds only dogs who are free from these conditions and therefore are less likely to pass them on to their offspring. A few other conditions that can afflict Yorkies are Retained primary teeth: Yorkie's often don't lose their baby teeth on their own. When your Yorkie's around 6 or 7 months old, have your vet check to make sure all her baby teeth are gone. If they're not, they need to be pulled. Underactive thyroid: If your Yorkie's thyroid isn't functioning properly, you may notice a dull coat, hair loss, lethargy, extreme intolerance for cold weather, weight gain, and chronic skin disorders. Heart disease: Yorkies are prone to heart trouble, particularly with the valves. If the valve fails to close properly, the blood flows back into the chambers, possibly causing the chamber to enlarge, which itself leads to other problems (such as constricting the windpipe, flowing back into the lungs, or causing an irregular heartbeat). Bladder stones: Middle-aged Yorkies tend to get bladder “stones”. Signs are difficulty going to the bathroom or blood in the urine. Undescended testicle(s): Sometimes, one or both your of Yorkie's testicles hasn't “dropped ” — or, descended into the scrotum. If your dog has this problem, you need to have him neutered.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Get your home ready for your new Yorkshire Terrier by dog-proofing it. Preparing a home for a new Yorkshire Terrier requires just as much diligence as it does to child-proof a house for human kids. By dog-proofing your home and yard, you keep your pet safe and healthy. Yorkshire Terriers will explore — by chewing, sniffing, tasting, pulling at, and bouncing around — anything that catches his eye. Your Yorkie needs clear, consistent boundaries not only to stay in your good graces, but also just to stay safe. A mature Yorkie is less likely to chew things up than a puppy. Nevertheless, all dogs are different; don't assume that you don't need to prepare your home just because your dog is older. A dog of any age can get himself into trouble or even hurt. Neutralizing poisons Keep common household poisons away from your Yorkie, by moving them to higher shelves, putting baby locks on your cabinet doors (yes, Yorkies can figure out how to open cabinets), moving your plants from the hearth to the mantle, and making the garage a dog-free zone. Figure out where the chemical hazards are in your home and take steps to eliminate them. Cleaning supplies under sinks and in lower cabinets. Personal hygiene items in the bathroom (hair-care products, perfume, medicine, and ointments). Motor oil, antifreeze, and car-care products in the garage. Be especially careful with antifreeze. A thimbleful of antifreeze is enough to permanently wipe out a pet's kidneys in one hour. If you suspect that your Yorkie drank some antifreeze, go to the vet immediately. Laundry detergent and bleach in the laundry room. Fertilizer, insect killer, and other dangerous chemicals in your yard. Common household and garden plants. The Humane Society of the United States has a listing of common poisonous plants. If your Yorkie does ingest something harmful call your vet immediately or call the ASPCA (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. Spotting other dangers Yorkies can get into a world of trouble. The trick to protecting them and your house is to figure out what they might want to get into before they do. Want to know what's going to catch your Yorkie's eye? Crawl around on the floor and pay attention to what you see. The following are just some of the possibilities. Places to get stuck: For example, a hole in the underlining of your box spring. Electrical dangers: For example, a tangle of electrical cords and cables behind your couch. Falling objects: Look for Wobbly or unsteady furniture, low-hanging table cloths or runners, or anything else that if pulled could send knick knacks or furniture itself tumbling over on your Yorkie. Dangers in the yard: Look for dangers in your yard, such as holes or gaps in the fence, wobbly woodpiles, and unstored garden supplies. Swimming pools and ponds can pose special dangers to Yorkies. Though most Yorkies can doggy paddle, they usually don't have the stamina to escape the pool and drown. Ponds are a danger to Yorkies because the algae that may grow there could be toxic. Preventing damage The best way to protect your belongings is to put them away and out of reach of your Yorkie's exuberant attention. Shoes? In the closet. Kids toys? In the toy box. For those items you can't put away and close the door behind — like drape hems, chair rungs, and so on — consider spraying them with a dog repellant, such as Bitter Apple, a harmless concoction that most dogs find utterly, well, repellant.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Some personality traits are very common among Yorkshire Terriers, but every dog is unique. Knowing your Yorkie's personality traits and understanding how to use them to your advantage will help you train your dog more efficiently. Generally, Yorkshire Terriers are energetic and love to keep busy. Your Yorkshire Terrier might be a couch potato or scared of his own shadow. For such little dogs, Yorkies have a lot of personality, possessing many, if not all, of the traits described in the following sections. Intelligent. Yorkshire Terriers are smart in the things that matter to dogs. They're alert, curious, and quick to figure out how to get what they want. Their natural smarts and their devotion to their owners makes Yorkies easy to train (provided they want to learn what you want to teach). Independent. Like most terriers, Yorkies have an independent streak. If you aren't consistent when you train your dog, your Yorkie's going to make up his own rules. Spunky. Yorkies are spirited little dogs who'll want to run after any little critter that crosses their path (a natural reaction from an animal originally bred to chase and kill vermin), and they don't shrink from a challenge. The single-minded little Yorkies can be oblivious to dangers around them while they're happily chasing whatever critter caught their eye. You need to teach your dog to obey some fundamental commands and to come when she's called in order to keep her safe. Courageous (in a cautious sort of way). Because of Yorkies' territorial instincts, they don't hesitate to challenge dogs and other animals that invade their space, and they don't shrink from a fight. Yet, for all their bravery, Yorkies are naturally cautious around strange people and unusual sights and sounds. Thanks to his feisty nature, be especially vigilant when you introduce new pets to your household or when your Yorkie is around strange animals (at the park, for example). If you don't socialize your Yorkie or if you reinforce her fears (for example, by trying to soothe her when she's upset), you may end up with a dog who snaps and bites. Affectionate. The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most loving breeds and thrives on interaction with and affection from their humans. Determined (some would say stubborn). Remember, Yorkies are terriers and terriers are vermin-dispensing dynamos — a trait that requires determination (to stick with the task until it's done, even when the prey fights back). This determination means that what you want him to do must be more compelling than what he wants to do if he's going to obey. Full of common sense. They may look like high-society dogs, but Yorkies come from a working-class background, and they like their lives to be simple and straightforward. Too much pampering and you spoil the independent, vibrant nature that makes them so appealing. And don't we have enough neurotic beauty queens in this world already? Full of joie de vivre. Although they may snap when they're surprised, mistreated, or scared, Yorkies are, on the whole, good-natured, happy dogs.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Is the Yorkshire Terrier the right breed for you? A Yorkshire Terrier is just about one of the cutest canine specimens to ever grace the species. But there's more to the breed than just good looks. You need to think about the pros and cons of Yorkshire Terriers and whether this breed is a good fit for your family. The pros of owning a Yorkshire Terrier Yorkies are small dogs that are bred to be companions. Originally bred for chasing down and killing vermin, they tend to be clever, brave, determined, feisty, energetic, and have little tolerance for other animals — big or small, including other dogs. You can think of Yorkies as no-nonsense, cut-to-the-chase kind of dogs trapped in mama's-little-baby, cute-as-buttons packages. Primp, polish, and beribbon them all you want, but love them for their personalities. That's where the real gold is. Yorkies are such popular dogs and make such good pets for several reasons. Here are a few: They're small: Their size makes them easy to carry around, walk on a leash, or hold in your lap. Yorkies, like many other Toy breeds, make good pets for people; they're especially good for senior citizens, people with medical issues, and those who may worry about the size and strength of a larger dog. They adapt happily to apartment living: Just about any size living space is big enough for Yorkies, and you can potty train them to go indoors or outdoors. They're easier to travel with than larger dogs: Yorkies usually fit within the weight restrictions placed on pets. They're also usually less expensive to board than larger dogs. They require less food than larger dogs: A half to three-quarters cup of kibble a day is usually enough to keep your Yorkie well fed, which makes them cheaper to maintain. They're loving, devoted, and very affectionate: This makes them great personal companions and good family pets. They love interaction with their humans. They're hypoallergenic. Because of the type of coat they have (no undercoat), they don't shed as much as many other breeds: So, Yorkies can be a good choice for people with allergies. Although Yorkies are considered hypoallergenic, this doesn't mean that you won't be allergic to a Yorkie. Find one that you can hang around or visit for a while and see if you have an adverse reaction before making the purchase. In general, small dogs live longer than large dogs: Yorkies, as a rule, have an average life span of 12 to 14 years. The cons of Yorkie ownership As wonderful as Yorkies are, they're not the dog for everyone. If you're still determined that a Yorkie is the dog for you, at the very least, keep these points in mind so that you can avoid potential problems: You have small children. Kids who haven't yet learned to be gentle with animals or who like rough-housing with the family pet are also problematic. Yorkies love chasing games, but rough-and-tumble play is out. You have larger dogs. Yorkies think they're bigger than they are. They're territorial and not particularly tolerant of other animals. For these reasons, a Yorkie will very likely challenge your larger dog at some point, oblivious to the size disadvantage. You travel a lot and can't take your dog with you. Yorkies need the companionship of their families. They don't handle being kept in a kennel for boarding very well. Potty training takes a little longer. The myth that Yorkies can't be housetrained isn't true. But they won't learn in a week, but with consistency, patience, and a lot of positive reinforcement you can potty train your Yorkie. You want a guard dog. Although you can count on your Yorkie to bark up a storm if an intruder approaches, let's face it — a yipping 7-pound dog with a red bow on its brow isn't going to fight off a burglar. You don't have time (or the desire) to groom. The Yorkie's coat is a lot like human hair, and you need to brush it daily. But if the only "grooming"” task you're up for is scratching your dog behind the ears, then a Yorkie isn't for you. (Although you can cut down on the upkeep by keeping your dog's hair short.)