8 things to know before getting a Yorkshire terrier

Share on:

Yorkshire terriers are one of those dogs people imagine immediately when they hear about toy dog breeds. And that’s fair but it also doesn’t paint the full picture as Yorkies are much more than just a toy breed. Expert hunters, excellent watchdogs, and phenomenal family companions, Yorkies are a truly special breed. Are they the right breed for you, however? Let’s find out by checking what are the 8 main things to know about the Yorkshire terrier below.

8 things to think about before getting a Yorkshire terrier

As such a popular toy breed, there are way more than just 8 curious facts about Yorkies that can be mentioned. However, insofar as what you need to know to successfully own, raise, and train such a dog, here are the 8 main things you need to be aware of ahead of time.

1. Yorkies just might be the quintessential lap dog breed

Yorkshire terriers are exceptionally small – about 7 pounds (3.2 kg) on average and rarely more than 7 or 8 inches of height at the shoulder (18 to 20 cm). This puts them firmly in the toy breed category – too small to even be considered “a small dog”.

This miniature stature coupled with their loving and cuddly nature, makes Yorkshire terriers an excellent lap dog breed. This doesn’t mean that Yorkies just lay around all day and don’t do anything, of course.

On the contrary – the Yorkshire terrier is a very energetic and lively breed. Their size does limit their endurance, however, and after some play in the living room, your Yorkie will gladly return back to your lap for some more nap time.

2. While it is a toy breed today, the Yorkie was initially bred to be a fierce hunter like all other terriers

It’s easy to think that the Yorkie was always just a toy lap dog breed. You’d be surprised to know that these dogs were actually bred for hunting mere two hundred years ago in the early 1,800s in England. In fact, Yorkies aren’t even a miniature version of a former hunting breed – they were initially bred for this size to be good at their job.

What were they bred to hunt? Rats and mice, of course. This is the case with many other terrier breeds but the Yorkie’s breeders wanted an especially small breed that’d be able to follow the rodents in their small holes and tunnels. It just so happened that the Yorkie is so adorable that people started adopting the breed as a family pet.

3. The gorgeous coat of Yorkies sheds very little and they are almost hypoallergenic

Yorkshire terriers have a very recognizable dark steel blue and golden coat. Straight and moderately long, it does need a bit of care to maintain its luscious look. Regular brushing will prevent matting and entangling, and frequent trims and baths will further help to keep it in a good condition. Be extra conscientious about the eye and ear care of your dog to prevent infections.

Aside from that, however, the Yorkie is actually excellent for people who don’t want to deal with too much dog hair in their homes. This breed doesn’t have an undercoat – the fluffy lower layer of hair that’s usually there to keep most dogs warm in the winter. This means much less shedding and now seasonal blowouts in the spring and fall. That, coupled with the Yorkie’s small size, means that you’ll have very little dog hair floating around your home if any.

That’s also what gives Yorkies the reputation of being hypoallergenic. Of course, that’s not the case as no dog is truly hypoallergenic. However, Yorkies are as close as a breed can be to being hypoallergenic thanks to their small surface area and limited shedding.

4. Yorkies are vulnerable to cold weather which is why you’ll often see them with clothes

A direct consequence of Yorkies’ lack of undercoat is that they really aren’t well-suited for cold weather despite being a British breed. So much so that if you live in a cold climate, you’d do well not to walk your Yorkie outside at all during the coldest winter months and just housetrain it instead.

Investing in dog shoes and a few dog coats and sweaters is another alternative that’d allow you to keep your Yorkie warm when it’s extra chilly outside.

5. Yorkies are incredibly loving and loyal, plus they can be social too with the right upbringing

One of the best traits of the Yorkshire terrier is how well this breed adapts to families and households of all types and sizes. Are you a single homeowner? A Yorkie will give you limitless love and companionship. Do you have a large family with lots of kids of all ages? A Yorkie will happily be the center of attention and become a beloved jester for the entire family.

This social nature of the Yorkshire terrier easily extends to small children, other dogs, and even non-canine pets. Pretty much everyone but mice pets can live in perfect harmony with a Yorkie. The breed can even be amenable to guests and strangers, although some socialization will be required.

Without such socialization, the Yorkshire terrier can be wary of strangers and can develop a habit of barking at people. This can be good if you want a watchdog but can be annoying if you don’t and you live in an apartment.

It’s also worth noting that the Yorkie’s social nature has a downside – separation anxiety. This is a common problem for most great pet breeds as they are way too social and loving to tolerate being left home alone for too long. Fortunately, the small size of Yorkies makes them very easy to take with you or to at least keep away from the precious furniture while you’re out.

6. While active and playful, Yorkies don’t need too much outdoor exercise

The Yorkshire terrier is a lively and energetic breed for its size but said size isn’t especially large. So, while Yorkies love to run and play, they get exhausted quite easily. This is excellent if you don’t want to have to spend too much time in the dog park. It also means that you don’t really need a yard – your Yorkie will be able to have all the fun and exercise it needs in your living room after the two mandatory 20-minute walks outside a day.

7. Yorkies are highly intelligent and, unlike most other terriers, they are very easy to train

Terriers have a reputation of being very headstrong and willful dogs that are difficult to train. And that’s true – after all, terriers were specifically bred to be fierce hunters that don’t let anyone and anything stop them from chasing down and catching their prey.

All this applies for the Yorkshire terrier too but there’s just one important caveat – Yorkies are so social and are such people-pleasers that training them is quite easy with the right approach.

What is that approach?

Positive reinforcement and early obedience training. The latter is true for most dog breeds but the former is especially important with Yorkies. This breed doesn’t tolerate negative reinforcement and is more likely to get even more stubborn and headstrong with it – much like a cat. Instead, rewarding good behavior is the way to go with a Yorkie and can easily build an excellent relationship with your dog.

8. This breed can live for quite a while but needs good care to prevent certain prevalent health issues

Yorkshire terriers are estimated to have an average lifespan of 11 to 15 years. This is slightly less than some other small and toy breeds but still pretty great overall. Besides, keep in mind that this is just an average. If you get a healthy pup from the right breeder and then you give this dog great care, food, exercise, and routine vet visits, you can easily surpass the 15-year average and even come close or reach 20 years.

Still, there are a few potential issues you’ll need to get around along the way. Fortunately, most of them are preventable or manageable with the right care. Here are the main issues to look out for:

To put it succinctly, Yorkshire terriers are a wonderful lap dog breed provided that’s the type of dog you want. Pretty much all the “problems” of this breed are subjective and depend on what type of dog you prefer. Do you want an apartment dog? A small dog that’s easy to look after? One that doesn’t need that much exercise? One that’s small and cute but also playful and feisty? One that can be easily socialized but can also be kept as a watchdog? If all this sounds like your cup of tea, the Yorkie just might be the perfect dog for you.