Simply Southern Pups > Dog Breeds > Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkie Breed Information
Toy-sized, elegant, and charismatic, Yorkshire Terrier puppies come with all the best qualities a dog can have. They are sweet, easily trainable, feisty and passionate about fun dog games, energetic, and highly adaptable. Unlike most puppies that are either hyperactive or only fond of naps and relaxation, Yorkies can adapt to any type of lifestyle. They love adventures just as much as cuddly naps and are one of the best dog breeds for families with children.
BREED TYPE / MIX
Purebred
ENERGY
Moderate
SHEDDING
Minimum
TRAINING
Determined
TEMPERAMENT
Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Playful
ADULT WEIGHT
4-6 lbs
ADULT HEIGHT
8-9 in
LIFE SPAN
10-16 yrs
Characteristics
- Ready to act, caring, and attentive, the Yorkshire Terrier is a talented watchdog
- Yorkie puppies are simple to train. They are known to be eager and fast learning students
- The miniature Yorkie is hypoallergenic and doesn’t shed much, which makes this breed great for allergy sufferers
- Adventurous and explorers at spirit, Yorkshire Terriers are magnificent travel companions
- The Yorkshire Terriers have a long lifespan with an average of 16 to 18 years
- Highly responsive, caring, and loyal, the Yorkshire Terrier has great popularity as a therapy dog
- Yorkie puppies are extremely versatile, they are comfortable in small apartments as well as in big homes
- Yorkies are suited for both energetic and laid-back lifestyles
- Friendly and outgoing, the teacup Yorkie is great with children and domestic pets
- The Yorkie is a kind and cheerful dog well suited for families, singles, seniors, and new puppy owners
- As one of the AKC’s top 10 breeds year after year, Yorkshire Terriers are popular toy dogs, offering a big personality in a tiny package
- The cute Yorkie dog breed is recognized by the American Kennel Club since 1885
Appearance
The cute Yorkshire Terrier is full of personality and love. In their own way, they know exactly how to swish their tails and make everyone fall in love with them. The Yorkshire Terrier size is tiny, but the attitude is anything but, they're confident and charming, head-turners in any crowd.
The Yorkie dog is an expert at the art of living large in a small package. It has a bold and spirited personality and is full of fun weighing from 4 to 6 pounds and standing at 8 to nine inches as a full-grown Yorkshire Terrier adult.
The Yorkshire Terrier varies in size based on gender and lineage. A female Yorkie is slightly smaller than a male, as is the case with most dogs. The Teacup Yorkie is much smaller than the average Yorkie, smaller even than the Miniature version of the Yorkie and other toy breeds. In fact, it's about half their size. And the cute Micro and Toy Yorkie versions are still small enough to carry around in a purse.
The Yorkie has a small, compact, and well-proportioned body, a medium-length muzzle, dark sparkly eyes, and small pointy ears. Its coat is silky and soft with very little shedding. The standard Yorkshire Terrier colors are golden tan with steel blue.
Temperament
The Yorkshire Terrier is responsive, demonstrative, and energetic. He is a strong, speedy, and athletic pet who loves to play games and will greatly enjoy agility or rally classes. Teacup Yorkies are fearless, social dogs that love to play sports like rallying and agility with their owners. They are known for their natural energy, enthusiasm, and endurance, which is what makes them so great at the sports they love.
Yorkshire Terriers are an undersized bundle of personality and energy. They are not especially big, but they are one of the feistiest, most fearless, and protective dogs around. The Yorkie puppies live for companionship and to be part of a family. Toy Yorkies are happiest when nestled on the lap or shoulder of their owner. They like nothing better than to be close to their people.
Yorkshire Terriers are incredibly adventurous and will follow your lead no matter where you go. They are extremely social creatures that love being part of a pack.
Yorkies are spunky little dogs who love to keep themselves entertained. They're fun, independent little dogs that are more than happy to entertain themselves with a toy or two, or three when they are alone at home.
Affectionate and cuddly, Yorkshire Terriers are a hundred percent devoted to their family. They are very affectionate and loving and enjoy performing for and entertaining their owners.
Care
Yorkshire Terrier Grooming
The Yorkshire Terrier is a playful and loving dog that makes the perfect companion for every household. The mini-Yorkshire terrier is popular for being easy to groom. You only need to brush them once a day for a quick minute to ensure they don't get tangles or knots in their hair. Teacup Yorkies don't need a bath as often as most other dogs, just once a month will do. Their coat is smooth, soft, and silky and you can avoid matting by brushing it every week if daily brushing isn’t always possible.
If you're looking for low-cost home grooming, it's best to trim the hair around their eyes and ears frequently. Don’t forget to clip their nails regularly, it’s just as important. Brushing their teeth is another great way to provide them with excellent dental care at home, twice per week should do. You can also take your Yorkie to a professional groomer once every few months to further improve their dental care routine.
The Teacup Yorkie is one of the world's most fashionable dog breeds. The breed comes with a few signature looks that are very popular with today's Yorkie dog owners. There are several popular haircuts including the Yorkie Teddy Bear cut or the Yorkshire terrier puppy cut that you can opt for.
Yorkshire Terrier Exercise Needs
The Yorkie is a cute, energetic, and fun dog that needs little exercise to be healthy and happy. While they appreciate the physical activity, they don’t have demanding exercise needs. You can take them for longer walks when you have the time, but 30 to 40 minutes of daily walks will typically be enough to keep them exercised on a daily basis. Short daily walks coupled with some indoor games are the best exercise routine for a Yorkshire Terrier adult dog.
Yorkshire Terrier Health
The Yorkie is a dog breed that, as with all breeds, needs to be monitored for health concerns. The good news is that the Yorkie is a healthier breed than others. A few of the conditions to watch out for include hypoglycemia, luxating patella, obesity, liver shunt, and periodontal disease.
Here are a few tips to consider when it comes to the care and dietary needs of your Yorkie:
- Provide plenty of exercise
- Avoid rough play
- Ensure they have a well-balanced diet
Yorkshire Terrier Lifespan
Yorkies are generally quite long-lived, having a lifespan of 16 to 18 years. There have also been cases of Yorkshire Terriers living even longer than 18 years. The oldest living Yorkie is currently 28 years old. It's all in the genes! To increase their life expectancy, it's a good idea to stick to a strict diet plan and include plenty of exercise and regular vet checks.
Yorkshire Terrier Training
Yorkie puppies are friendly, energetic dogs. They thrive when learning new skills and they love expanding their knowledge. They are intelligent creatures who enjoy showing off for their owner when working on advanced agility, rally, and obedience training. A calm tone of voice and a positive attitude towards training will get you the best results when training your Yorkie puppy. Creating a positive emotional environment around training sessions will encourage your dog to tackle new challenges. As an owner, you should know that Yorkies love to socialize. They naturally want to be with people, so leash training will be easy.
History
The cute Yorkie has a long history of doing the impossible. Once valued for their hunting and herding skills, generations later they've been bred down to an adorable miniature size that makes them more prized than ever as companions. These tiny dogs possess big hearts and are eager to be part of a family. But how did they get to where they are today?
When most people think about a Yorkshire Terrier, they tend to think about a cute little dog that looks adorable with its beard-like coat. The truth is, the Yorkie breed was used as utility dogs for their hunting skills. In fact, this dog breed was developed in the 19th century in the region of Yorkshire, England.
Although Yorkshire Terrier dogs were originally bred in Yorkshire, they became popular as fashionable pets during the Victorian era. By the end of the 19th century, they had begun to make their way over to America, where they earned the title “Yorkie” and gained official recognition as a breed.
One of four recognized breeds originating in England, the Yorkshire Terrier has been an important figure in history for many years, particularly in WWII when the famous dog Fala saved many lives. From President Richard Nixon to Audrey Hepburn, Yorkie dogs have a very loyal fan base that has been growing over the years. The cute Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular toy dog breeds in the world. It's also one of the oldest breeds, having lived with British royalty since long before the 12th century.
Today, their popularity is even higher than ever, and many breeders select them as parent breeds to create new, unique dog breeds. Among the more renowned Yorkie mix breeds are:
- Yorkie Poo – Yorkshire Terrier and Poodle mix
- Morkie – Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier mix
- Shorkie – Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier mix
- Yorkie Chon – Yorkshire Terrier and Bichon Frise mix