Yorkshire Terrier: temperament, size, care and health

About the Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is among the smallest of the terriers, a compact, neat dog with a flat skull, small V-shaped erect ears, a dark bright eye and a high-carried tail. Its identifying feature is the coat: long, straight, fine and silky, steel blue over the back and a rich tan on the head, chest and legs. A show dog's coat may fall to the floor on either side of a central parting, and a topknot is tied up above the eyes.

The Yorkie combines the portable size of a toy with the confidence of a terrier. People keep it for its small size, its low shedding and its large personality.

Temperament and family life

A Yorkie is brave, affectionate and often bossy. It forms a strong bond with its family and likes to be carried or lie on a lap, but it also thinks nothing of challenging larger dogs. It is a good alarm barker and can be noisy, and it is wary of strangers until it has had time to judge them.

Because of its small size, it is best suited to adults and older, careful children. Toddlers can hurt it, and it may snap if hurt. Many live well with other dogs and cats, particularly when raised with them, but the terrier instinct to chase small animals is still present. Overindulged Yorkies can become demanding and hard to manage.

Exercise and training

A Yorkie needs short daily walks and some play, and it burns off a good deal of energy dashing around the house. It enjoys games and puzzle toys, and it feels cold quickly, so a coat is useful in winter. Tracheal problems mean a harness is better than a collar.

The breed is intelligent but headstrong, with the stubbornness typical of terriers. Reward-based training with brief lessons works well, and consistency counts. House training is a common challenge and can take months, so use a routine and be patient. Barking should be addressed early with quiet cues and by avoiding constant attention to every noise. Socialization limits fearfulness.

Grooming and shedding

The silky single coat sheds very little and is a popular choice with people who prefer to avoid dog hair, though no dog is allergen-free. In long coat, daily brushing and combing is needed to prevent tangles, and bathing is done every week or two. Many pet owners choose a short clip every six to eight weeks, which is far easier.

The hair on the topknot should be tied or trimmed so it does not irritate the eyes. Check the ears for hair and debris, trim the nails and brush the teeth often, since dental disease comes early to this breed.

Health

Yorkshire Terriers are generally long-lived. Patellar luxation is common, and tracheal collapse can cause a honking cough. The breed is known for portosystemic shunt, an abnormal blood vessel that bypasses the liver, and for Legg-Calve-Perthes disease of the hip. Dental disease, low blood sugar in tiny puppies, dry eye, a sensitive stomach and a tendency toward soft spots in the skull are also reported.

Responsible breeders examine knees, hips and eyes and may test bile acids for liver shunts. This is general information about the Yorkshire Terrier, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular dog.

History

The breed was developed in Yorkshire and Lancashire in the nineteenth century, when workers from Scotland moved to the northern English mills and brought several terrier types with them. Miners and mill workers wanted a ratting terrier, and breeders crossed Black-and-Tan Terriers with Paisley and Clydesdale Terriers, then selected for a smaller size and the blue and tan coat. A show dog named Huddersfield Ben, seen at shows in the late 1860s, is called the father of the breed. The breed became a popular pet in Victorian England and reached North America in 1872.

Is the Yorkshire Terrier right for you?

A Yorkie suits an apartment dweller or small household that wants a small, feisty, low-shedding dog, is home a good part of the day and is happy to brush or arrange regular trims. It does well with older people.

It is a poor match for houses with toddlers, for owners who want a quiet or placid dog or for people unwilling to groom. The Silky Terrier is a bit larger and more active, the Biewer Terrier is a close relative in tricolor, and the Maltese has a similar coat with a gentler outlook.