Yorkshire Terrier Complete Breed Guide

Don't let the size fool you, the Yorkshire Terrier is convinced they're the biggest dog in the room. Feisty, fearless, and fiercely loyal, Yorkies pack an enormous personality into a tiny frame. They love deeply, follow you everywhere, and carry themselves with the confidence of a much bigger dog.

Hailing from Yorkshire, England (naturally!), the Yorkshire Terrier was bred to hunt rats and other rodents. With their distinctive high-set, V-shaped ears, signature blue and tan coloring, and hypoallergenic coat, the Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular breeds around. Despite their small size, these dogs have huge personalities. Also called "Yorkies," they display common traits of other terriers, including independence, tenacity, and the desire to stay busy. They are easy to train and make great watchdogs, since they love to yap!

Lifestyle & Living Conditions

Because of their diminutive stature, Yorkies are well-suited to apartment life, but households with young children are not recommended unless carefully supervised. On the whole, though, this breed will generally adapt to their owner’s lifestyle.

Exercise & Activity

The Yorkshire Terrier can have most of their exercise needs met through indoor play, but they prefer a daily walk or romp in a fenced-in yard. They don't need much exercise, so don't wear your Yorkie out too much, but they will need to play with their families throughout the day.

These dogs are lively and possess a strong ‘alpha-dog’ personality. They do get along well other household pets but may go over the top when dealing with larger dogs. They make excellent watchdogs and bark when they sense something awry. Yorkshire Terriers like to snuggle with their owners. They are highly intelligent and with consistent training, can learn things quickly, but unfortunately, they can be difficult to housebreak.

Yorkies' coats can be a bit high maintenance, especially for those with the long, silky coat. Long coats require professional maintenance, including adding oil and wrapping the coats in rice or tissue paper, along with weekly washings. The Yorkshire Terrier has no undercoat, and they do shed a small amount. Shorter coats require intensive daily brushing and professional trimming.

Patellar luxation, collapsed trachea, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, dental issues, portosystemic shunt, hypoglycemia.

Medical References