Yorkshire Terrier
Appearance
(Yorkie) The Yorkshire Terrier is a long-haired toy terrier with a well-proportioned body and a clean, compact appearance. They carry themselves proudly and exude an aura of self-confidence and vigor. They have a comparatively short back and a level back line. The height at the dog’s rump is approximately the same as the height at the dog’s shoulders. The breed’s hind legs are straight when viewed from behind, but their stifles are noticeably bent when viewed from the profile angle. Their forelegs are straight, and their elbows stick neither in nor out. Feet of this breed are round and feature a set of black toenails. The Yorkshire Terrier has a small head with a top that is nearly flat. Their skull is slightly rounded, not too prominent, and features a well-proportioned muzzle. Their sound teeth close in a scissors or level bite and their nose is black in color. They have dark, sparkling eyes and a pair of small, V-shaped ears that are carried erect. The coat of the Yorkshire Terrier is glossy, silky, and fine in texture. The hair across the dog’s body is comparatively long and absolutely straight. The hair is parted on the dog’s face from the base of the dog’s skull to the end of the tail. Hair should hang down evenly on both sides of the dog’s body. The hair on the muzzle is very long. The coat color for this breed is steel blue across the dog’s body and tail and tan everywhere else. Puppies are usually born black and tan. Tails of this breed are customarily docked to half of their original length.Know something we don't? Add it here.
Temperament
The Yorkshire Terrier has a big personality, despite its small size. They are mischievous, spunky, and they seek out opportunities for adventure. They are full of energy and courage, and they are very loyal, clever, and determined. While they are sometimes leery of strangers, they are very affectionate with members of their own family. They do not like to be teased or pestered, and they generally get along best with older, more considerate children. They can get snappish if they are frightened or surprised. Like many other terrier breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier can be aggressive towards strange dogs and small animals. While this breed can sometimes be a bit stubborn, they are generally responsive to commands and easy to train. They like to bark, but they can easily be taught not to do so.Like any dog, they can be trained to act perfectly, but if you act wrong they will too. Make sure they know who is boss because if they think they are ranked higher than you they will become very unruly.
Size
6 – 7 inchesWeight
7 poundsHealth
Some lines of Yorkshire Terriers are prone to bronchitis and early tooth decay. They are sometimes unable to tolerate anesthetic treatment, and occasionally, their digestive systems are very delicate. As a result of herniated disks and other types of spine problems, the Yorkshire Terrier is at a mild risk for paralysis in the hindquarters. Falls can cause their delicate bones to fracture. Female Yorkshire Terriers often have problems delivering. The tiny “teacup” variety of Yorkshire Terrier frequently suffers from serious behavioral and health problems. Yorkshire Terriers should not be given exotic treats, and they should be fed dried food to help keep their teeth strong and clean. Regular teeth cleaning should also be given to these dogs by a veterinarian. This breed typically lives for 12 to 15 years.Origin
The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed that is approximately 100 years old. Its specific origins are unknown. This is likely due to the fact that the breed was produced by a group of English working men who refrained from giving away the secret to their breeding success. These working men of north England created the Yorkshire Terrier to hunt rats in mine shafts and dig into badger and fox burrows. It’s also probable that Scotsmen seeking work in the mills of Yorkshire brought various types of terriers with them. Such terriers included the Skye Terrier and the Clydesdale Terrier (now extinct). These breeds were crossed with several local breeds like the long-haired Leeds Terrier. Many believe the Maltese, the Black and Tan Manchester, and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier may have also contributed to the breed’s development. The original Yorkshire Terrier was much bigger than the version we see today. Selective breeding has produced a Yorkshire Terrier that is much smaller in size. The first specimen that exhibited the characteristics demanded by its contemporary standard was shown in 1870.Maintenance
The long-haired, silky coat of the Yorkshire Terrier needs regular grooming. Clipped coats should be brushed and combed on an almost daily basis. This breed’s teeth should be cleaned frequently. The Yorkshire Terrier is a minimal shedder.Ideal Environment
The Yorkshire Terrier is well-suited to life in a small household or apartment. They are a very active breed indoors, and they do not require a yard. This breed will benefit from regular physical activity and exercise, and they enjoy having the opportunity to run around and play. This breed is sensitive to harsh weather conditions and prefers a warmer climate.Ask a QuestionYorkshire Terrier Q&A
What is the life cycle of a Yorkshire Terrior?
I'm not sure what your asking but they typically live for 12-15 years. Although, I've heard of them making it to 17 years. They have plenty of engergy but start to slow down a little bit around 8 years. During the later years the dog will probably like to lounge around.
my yorkie lived until he was 18!!! The last few years though he definitely wasn't himself. Very sad.
I had a friend whos yorkie lived until she was 25!!!! I also had a yorkie that lived until 5years old she got hit by a car. My new yorkie is now 6 years old and she doesnt leave my side.
Please be very careful of yorkies in heat. They have a very delicate glucose level. If they sweat profusely or become too hot their glucose level can drop and cause them to go into a hypoglycemic state. I lost my last yorkie due to heat! Please, please be careful! I now have a new one and he isn't allowed outside without being watched and for very short periods in the heat!
I just got a female yorkie ( 14 weeks old.)and have male yorkie( 1 year) too. And She is pottying more in the house then outside. Should I potty them together? (He is housebroken)
Hi i`m thinking maybe the female will follow the trained male yorkie and when he goes you let the female go woth him this way it will teach her to go to the toilet outside, i have rescued a yorkshire pup that was strayed at christmas and i have a border collie and she is doing what he does they are so funny together daisy mae is my 6th yorkshire terrier
The best way to train a puppy is to put it outside every couple of hours and reward it with praise and attention when it goes outside (this also means you have to go outside and stand with it). Praise works wonders on a dog. Also, don't leave food and water out for the puppy. This just encourages it to go whenever. By putting it out and then directly taking it out after it's finished, it gets the idea that that's where it needs to go. And definitely put them out together. She'll learn faster when imitating another dog.
I have had a hard time with mine but my best advice to you is be consistent in what you do...if you want them to go out together take them out together every time. You must also thouroughly clean up the messes she is making or they will continue to do so, the smell triggers the response it is natural. A good enzymatic cleaner will help get it up.
What do you do when their hair[or coat] makes you allergic?
Their coat is supposed to be silk and not fur so it's kind of like human hair. So you shouldn't be allergic to this breed.
If you do have a reaction, simply wash your dog more often. Typically, people are allergic not to the hair but the dander on the hair. Dander is the dead skin cells from the dog/cat/animal (a combo of that and dried animal saliva) and when you wash them, it removes the dander. Just make sure that you buy a *dog* shampoo since they are formulated for a dog's skin, rather than a human's.
I have severe allergies, cats, trees, grass, whatever but am not allergic to dogs. You may just be allergic to dogs. Yorkies are the least apt to trigger allergic responses in anyone. You should see an allergist.
How many times a day should they be feed?
for a 2 month old to a 5 month old yorkie pup 4 small meals a day isfine try giving them 1 meal a day from 1year and up
I feed my adult dog about 4 times a day. I divide his daily amount into 4 parts and then give it to him throughout the day. I started this when I noticed him regurgitating after meals: too large an amount made that happen. I think it all depends on the dog. Most people I know actually feed their dog twice a day: dogs tend to eat less this way.
You might want to read on the food bag you purchase what are the recommendation of the manufacturer. For example my dog is 7.2 lbs and the manufacturer of food trademark I purchase recommends 3/4 cup each day.Every morning I put 3/4 cup in the bowl and this is what he can eat each day. I would never recommend to keep the bowl full, you might see you dog becoming fat and this is not something you want.
I keep food out for mine all the time. But he is only fed dry food, no canned food. He's in perfect shape. I guess it depends all on how active your dog is.
we have our yorkies in a cage at night to sleep,and they bark. they just started doing this! does anyone know why? how can we teach them to be quiet?
I think maybe they're getting used to sleeping. Small dogs like this are active and can't stay put. Maybe to train them, try exhausting them before bed time. This should get the tired out and make them fall asleep faster. Give them a treat or toy when ever they are quiet. Hopefully it works!
How big is the cage? A dog's crate should be big enough for them to stand up and lay down in, but not much larger. It could be that the cage is too big and not providing the comfort of a den that it could be providing. Definitely DO NOT respond when they bark because all that does is encourage the behavior. If you ignore it, it will go away. Giving the treats will only work if you work on the problem of them being quiet while in their cage during the day. And you need to wait at least 5 minutes before you reward the calm behavior so that you reinforce it. And my final question is this: since you've started caging them, have you moved them off somewhere not centrally located? Or are they just objecting to their loss of freedom? If they're stuffed off somewhere, I would definitely move them back closer to you - they're pack animals and you're part of their pack. But if it's just in objection, not acknowledging the behavior will help it go away.
What kind of exercise do they do during the day? They should walk on a leash at least half an hour each day. They should not be autorised to bark at any time and if they do you may tell them shshshsh and touch them firmly (without hurting them of course) to show them this behavior is not acceptable.My Yorkshire is almost 2 years old and he does bark very very rarely.remember: YOU are the pack leader and your responsibility is to disciplin your dog with calm and autority.
yorkies love attention from their owners -- they do not like isolation -- try keeping a small radio to help soothe then during the night unless they are able to sleep with you -- if the bed is too high -- get the pet steps and train to use pee pee pads and if they have to use the potty during the night -- they can get down and use the pads
I would try having them sleep with you. When I had my Yorkie, he would never stop whining and barking when I went to sleep. I had him sleep with me and he was quiet and calm and layed right by my head. I don't know if it will work for you, but I'd try it! Hope I helped!
Crates are the best thing for a dog at night - keeps them out of trouble and lets them have a quiet place away from everything. If they're making noise at night keep a light blanket or towel over it. Also keep a blanket on the inside, when my yorkie was younger and in the winter, I always keep a water bottle filled with hot water in it to keep it warm and comfortable. Don't go to them when they're carrying on otherwise they'll know how to get your attention in a bad way.
Dogs don't hate crates my dog is to big for hers but, that doesn't stop her from laying in it and letting her head fall out. Maybe they want to be able to move more freely?
I am thinking about purchasing a yorkie for my daughter but have heard from a few people they are very hard to housebreak and they have accidents in the house all the time. Is this true? We currently own an Old English Bulldog.
Well, maybe half true. Usually this is common in most small dogs. First of all, they don't have a large blatter to hold all that fluid. But if your up to it, take them out every few hours. This should help. Blessings with the house trainging:)
One thing that you can do is not leave water out all the time. Especially when training, by limiting the water that goes in, you limit the amount that needs to come out. If you put the water down, allow the dog to drink/eat, and then take it directly outside when finished, it gets the idea that this is where it's supposed to eliminate. Be particularly excited and praising when it does go outside. And use treats in the beginning.
I would suggest to buy training pads and bring it regularly on it. It will take a while but every puppy can have an 'accident'. The best is to bring the dog every half an hour on this pad and reward when he let go on it. If you do not like the pads then you need to bring the dog outside every half (each time on the same spot) and reward when he does it. Don't worry with goodies he will learn fast.After a while you may reward once every 3-4 times. He will always expect the goodies and if you keep giving the goodies he will keep doing whatever brings that goodie. If you do not want your dog to do it anywhere you need to watch it constantly and if you do not have the time you may train the dog with a kennel or a cage (which is the best way to control a dog).
I have a female and a male yorkie and the females took a good 6 months and the male is not quite trained all the way. You should take the puppie to puppie classes this is so helpfull and will teach you diffrent ways how to potty train dogs.
I'm going with the puppy pads and crate pair. This worked the best for me and my yorkie and chihuahua. After they ate (2 -3 times a day, never free feeding) I waited about 20-30 minutes and put them on the puppy pad. If they didn't need to go I put them in their crate or watched them real close until they did their tell-tale signal then ran them to the puppy pad. If they had an accident that you couldn't prevent I always scooped em up and put them in their crate for a time out then straight back to the puppy pad. They are 7 and 8mos old now and are completely accident free.
My yorkies have always slept with me and my husband. They are very cuddly. They like to curl up next to your legs or back. They don't necessarily want you to touch them. I never had a problem with any of them going potty in the bed. They know they aren't supposed to but they will lick you in the face when they have to go! Could be several times a night in the beginning but becomes less frequent as they age. My baby is 1 year old now and wakes me at 5:00 a.m. You can set your clock to him!
All 12 of my babies are trained at a young age to use wee wee pads and then on to using a litter box for during the night.
They get outside during the day supervised by me and me only. Being that I live in ND and in a rural setting I have to watch for eagles, hawks and owls. The fact that we get so cold here in ND (sometime 30 below) is why I went to litter box training.
It took me about three weeks to get the training down pat and occassionally one of the littler puppies will have an accident but, it is far and few between. Terri
My yorkie is 10 months old and has just started dragging his butt across the floor(carpet i should say!) I asked the vet to check him and he was fine so what is the deal?? frustrated!!!!
Clear the anal glands which can get gummed up.
You might also just check to see if some poo has gotten stuck. It sometimes happens with my dog and it is the only time he seems to drag his rear on the ground. Also, check your dog for insect bites - my dog is allergic to the things he gets bitten by when rolling in the grass, and he ends up rubbing his body on the carpet in an attempt to itch himself.
maybe he has worms or other around his butt, cause our dog did that (drag her bum) and we found she had worms.
I just took my yorkie to puppie classes and they was saying if you feed your dog alot of grain and corn this will cause the butt dragging
Yorkies get their anal gland clogged. Ask your vet how to get it out. Usually you could squish it out but you seriously have to.
I had a yorkie for 16 years...get him fixed...after that no more dragging butts and humping my kids' stuffed animals...trust me
We have a 8 month old shiba inu and we are trying to decide if the yorkie would get along with it. but it is not like any other shiba it is shy and doesn't like our dad. she needs a playmate.
You probably could...just dont put them together like the first day or two just in case they dont get along,let them sniff each other under supervision.. when you think they're ready you can let them "meet" lol again under supervision.
Do they get along with other dogs well?
yes they are very soicalable
How do you teach them (if they bark alot) to stop barking?? I dont have one yet... But I'm looking forward to. I REALLY want this dog but not if its amazingly barky... Which I dont know if it will be?
The Yorkshire terrier is not any "barkier" then any other breed. They will alert to a strange sudden sound or if a stranger arrives. But, they can also be trained upon command.
What you need to know that often new owners do wrong is the following:
-you are playing with your pup, he or she becomes excited and starts barking, you have to show it no. If not, they will learn - I AM HAPPY, I AM BARKING, THAT IS WHAT I AM SUPPOSE TO DO.
- you arrive home, they are happy to see you! They start barking. You greet them, cuddle them, talk to them, YOU HAVE JUST TAUGHT YOUR PUP/DOG WHEN SOMEONE ARRIVES AT THE DOOR, BARK! I GET ATTENTION!!
You see, often a barky dog has been taught to be so. And that no matter the breed.
Do not forget, a dog is a dog. They communicate by - tail, body language and vocally. That does not meant they should be taught to bark non-stop.
Finally, being a Yorkshire terrier breeder and owner ( I have 9 beautiful Yorkies) I know that they can be excellent pets that do not bark without reason. Good luck!
I have a yorkie that is 11 years old, and we just had our first grandbaby, and when ever a baby is around Skippy(our pup) goes crazy, he wants to lick him all the time, and makes me nervous, he wants to be where ever the baby is, as close as he can get.. How can I stop him, and is this a usual reaction to babies for Yorkies??
If your Yorkie is responding positively to the baby that is a good thing. He is actually feeling the positive energy you are giving off concerning the baby and what he wants to do is give it back. Doggy way. It is not unusaual. He is actually accepting the baby as part of the PACK. His family. You have to be careful how you decide to act where Skippy is concerned with the baby. If you completely remove Skippy from the baby, he will eventually resent it. What you need to do is make boudaries. At 11 years old I am taking for granted he knows basic commands - yes, no, sit, etc. So, when around the baby, apply them. Do not let him lick the baby in the face, tell him NO. But, when he is being good around the baby, praise him. Even at 11 years old, Yorkshire terriers are amazing and intelligent. If you train him the way you wish him to react, you will be amazed how quick he will react and respond. He just wants to be a part of everything that concerns the baby. He just needs to know how. And, positive fact is that he is not jealous of the baby
Hi.I have a problem with my yorkie.whenever i pick her up to put her in her play pen she pees all over the ground and me!should i put her in doggy dipers?would the be uncomfortable?(she dosnt pee when i put her out.she just poos)
It sounds like when you are going to pick up your Yorkie, she is submitting and nervous. Reason why she is peeing on you and everywhere. You need to show her that when she is going to be picked up it is a positive thing and not something she needs to be nervous of. A good thing to do would be to build up her confidence. And, reward her when being picked up or in situations that stress her when she reacts positively. If you are going to pick her up and she starts to squat down, head down, often tail between legs, means there is a good chance she is going to pee. She is submitting but at the same time afraid. You need to show her that everything is ok. Talk to her before picking her up. Have a tiny treat in your hand to entice her to come to you. She may just be a shier and bit nervous dog. You need to try and find the reason for her actions to help rectify it. Good Luck!
My wife and I have an Olde English Bulldogge (a bit over a year old) and I just got my wife a yorkie. They will not leave eachother alone and we are worried because while our olde is not being aggressive he is so big that we are not sure if he will hurt the little yorkie during a boisterous play session. Any advice?
My 18 months mini yorkshire girl in 3 months went from gorgeous, full, luster coat to dull, knotted and very very thin coat. She has very good pedigree and parents. She had beautiful coat but now i do not know what to do.. Should i change her diet? She doesn't like taking any vitamins . Any advise? Please....
If your Yorkie had a nice coat, no problems, and all of a sudden changed, there is deffinately a problem. One of 2 things comes to mind -
Health problem or her Diet.
She is either missing out on certain - vitamines, nutrition, necessities etc and it is causing to make her coat dull and problems. If she is missing something in her diet, it will affect not only her coat but eventually other things.
Health problem - There are certain health issues that can arrive and it will affect certain aspects of her physical appearance.
In both cases, a simple full blood panel at your Vet will help to eliminate possibilities and even find an issue if there is a health problem. Also, be careful how you are grooming your Yorkie. It is important that they have a OATMEAL based shampoo and conditioner of good quality, do not over wash them because it will remove their natural oils in their coat and make it dull. Omega 3 & 6 is important in their diets to help provide a lusturous full shiny coat. Also important for their vital organs.
what kind of food will help a yorkie get a fuller coat?
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