Yorkie Terrier Rescue Network

The second most popular breed in the U.S., the Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie, is a breed of small dog in the toy category.  While Yorkies can come in many sizes, the typical Yorkie weighs no more than 7 pounds and is between 8 and 9 inches tall.  The life span of a healthy Yorkie is 12-15 years although they can live to be 20 years old if well taken care of and fed proper diets.  Yorkies that weigh 3 pounds or less generally have a shorter life span, as they are especially prone to health problems and are more easily injured. 

Yorkies have brown and tan, silky, long hair that rarely falls out unless the hair is brushed or broken.  Since their hair grows continuously like human hair, they must be groomed regularly.  Ears and eyes must also be cleaned regularly and dental hygiene is important. Since Yorkies carry less dander on their coats, they may not affect people who suffer from dog-related allergies.

Yorkies as a breed are intelligent dogs.  Research by an expert on animal intelligence found that an average Yorkshire Terrier could understand a new command after approximately 15 repetitions and would obey a command the first time it was given 70% of the time or better.  While quick to learn, however, Yorkies can also be willful, in which case training of any kind can become difficult.  The independent mindedness of Yorkies leads some trainers to consider them to be among the hardest to house break.  Yorkies do best when their training is firm and consistent. Since they hate to be ignored, lots of praise will bring out the best in training your Yorkie.

Yorkies typically have bright and playful natures and get along well with other pets, but their bold character and instinct to protect make many Yorkies completely oblivious to their small size, leading them to even challenge larger, tougher dogs.  While you can’t roughhouse with a Yorkie, you can certainly play and cuddle with one.

Yorkies often have a delicate digestive system and can experience vomiting or diarrhea resulting from consuming foods outside of a regular diet. They are also usually picky regarding which foods they eat and won’t eat what they don't like.  Premium dog foods are recommended for this breed.

While the well-bred and well-handled Yorkshire Terrier is content to be near its owner without being on a lap or underfoot, Yorkies are true and loyal companions that focus entirely on their owner.  Extremely affectionate, it’s been said that a Yorkie requires more human companionship and attention than any other breed, so if everyone in your family is gone a lot, a Yorkie might not be the right dog for you.  Because of their small size, Yorkies do not make good pets for very young children, but they do fine with older children if the child treats them well.

Requiring minimal exercise, Yorkies are suited for short walks and ideal for apartment living or homes with small yards, but they are definitely “house” dogs.  They love to chase shadows, lay in sunbeams, play tug of war and be with their family as much as possible.  If a Yorkie sounds right for you, please check our list of dogs available for adoption.