Yorkshire Terrier Breed

Yorkshire Terrier Origins

The Yorkshire Terrier is a dog breed that originated in England in the mid-1800s, when the country was at the height of the Industrial Revolution.

With the nickname “Yorkie”, the Yorkshire Terrier is believed to have originated from Scottish weavers who brought their Scottish terriers with them when they immigrated to the English North Country in the mid-1800s. The Scots weavers were proud of their hardy little terriers, which they bred small enough to fit into the cracks and crevices of textile mills in search of rodents.

Originally, these terriers became known as the Broken Haired Scotch Terrier, then Toy Terrier, and finally the Yorkshire Terrier in 1874.

Having started as hunting dogs for small vermin, they ended up as one of the most popular Toy breed companion dogs.

Additionally, the Yorkie’s size shrank as its appeal among the stylish grew, better fitting their new role as a cuddly, entertaining friend living a life of luxury.

Yorkshire Terrier Breed Characteristics

Yorkshire Terrier Appearance

The Yorkshire Terrier is a toy-sized, compact, and well-proportioned dog that weighs no more than seven pounds. Its most notable feature is its luxurious, silky, and fine-textured floor length coat.

Their colouration is dark grey to black on their backs and golden tan on their limbs, chest, and face.

The dog’s high head carriage and self-assured manner give the appearance of energy and pride.

The head is petite and rather flat on top, with a short muzzle and a black nose. The Yorkie has medium-sized eyes that have dark rims with a sharp, intelligent expression.

The ears are small, V-shaped, carried erect, and set not too far apart, and their neat feet are round, with black toenails.

The Yorkshire Terrier also has a tail that stands up.

Yorkshire Terrier Temperament

The floor-length coat of a dainty Yorkshire Terrier hides a feisty, old-time terrier beneath its glossy exterior.

Do not let this daintiness fool you, the Yorkie exhibits all the traits of a true terrier.

The Yorkshire Terrier is tenacious, feisty, brave and occasionally bossy, packing lots of big-town attitude into a small but self-important package.

A true “personality breed,” the Yorkshire Terrier offers years of laughter, love and intimate companionship.

With a sassy personality, Yorkshire Terriers are beloved as toy dogs.

Training Your Yorkshire Terrier

Although Yorkies are incredibly intelligent, training them is not always simple; many of them lack strong food motivation, and they can be stubborn.

Generally, owners looking to train a Yorkie will find an eager student who picks up the most basic commands quickly. If your Yorkie is a slow learner, do not worry. They are very trainable dogs, but you need to be patient and expect to repeat the same exercises numerous times.

Positive reinforcement, in the form of praise and delicious treats, is the most effective method for training Yorkies.

The idea is that when a dog exhibits a good behavior, such as obeying a command, it will be immediately rewarded, creating an association between the behavior and the reward that will encourage the dog to repeat the behavior to continue receiving it.

If you give your Yorkie attention in the form of a scolding, it is actually rewarding the dog with attention in its eyes. If you simply ignore bad behavior, your dog is more likely to get bored of it and stop repeating the behavior.

Instead of punishing your puppy for unwanted behaviors, redirect them toward a positive alternative. For example, offer them a chew toy instead of biting on your shoes or furniture.

The number of training sessions depends on the individual, but generally speaking, little and often works best. Try four or five minute sessions spaced throughout the day. Yorkies have a pretty limited attention span, so train only one command at a time.

Yorkshire Terrier Needs

Grooming

Yorkies have hypoallergenic hair. This means that their coat is more like human hair than animal fur and very silky.

There are two ways to trim the coat of a Yorkshire Terrier. A long and a short cut.

When trimmed to have shorter hair, the cut is called a “puppy cut”. This cut is the most common one for family pets as it is easy to maintain.

The longer hair styling is associated with shows and competitions, and is very high maintenance.

Yorkies sporting the long-haired cut are typically groomed so that their coat falls evenly on either side of their body to the floor. Their hair on the feet and the tips of the ears may be trimmed shorter.

When left long, the hair around a Yorkie’s face is often tied up with a ribbon to keep the hair out of their eyes. This is practical and also adds a stylish look to their appearance.

The long cut coat on the Yorkshire Terrier requires regular washing and brushing. The coat might get knotted if not brushed daily so regular grooming is a must. It is best to use a bristle brush for short and shaved coat, and a pin brush for long coat.

In comparison with many other breeds, Yorkies do not shed to the same degree, losing only small amounts when bathed or brushed.

Socialising

Exposing your Yorkie to various dogs and situations in a positive and controlled manner from a young age is essential. Gradually introduce them to well-behaved, friendly dogs to boost their confidence and decrease fear-based aggression.

Puppies up to about 16 months of age are at the perfect age to start socialization; they can and should be played with often and even encouraged to play in groups of other friendly dogs.

Dog experts agree that walking your dog daily is the best way to socialize your dog. To ensure a positive experience, make sure that you are not tense or anxious whenever the two of you meet a new friend, human or canine.

Given their small stature and lively nature, Yorkies typically get along with other small breeds, especially those with similar energy levels and temperaments.

Some breeds that frequently make good companions for Yorkies include Maltese, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, and Chihuahua.

Having two dogs can provide companionship for each other when you are not around. Yorkies are social dogs, providing them with a playmate will prevent boredom and feelings of loneliness.

They can play and exercise together, which keeps them mentally stimulated and burns off energy.

Yorkshire Terriers spend time with the person or people who give them plenty of love, attention, and positive experiences. Let your dog be a dog and enjoy hanging out with and being in that person’s presence, whether it is you or someone else.

Activities

Even though Yorkshire Terriers are little dogs, they nevertheless need to be active on a daily basis.

Yorkies are energetic little dogs that require mental and physical stimulation on a daily basis to stay happy and healthy.

An idle dog is a bored dog, and a bored dog will not just lie around like us! Instead, a bored dog may engage in destructive behaviors like excessive chewing, digging, or making a mess in the house in order to pass the time.

They usually need between thirty and one hour of exercise. This can be provided by quick walks and engaging play sessions.

Keep in mind, due to their small stature, they have small legs and lungs. You should walk at a pace that allows your dog to exercise vigorously without becoming out of breath.

Since Yorkies have small bladders, it is best to divide up their daily exercise into multiple sessions spread out throughout the day.

If your dog is a baby, break up the walk into 15–20 minute intervals. However, once they are 2 years old, they will be fine with walks lasting 20–25 minutes.

Aim for two walks of 15 to 30 minutes each day; walking at a moderate speed should be enough to burn off energy, and Yorkies should be allowed to run and play unrestrained.

Walking is also a great way to keep your dog entertained.

Registered Yorkshire Terrier Breeder

Pet Luxe is a legitimate Yorkshire Terrier breeder and takes pride in the quality and high standards we adhere to during the whole breeding process.

We love our dogs, and their wellbeing is paramount while in our care.

Pet Luxe welcomes you to becoming a new owner of one of our delightful terrier puppies and looks forward to hearing from you.