Yorkshire Terrier
A tiny terrier with a giant attitude.
The Yorkshire Terrier is a tiny toy breed with a silky coat and a bold terrier spirit. Portable and affectionate, the Yorkie is a city favourite that still thinks it is a big dog.
Great points
- Tiny and very portable
- Low-shedding silky coat
- Bold, lively and affectionate
- Long lifespan
Things to consider
- Fragile and easily injured
- Coat needs daily care or a short clip
- Can be yappy and hard to house-train
- Prone to dental and knee problems
The story
Created by Victorian mill workers in Yorkshire to hunt rats in textile factories, the tiny Yorkie climbed from working ratter to glamorous lap dog and remains one of the world's most beloved toy breeds.
Training
Yorkies are smart and capable but can be willful, and house-training is a common challenge. Patient, reward-based training and early socialisation help most.
Grooming
The silky, low-shedding coat needs daily brushing to avoid tangles, or keep it in a short puppy cut. Dental care is just as important as coat care.
Food & diet
Only about 0.3 to 0.6 cups of small-breed food a day. Tiny puppies can drop blood sugar, so feed little and often.
Exercise
Short daily walks and indoor play are plenty. They are lively but their needs are easy to meet.
Health to watch
Dental disease, luxating patella, collapsed trachea and liver shunts. Dental care and a harness matter most.
Fun fact. A Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky served in World War II and is considered one of the first therapy dogs.
