PLEASE NOTE: Dog Garden Flags are currently unavailable. Please check back later. Thanks for your interest.

YORKIES
Breed Information and MORE!


Yorkies 101: The bone chart below gives you an idea of general breed characteristics.

Yorkie art - oil painting by Brooke FaulderYorkshire Terrier puppy oil painting
How they score: 0-5 Bones
Trainability
General Breed Health
Easily Housebroken
Low Maintenance n/a
Good w/Other Pets
Non-Shedding

All About Yorkies

Watch Dogs- Yorkies make keen watch dogs! You can trust her to respond to every knock at the door or ring of the bell or random squirrel who happens to wander onto her territory.
   

Size- Typical Yorkies will be under 7 pounds, but larger pet standard Yorkies are not uncommon. Don't let the hype surrounding tiny dogs fool you into thinking smaller is better. Read the health issues listed below and disregard the hype.

Friendly- Extremely social, as a general rule, Yorkshire Terriers are very people friendly. However, it's worth noting that it's not altogether uncommon to run across a Yorkie with a bad attitude. So be wary of the occasional ankle biter.

Trainability- In the right environment, gentle handling being a must, they do well in obedience training. Your Yorkie will want to make you happy, so give her plenty of opportunities and praise her often. We highly recommend these positive training techniques.

Loyal- Characteristically loyal and good-natured, so too will she insist on accompanying you to each and every trip to the bathroom, kitchen, dining room, office…

Excitability- Yorkies are not an overly excitable breed. More sensitive than quick-tempered, an adult Yorkshire Terrier is normally gentle and easy going.

Non-Shedding- Yorkies shed very little to no hair. That makes this breed a great choice for those who suffer with allergies. This is not fool-proof, however. If you have a dog allergy, learn more about what triggers your symptoms and find ways around your dog allergies here.




Yorkshire Terrier, Yorkie, Muffin

Please consider adoption first if you're considering a Yorkie as the next member of your family.

Learn the 10 benefits of adopting a purebed dog here!

More Stuff about Yorkies

Frequent grooming- Yorkies need regular grooming. Her hair can grow on and on if not cut regularly (just like people hair) and requires a commitment of frequent brushing to keep it from becoming matted if you choose to let it grow. Grooming costs can vary depending on your area, but generally expect to pay around $50 per visit to keep your Yorkie in a cute "puppy cut" (a popular cut for Yorkies).

Housebreaking Difficulties- Yorkies are among the hardest dogs to housebreak. Small dogs come with small bladders. Although Yorkies are a very intelligent breed, habits are hard to break, so start early and be very consistent. If you're not a person of great patience, you've been fairly warned. House training is generally not offered by dog trainers. This is something that you'll have to learn to do yourself. 

Separation Anxiety- is common. He will often show frustration by destructive chewing and barking or by hiking his leg on your potted houseplant. Click here to learn how you can stop these behaviors.

A 15+ Year Commitment- Buying or adopting a dog is a commitment to take care of him for his entire lifetime. If you're planning a move or a career or lifestyle change, assess how well a dog will fit in with these plans over the next 15 years or so.

Disregarding the hype- There is technically no such thing as a ‘tea cup’ Yorkie. This is an invented term used to market tiny dogs and sell them for ridiculous prices. AKC recognized show dogs are typically 4-6 pounds. Learn more about teacup dogs here.



-Known Health Issues of Yorkies-

Certain dog breeds are more prone to specific conditions and will be affected by them more often. This information is not intended as medical advice and should not be used to replace veterinarian recommendations.

The smaller your dog, the more fragile her bones are. Yorkies are notorious for broken bones caused by falls. Consider Pet Steps to help keep your Yorkie safe.

Yorkshire Terriers, especially tiny ones, run a high risk of organ failure during anesthesia. A good friend recently lost her Yorkie during a routine vet appointment to have his teeth cleaned.

Hypoglycemia is another medical condition not uncommon for these small breed dogs. Their tiny bodies are sometimes unable to properly regulate blood sugar.

Trachea collapse, commonly thought to be partially genetic, it could also be caused by an energetic Yorkie straining on her collar during grooming. A harness, as opposed to a collar, is a must for walking a Yorkie.

Yorkies are prone to other genetic health disorders as well, the most common of which is the liver shunt. Possible symptoms to look for include- poor muscle development, small stature, strange behavior, unresponsiveness and seizures.

Yorkies are not a good idea for people with small children. Even the most well behaved children with the best intentions can't help mishandling a dog this small.

Yorkies can also become nervous and snap at children. Despite being small, they can pack a serious bite.

Pet stairs or ramps help to reduce the risk of falling or jumping accidents and have been proven to save wear and tear on joints that can lead to hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, etc.

If high vet bills and having a sickly dog concern you, do yourself a favor and learn how and why to avoid pet store puppies if you have your heart set on a Yorkshire Terrier.

Thanksgiving garden flag with yorkshire terrier"Happy Thanksgiving" Yorkie Garden Flag

Learn more about me, my art, the mission of this site and Rescue Dogs Are Better here.


They're beautiful dogs in both their looks and their gentle dispositions. Check out the collection of Yorkie art prints and garden flags available on this site!


For Art You Can Display Outdoors in Every Season, Including Christmas and Halloween, Be Sure To See the Yorkie garden flags Available on This Site.

Here are a few examples of some of my seasonal garden flags...

New! Comments

Leave us a comment if you have something you'd like to share or add to what you just read here. Or contact us with questions or comments.
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.