Yorkshire Terriers are a small dog breed that originated in Yorkshire, England.
Nicknamed “Yorkies,” they’re perfect companion dogs despite getting their start as rat-catchers!
Yorkshire Terrier Characteristics
Size. Yorkshire terriers are one of the smallest dog breeds. They’re small enough to be considered toy dogs in certain competitions. They were originally bred to be lap dogs.
Yorkies average at 7 to 8 inches tall and weigh about 7 pounds. Despite their small size, many Yorkies have a big personality.
Coat type. Yorkshire terriers typically have long, silky hair with tan and gray coloring. Their coloring can also include golden and steely blue tones.
Yorkies became famous for their unique coat. In shows, many Yorkies have floor-length coats of glossy hair. Yorkie fur can be kept at almost any length and in any style.
Signature topknot. You frequently see Yorkies with a little bow in their hair and their bangs kept in a topknot. This signature look has a function. The topknot keeps their long bangs out of their eyes to prevent irritation.
Yorkshire terrier lifespan. Yorkshire terriers have a lifespan between 11 to 15 years. As great companion dogs, they’ll spend most of their life right by your side or in your lap.
Yorkshire terrier personality. Yorkshire terriers have a lot of personality in their little bodies. As former rat-catchers, they need stimulation, like jobs and toys, to expend their energy. Luckily, Yorkies are easily trainable.
Yorkies tend to be watchful, but they also love to play and meet new people. They’re always up for an adventure and new experiences, so they’re great travel companions.
Yorkshire Terrier Care
Coat care. Caring for a Yorkie’s coat requires a little extra work. They need daily brushing and weekly baths. Caring for their coat is important for their comfort and health.
Yorkies also have bangs that can get in their eyes. These dogs are susceptible to eye problems, so you need to either trim their bangs or keep them in a topknot to avoid irritation.
With proper grooming, you don’t have to worry about shedding. Yorkies don’t heavily shed, since their coat is much like human hair and they don’t have an undercoat. They don’t shed any more than you do.
Nutrition. Yorkies don’t have special requirements for their diet. They need a complete and balanced diet suitable for their age and size.
Exercise. Yorkies have energy, so it’s vital for them to get exercise. Two shorter walks a day with occasional play are typically sufficient to burn off their energy. Obedience and agility training are also great outlets that will help them to stay healthy.
Since Yorkies were originally working-class dogs, they like stimulation. Help them burn off their energy by:
- Teaching them tricks and frequently using them
- Having them hunt treats that are hidden around your home
- Letting them explore outside
- Investing in stimulating toys
Parasite prevention. Like all dogs, Yorkshire terriers need protection from fleas, ticks, heartworms, and other parasites. There are plenty of preventative medications on the market (including treatments that protect from heartworms year-round), and your vet can recommend which one is best for your dog.
Tooth and nail care. Yorkshire terriers don’t need special care when it comes to their nails. They only need regular clippings as needed.
Yorkies are at a higher risk, though, of developing periodontal disease, especially without a dental care routine. One study showed that 98% of the yorkie participants showed early periodontitis.
You can prevent the development of dental problems by brushing your dog’s teeth daily, giving them dental chews, or getting their teeth professionally cleaned. Your dog may not like having their teeth brushed, but you shouldn’t skip dental care.
Temperature. Even though Yorkies originated in colder climates, they lack an undercoat. Their size and coat type make them more susceptible to cold temperatures. Consider outfitting your Yorkie with a dog sweater or jacket this winter.
Vet visits. For a Yorkie puppy (6 months or younger), monthly visits are necessary to make sure your pup is developing and healthy. They’ll receive vaccinations for parvo, rabies, and other diseases during these early vet visits.
For adults (1 year and older), an annual checkup is all your Yorkie needs. Your vet will monitor changes in your Yorkie’s size, examine any abnormal changes in their health, give them vaccines, perform lab tests, and keep their records updated.
For your senior Yorkie (10 years and older), a checkup every 6 months is recommended to monitor their health. Your vet will check their movement, sight, hearing, and other signs of age.
Yorkshire Terrier Health Issues
Luxating patella. A luxating patella occurs when your kneecap dislocates. In humans, a luxating patella is sometimes called a “trick knee”.
Around 7% of all puppies end up with a luxating patella. Small dogs are at a higher risk for developing this health issue, so Yorkies are more susceptible than most.
Luxating patellas typically occur in puppies. The exact cause is unknown. The most common cause is when a puppy has a shallow (or nonexistent) groove where the kneecap sits.
A Yorkie may develop it later in life or as the result of a traumatic injury. Later development of a luxating patella often coincides with other skeletal diseases, like hip dysplasia.
To prevent potential kneecap dislocation, limit how high your Yorkie jumps when they’re a puppy. Puppy stairs can help them get on and off beds and couches without making a greater jump.
Minor luxating patellas typically don’t require significant treatment. More severe cases, though, may require surgical correction. The exact surgery will depend on the severity of your Yorkie’s dislocation.
Yorkshire terriers can also develop a couple of eye conditions, particularly cataracts and chronic dry eye.
Cataracts. Cataracts commonly cause blindness in older Yorkshire terriers. They appear as an opaque, cloudy, or milky film in the lenses of their eyes. Surgery is an option to remove cataracts, but most dogs will adjust to losing their sense of sight.
The most common cause of cataracts is genetics. If your Yorkie is predisposed to this health issue because of their genetics, there isn’t anything you can do to prevent the development of cataracts.
Other health issues like diabetes and glaucoma can also lead to cataracts. Take them to the vet to catch health issues early.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Chronic dry eye, also called keratoconjunctivitis sicca, can be a problem at any point in your Yorkie’s lifespan. If left untreated, your Yorkie may develop the following symptoms:
- Soreness or pain in the eyes
- Itchiness and irritation of the eyes
- Excessive blinking
- Squinting
- Keeping their eyes closed
- Hyperpigmentation (darkness of the eye)
- Neovascularization, visible blood vessels over the cornea
- Blindness
Dry eye requires lifelong treatment with a prescription medication. Treatment is effective when the disease is caught early.
Immune-related health issues and systemic diseases are often the cause of dry eyes.
Special Considerations for Yorkshire Terriers
Yorkshire terrier temperament. Yorkies have an affectionate personality. They’re great with children, other pets, and strangers.
Your Yorkie may take a little longer to warm up to other pets. Since they’re loyal companions, they may be a little possessive of you when it comes to other animals. With a little exposure, though, they’ll typically come around to any new animals.
Hypoallergenic. No dogs are fully hypoallergenic. Yorkies don’t have an undercoat, though, so they don’t shed much. Their low amount of shedding makes them great pets for people with mild dog allergies.
Barking. Yorkies tend to be vocal. Combined with their watchful nature, you might find them letting you know about all the local squirrels (and most everything else).
History of Yorkshire Terriers
Yorkshire terriers descended from the Skye and Clydesdale terriers in Scotland. Modern Yorkies inherited these breeds’ unique long coat, coloring, and love for catching rats.
Clydesdale terriers were smaller, with an elegant coat that wasn’t suited for cold climates. Skye terriers were a little bit larger, with a rough outer coat.
When Scottish people moved to Yorkshire, England in the 19th century, they took a variety of terriers with them. Their Skyes and Clydesdales began breeding with the local terriers in Yorkshire—producing the Yorkies people know and love today.
The first Yorkies lived with Scottish immigrant weavers in England. Yorkies served as working-class animals who hunted rats around the textile mills.
Their small size allowed them to reach places that people couldn’t. Of course, they still warmed a few laps when they weren’t chasing down rats.
Locals joked that the Yorkie’s delicate coat wasn’t just the result of good breeding. People said that their coat was so silky because of the looms in the textile mills where they worked. Yorkies became popular because of these unique silky coats. The upper class admired Yorkshire terriers and began showing them in exhibits. These showings led to an explosion in popularity.
Yorkshire terriers became particularly popular with the women of Victorian England. The more popular Yorkies became, the smaller they got, allowing them to comfortably sit in the laps of the luxurious upper class.
Yorkies were originally called broken-haired Scotch terriers and toy terriers. Once the English upper class took an interest in Yorkies, the name Yorkshire terriers became the standard.
Yorkshire terriers later moved farther west, to America. The Yorkie’s popularity prevailed, and American women fell in love with the small, elegant breed.
Yorkies require more grooming maintenance than other breeds, so, when the United States was involved in World War II, people found it challenging to keep up with the Yorkies’ maintenance. Their popularity dropped since people didn’t have the time or energy to maintain them.
After a Yorkie named Smoky became a celebrity in World War II, the Yorkshire terrier grew in popularity again as an adorable companion lap dog. Now, they remain one of the most popular breeds in the United States.
