Yorkshire Terrier: Full Breed Guide, Temperament & Care Tips

Size is deceptive. A Yorkshire Terrier weighs less than many house cats but carries himself like a dog three times as heavy. So if you are wondering if this feisty little companion would be a good fit for your home, here's everything you need to know before you decide.

The Yorkshire Terrier, or "Yorkie," is a toy-sized terrier, originally bred to catch rats in English textile mills. Much of the dog you see today can be explained by a working-class background: a small body wrapped around a bold personality that is confident and bordering on fearless. The average Yorkie weighs 4 to 7 pounds and stands about 7 to 8 inches tall at the shoulder, but they often behave as if they are much larger.

Their trademark is a long, silky, floor-length coat in steel blue and tan, although most owners keep it trimmed short for practicality. Beneath that glamorous coat lies a genuine terrier, vigilant, quick to bark, and consistently monitoring the happenings within the household.

The Yorkshire Terrier was developed in 19th-century England by mill workers in Yorkshire who crossed several small terrier breeds, including the now-extinct Clydesdale Terrier and Paisley Terrier, to create a dog small enough to fit into tight spaces and chase rats out of textile mills and coal mines. Initially, looks were less important than speed and courage.

By the Victorian era the breed's distinctive coat caught the attention of the upper class, and the Yorkie went from a working ratter to a fashionable lapdog of the rich. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 and has remained one of the most popular toy breeds in the United States ever since.

Yorkies possess a personality that consistently surprises first-time owners. They're not some fragile little doll. They're confident, sometimes stubborn, and often think they run the house.

Key features:

• Bold and daring. Yorkies can stand up for themselves against dogs many times their size. It is a touching, but at times troublesome, act of courage toward the larger animals.
• Loving with their people. They become close, usually to one main person, and tend to want to be around you all the time.
• Notify watchdog groups. Terrier instincts mean they notice everything—the mail carrier, a squirrel out the window, a door closing two rooms away—and they'll tell you about it.
• Smart and independent. Motivated, they learn quickly, but training inconsistency will lead to testing limits.
• Can develop little dog syndrome. They are so small and cute that owners often skip the structure and boundaries they would set for a bigger dog. That's a mistake—Yorkies require the same consistent rules as any other breed; otherwise, their barking and possessiveness can become excessive.

Yorkies are not naturally the best fit for households with toddlers, as they are physically delicate and can be injured by rough handling, and small kids can trigger a defensive nip unintentionally. They are better with older children who know how to handle a small dog gently.

Typical Yorkshire Terrier

• Weight: 4-7 lbs
• Height: 7–8 inches
• Coat: Long, silky, and straight (often clipped short)
• Colors: Black and gold in puppies; steel blue and tan
• Life span: 13-16 years
• Shedding: Low, often hypoallergenic

That long lifespan is a big draw of the breed. With the right care, a healthy Yorkie can be around for well over a decade, sometimes closer to 16 or 17 years.

New owners often struggle with the grooming process. That silky coat doesn't maintain itself, and Yorkies require more grooming than just about any other toy breed.

• Brushing: Daily brushing is a must if you're keeping the coat long. It mats quickly, particularly behind the ears and under the legs.
• Grooming: Most pet owners prefer the shorter "puppy cut," which is a quick brush every few days and a trim every 6-8 weeks.
• Bathing: Use a mild dog shampoo every 3-4 weeks to keep the coat and skin healthy.
• Eye care: Yorkies are prone to tear staining. Clean the corners of their eyes daily to prevent reddish-brown staining of the fur.
• Dental care: Toy breeds are particularly susceptible to dental disease. Brush their teeth a few times a week. Small mouths mean teeth get crowded, trapping food and bacteria quickly.
• Nail trims: Every 3-4 weeks, as Yorkies' claws grow quickly and nails that are too long impact their gait.

If daily brushing is too much, plan on a groomer every 4-6 weeks and keep the coat trimmed short all year.

Yorkshire Terriers are generally healthy throughout their lives but do have some health risks because of their small size. These are things that reputable breeders test for. Knowing these things helps you to catch problems early.

• Luxating patella — a kneecap that falls out of place and is common to toy breeds. Mild cases may need only weight management, while severe cases may require surgery.
• Tracheal collapse — a weakening of the windpipe that leads to a honking cough, often triggered by pulling on a leash. Therefore, we highly recommend using a harness for daily walks instead of a collar.
• Dental disease — Yorkies have small jaws with crowded teeth, so they are prone to plaque buildup and early tooth loss if you don't brush them regularly.
• Hypoglycemia in puppies — Young or very small Yorkies can be prone to dangerous drops in blood sugar until they are fully grown, so frequent small meals are important.
• Portosystemic liver shunt — a birth defect where blood bypasses the liver. It is rare but worth screening for in puppies from a breeder.
• Retinal dysplasia and other eye problems — watch for regular checkups from the vet.

This condition doesn't mean that a Yorkie is a fragile, high-maintenance health risk; rather, it emphasizes the importance of regular vet visits and choosing a reputable, health-tested breeder (or rescue with a health history).

Yorkies don't need much space, but they do need activity. Most Yorkies have their physical needs met with a 20-30 minute walk daily plus some indoor play—a Yorkie is a dog that can truly do well in an apartment.

Distance doesn't matter as much as mental stimulation. Terriers get bored easily, and a bored Yorkie is a barking, digging, or destructive Yorkie. Puzzle toys, short training sessions, and rotating toys keep that sharp terrier brain busy. They are small dogs, so be careful about rough play or jumping off of furniture. Their tiny joints and bones take real impact damage that a larger dog might not notice.

Smart Yorkies are a double-edged sword. Smart dogs learn commands fast, but they also learn how to get away with things quickly.

• Start soon. Puppies should be socialized and begin basic obedience until the "I do what I want" attitude kicks in.
• Be consistent. Yorkies will definitely test to see if the rules apply to them. If you overlook their behavior because they are small and adorable, you are inadvertently reinforcing the unwanted behavior.
• Watch the bark. They have a strong instinct to protect others. If you don't set a good "quiet" cue early, the alert barking becomes a habit that's difficult to break.
• House training requires patience. Toy breeds in general, including Yorkies, are notoriously more difficult to house-train than larger dogs, in part due to their tiny bladders. Crate training and a strict schedule speeds the process up a lot.
• Use positive reinforcement. Food motivation is a good one with Yorkies, but keep the treats small—their calorie needs are tiny, and it's easy to accidentally overfeed a 5-pound dog.

Yorkies tend to be a great fit for:

• City Living and Apartment Dwellers
• First-time toy breed owners who are willing to commit to grooming
• Retired people or those wanting a dedicated mobile friend
• People who have mild dog allergies may benefit from a low-shedding coat

They are harder to fit for:

• Houses with toddlers or small children
• Owners who prefer low-maintenance coats
• Yorkies bond forcefully and can develop separation anxiety, so households that are away for long hours

Small breeds burn energy fast relative to their size, so Yorkies do best on high-quality, small-breed-formula food split into 2–3 meals a day rather than one big meal. Puppies especially need frequent small meals to avoid blood sugar crashes. Always measure portions—a few extra kibble pieces make a much bigger difference on a 5-pound dog than on a 50-pound one.

A Yorkshire Terrier has a full-sized dog personality in a lap-sized body. A Yorkie is a wonderfully loyal, long-lived companion for someone who can handle daily grooming and consistent training and a dog who will definitely tell you when someone is at the door. Want to see what other small breeds might be good for your lifestyle? See Random Animal Generate for more breed guides.