Veterinarian-written / veterinarian-approved articles for your dog.

The Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkies are small dogs with big attitudes.

The Yorkshire terrier, also called a yorkie, is a popular dog breed. Their size makes them easier to keep in small homes or apartments, and they can be loving and sweet.

Of course, DogHealth.com advocates for pet adoption, so if you think a yorkie is right for your family, we urge you to consider getting a mixed breed dog or looking for a purebred yorkie in a local shelter or rescue group.

Personality Characteristics of the Yorkie

Yorkies are often referred to as "big dogs in little bodies." What that means is that they are curious, bold, and alert. They love to learn, so training can go very smoothly. However, as is the case with many toy breed dogs, yorkies can easily be spoiled. That's because, as tiny dogs, owners often let them get away with things they wouldn't let bigger dogs do, such as jumping on people and yapping. Also, people tend to carry yorkies around a lot, which can lead to them becoming demanding about being held all the time.

The one type of training that yorkies seem to be slow about is housetraining. They can be stubborn about it. Before you get a yorkie, make sure you have a rock-solid plan for teaching her to go outside that everyone in the house is committed to sticking to.

The information in this article is meant to be general only. Individual dogs within the breed may or may not exhibit the described characteristics.


Yorkies tend to have a hard time tolerating kids, so that is something to consider if you have young ones in your home. They're usually pretty good with cats but often not great with other dogs, especially bigger ones.

Physical Characteristics and Common Medical Conditions of Yorkies

Yorkies are highly curious, and as tiny dogs, that can sometimes put them at risk. Also, their small size makes them easy to accidentally injure—getting stepped on, crushed under rocking chairs, and experiencing fall injuries are all common in yorkies.

Yorkies are usually under seven pounds fully grown. They have silky black and brown coats.

As a toy breed, yorkies have a lot of potential health issues that are more common in their breed than others. These include:

In terms of general upkeep, a yorkie requires regular brushing, sometimes daily. Consistent tooth-brushing is also essential, and regular nail trimmings are a must. Yorkies also need to visit a groomer every six to eight weeks for hair trimming.

You May Also Like These Articles:

The German Shorthaired Pointer

The Boston Terrier

The German Shepherd

The Labrador Retriever

Why Are There More Body Variations in Dogs Than Cats?


Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at DogHealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site. Just Answer is an external service not affiliated with DogHealth.com.

Notice: Ask-a-Vet is an affiliated service for those who wish to speak with a veterinary professional about their pet's specific condition. Initially, a bot will ask questions to determine the general nature of your concern. Then, you will be transferred to a human. There is a charge for the service if you choose to connect to a veterinarian. Ask-a-Vet is not manned by the staff or owners of DogHealth.com, and the advice given should not delay or replace a visit to your veterinarian.