The Yorkshire Terrier is an intelligent, lively, and brave dog with a cute exterior. You can learn everything about the history, character, and care of a Yorkie in the following profile.

History of the Yorkshire Terrier

As industrialization began in England, many Scottish workers from rural areas migrated to the big cities. They brought their native dogs such as the Skye Terrier and the now-extinct Clydesdale with them. Since the 19th century, the poor workers in the northern English industrial cities in Yorkshire County deliberately bred small terriers. The initial task of the Yorkshire Terrier was to keep the cities free of rats and mice. Later, the workers also used them for illegal rabbit hunting and in rat pits. Over time, they crossed so many breeds that the exact genetic history of Yorkies remains unclear today. The breeders of the time placed great importance on continually reducing the size and weight of Yorkies to make the dog interesting even in affluent circles. Additionally, the focus shifted to long, silky fur.

Farmers and workers could profit from breeding and sold many specimens to the nobility. The Yorkies, as we know them today, are believed to descend from a terrier male named Old Crab and a female named Kitty. A descendant of the two, the show dog Huddersfield Ben, won numerous awards and is considered the progenitor of the breed today. The breed was entered into the studbook in 1874, with official recognition coming in 1886. By the end of the 19th century, the Yorkshire Terrier was one of Britain’s most popular toy breeds. Shortly thereafter, it began to spread outside the country as well. In the 1970s, there was a veritable craze, and many people wanted to have the small dog.

Character and Temperament

Despite its small size, the Yorkshire Terrier is a very brave and self-confident dog. In true terrier fashion, it is lively and anything but a cute lapdog. Especially towards other, even much larger dogs, it tends to behave boldly and can be quite self-assured. It prefers to bark at other dogs from its owner’s arms or from the bike basket.

In training, the little terriers need consistent leadership, as they otherwise shamelessly exploit their cute appearance. The dogs take their job of protecting the house and their owners very seriously and can become barkers with poor training. If you take the loyal and eager-to-learn terrier seriously as a “real” dog and provide adequate stimulation, you will be rewarded with a resilient companion for everyday life.

Affection Level	High
Friendliness	High
Kid-Friendly	High
Pet-Friendly	Medium
Exercise Needs	Medium
Playfulness	High
Energy Level	High
Trainability	Medium
Intelligence	Medium
Tendency to Bark	High
Amount of Shedding	Low

Acquiring a Yorkshire Terrier

What should I consider when buying?

Before deciding to purchase a Yorkshire Terrier, you should be sure that the dog with the colorful personality fits well with you. After all, the small terrier, with a life expectancy of up to 15 years, will remain a part of your family for a long time. If you have decided to give a Yorkie puppy a new home, you must search for a trustworthy breeder. Unfortunately, you will find many unscrupulous sellers on the internet who sell their puppies at low prices. You should steer clear of these offers and not buy a puppy out of pity. Often, you will get sick or behaviorally disturbed animals in such cases. Additionally, buying from these sellers encourages them to continue breeding. This should naturally be avoided.

Much better off you’ll be with a breeder affiliated with the Terrier Club of America. These breeders must adhere to strict rules, and you’ll get a purebred and healthy puppy. Of course, this comes at a price, and you’ll need to invest around $1000 for a Yorkie puppy. A good alternative to getting a young dog from a breeder is to adopt a Yorkie or a mix from the shelter. You’ll often find terriers who have fallen into hardship through no fault of their own and are now languishing in rescue shelters. These dogs are often very grateful and appreciate any kind of affection.

Development and Training of the Puppy

As cute as little Yorkies may look, you must not compromise on their training. These little terriers are quite cunning and need an experienced dog owner to show them the way. Even as a puppy, the dog needs a caregiver who can assert themselves well and set boundaries. With consistency and praise, you’ll quickly achieve success and prevent unwanted behavior. Especially with other dogs, the puppy must be socialized at a young age, or else it may tend to be domineering. It’s important to give the little whirlwind enough time to understand what is allowed and what is not.

Also, barking in the house should be discouraged early on. Treat him like a proper dog; don’t carry him around on your arm or in a bag, and don’t make the mistake of spoiling him too much just because he’s a small, cute four-legged friend.

How to Care for a Yorkshire Terrier?

Activities with the Yorkshire Terrier:

Caring for a Yorkshire Terrier is relatively uncomplicated with enough time. As an original hunting dog, the Yorkie has a strong urge to move and needs its daily walks. Due to its small size, you can easily take him anywhere and explore new walking routes. However, you should always keep an eye on the little one so he doesn’t run off into the undergrowth. As a counterbalance to his hunting instinct, the small dog can be enthusiastic about hunting and search games, where he can use his nose. Many representatives of the breed love to dig, and you should ensure that he has the opportunity to do so. Otherwise, he’ll find a way to do it himself, and you’ll probably not be happy with the result.

If you’d like to do more than just walk, you’ll find a great partner in the Yorkie. Although not well-suited for jogging or cycling due to its size, he’s enthusiastic about dog sports. Due to his lively and playful nature, he loves chasing through agility courses. He’s also eager to participate in retrieving games or flyball. In addition to physical exercise, the Yorkie also needs mental stimulation. Small intelligence games keep him mentally fit and happy.

Health and Grooming

The silky coat of the Yorkshire Terrier requires regular professional grooming. This includes brushing, cleaning, and visits to a dog groomer. Since the terrier does not have a natural shedding cycle, the dead hair must be regularly trimmed. Generally, you should also ensure that the hair does not fall into the dog’s eyes. Otherwise, the long, hanging hair can quickly cause eye infections. Optionally, the trademark of the breed—a bow on the head—may help with this.

Interesting and Notable

Famous Yorkshire Terriers:

Throughout history, some Yorkshire Terriers have achieved fame in one way or another, often due to their small size. Sylvia, a Yorkie with an incredible height of only 6 cm, holds the record for being the smallest dog ever to have lived. Unfortunately, Sylvia lived for only two years with her owner Arthur Marples of Blackburn in England. Another very small dog was Big Boss, a male Yorkie who, at only 12 cm tall, made it into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2002.

Another famous Yorkie was Smoky, whom American soldiers found in a foxhole in New Guinea during World War II. Corporal William A. Wynne took the dog under his care, and she remained by his side for the rest of the war. Smoky ate the same food, slept in his tent, and endured tropical temperatures. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, she never fell ill and accompanied her owner on air raids and at sea. During her time in the army, she learned numerous tricks, which she performed in TV shows and hospitals after the war. She passed away at the proud age of 14, and about 50 years later, a monument was erected in her honor.

Yorkshire Terriers in Film and Television:

The Yorkshire Terrier has also made its mark in Hollywood, appearing in numerous films and TV series. Rajesh from “The Big Bang Theory” has a Yorkie named Cinnamon, whom he adores. In the film “A Fish Called Wanda,” three Yorkshire Terriers play a rather tragic role, as each one is accidentally killed by an animal lover who has eyes for their owner. In the popular movie “Meet the Parents,” Gaylord Focker’s parents own a Yorkie named Moses.

Outside of the silver screen, the Yorkshire Terrier has a large and prominent fan base, particularly among celebrity women. Audrey Hepburn and Whitney Houston both owned Yorkies, and even the usually tough Bruce Willis has a little male named Wolfie.

Do you have a Yorkshire Terrier or are you planning to get one? What makes your Yorkie so special? Tell me more in the comments!