Why choose a Yorkie?
The Yorkie has a bold personality and seems unaware of its small size. They are devoted to their owners, and become very attached to their family and are not always ideal for the very elderly or small children with their lively and exuberant nature. Most will prefer to share your bed if you allow. They are tolerant of older children, provided they are not treated like toys and have their own space to which they can retreat. Full of energy, they can keep up with kids, but because of their small size, toy breeds like the Yorkie can be injured relatively easily by falls, other animals, or human clumsiness, so they need more supervision with the smaller children and are usually not recommended for this type of family. They are eager to play and get into any trouble they might find. They have a mind of their own and this feisty, sweet little dog doesn't like to do anything he makes up his mind not to do! Even though this breed is categorized as a toy breed, there is a lot of terrier in them. They like to be busy, inquisitive, and bold. While a toy breed, and at various times a greatly pampered one, the Yorkshire is a spirited dog that definitely shows its inner personality.
Did you know?
The Yorkshire Terrier didn't begin as the fashionable and glamorous breed that they are today. These were working dogs used to control rats and other pests in textile mills and coal mines. Their ancestry dates back to the early 1800 in Yorkshire, England, and in the late 19th century the Yorkie made its popularity to the United States. Since then is has remained one of the most desired breeds.The standard for this Toy Breed is 5lbs to 7lbs. However, because of poor breeding practices that continue to take place, you will find a wide range of Yorkie sizes: from 3 lbs to 20 lbs. No matter what size, Toy Breeds such as the Yorkie are inside dogs, they do not and should not live outside. By leaving your Yorkie outdoors and unattended, you are risking theft of your dog (regardless of whether you have a fenced in yard), being picked up and killed by a hawk, eagle or other large bird and/or your dog could dig its way out of the backyard.
Grooming and Care
The Yorkie's coat comes in a variety of colors and textures. It is non-shedding and good alternative for people with allergies. To keep the coat smooth and clean you need to brush them almost daily. Grooming can take a lot of time to brush, bathe and detail-groom this breed, so it is not uncommon for the Yorkie to be sporting a puppy-cut trim. Probably the main concern for maintaining a Yorkie's coat is keeping it from getting matted. When bathing it is important to use a conditioner and a moisturizing shampoo made for dogs. You should plan on bathing a minimum of once a month but this really depends on the environment in which they are kept. Yorkies do not have an undercoat to keep them warm in the winter, so they need a sweater or coat when going out in the colder weather.