Much of the Yorkshire Terriers’ popularity comes from the fact that they possess the self-assured personality of a terrier and the appearance of an adorable toy dog. This feisty little dog does not seem to realize it weighs less than ten pounds. They are brave and always up for an adventure. Yorkies are quite affectionate within their own home but can be suspicious of strangers. They are aggressive with dogs and other pets, oblivious of their diminutive size. Yorkies are good with children, but care should be taken with the smallest kids. They can be too rough for little dogs. Because they are wary of strangers and other pets it is important to socialize a Yorkie from an early age. This can dispel distrust and nervous anxiety that sometimes develops in this breed. For exercise needs, Yorkies are low maintenance. They will exercise themselves indoors and in this way are suitable for city or country living. Although not necessary every day, they do like a short walk or time to play outside in a safe area. They do not like to be ignored and need plenty of playing and cuddling time with their people.

Yorkies are one of the smallest dog breeds. They are only 7 to 9 inches tall and 5 to 9 pounds in weight. Their distinctive coat is long, silky, tan and blue-black in color, and lies flat and straight on either side of the dog. If not a show dog, most owners keep the coat trimmed for a more convenient, short, and shaggy look. The longer the hair is kept, the more often it needs to be brushed. Exceptionally small Yorkies sometimes called a ‘teacup’, which not a size recognized by the AKC, are prone to significant problems. These dogs are frequently runts that responsible breeders will never intentionally select for breeding. Until marketed as ‘fashionable’, few if anyone would buy them. But some breeders now charge more for a ‘teacup’ than an appropriately sized dog.

Although a Terrier, Yorkies are fairly easy to train. They are intelligent and eager to please most of the time. True to their Terrier heritage, they can sometimes be stubborn and independent. Games and fun training sessions are helpful. As good watchdogs, Yorkies tend to bark too much. This can be corrected with proper training. A problem that may arise with Yorkies is a result of an owner’s tendency to treat them as decorations rather than dogs. Although pretty and small, Yorkies are still dogs and need to be treated as such. If kept only on display and not allowed to play, they can become unhappy and nervous.