The Yorkshire Terrier shows how strongly size distorts perception. At three kilos, they fit in a handbag and are treated like an accessory. In reality, this is a terrier bred to hunt rats in English textile mills: brave, vocal, opinionated and entirely unimpressed that the German Shepherd opposite weighs twenty times as much. Most problems with this breed arise because nobody takes them seriously.
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Yorkshire Terrier at a glance
- Origin: Yorkshire, England, bred in the 19th century to hunt rats in factories and mines
- Size: Around 20 to 23 cm, up to 3,2 kg according to the breed standard
- Coat: Long, silky, falling straight, steel blue with tan markings, almost no undercoat
- Life expectancy: 13 to 16 years
- Temperament: Confident, watchful, affectionate, brave to the point of boldness, very vocal
Temperament: a large dog in a small body
The Yorkshire Terrier has no idea they are small. They announce visitors, defend their place and approach larger dogs when something displeases them. This confidence is charming with clear boundaries, but quickly becomes a problem without them.
They are closely attached to their people and want to go everywhere. They are also alert, responding to every sound on the stairs. Barking is their idea of a job. Whether it becomes constant is decided in the first months.
Their rat-catching past explains almost everything: courage, speed, strong prey drive and willingness to act independently. Treat them purely as a lap dog and you take away what makes them themselves, ending up with a nervous, overwhelmed dog instead.
Five points that make the difference
1. The coat is a daily job
A Yorkshire Terrier’s long hair grows continuously, rather like human hair, and mats quickly without care. Keeping the full length means daily brushing and regular grooming appointments. Most owners choose a short cut, which is completely fine. Still expect an appointment every six to eight weeks. Underestimate coat care and after four months you have a matted dog whose only option is clipping.
2. Teeth are the biggest concern
Small breeds have the same number of teeth as large ones, with much less room. Tartar, inflamed gums and early tooth loss are exceptionally common in Yorkshire Terriers. Baby teeth often fail to fall out and need removing too. Dental care is essential: without regular brushing and occasional professional cleaning under anaesthetic, they lose teeth long before old age.
3. Patellar luxation and tracheal collapse
A displaced kneecap is common in small breeds, ranging from a slight skipping gait to surgery. With tracheal collapse, the windpipe becomes unstable, producing a characteristic goose-like cough. This makes a harness rather than a collar essential for a Yorkshire Terrier. Other concerns include liver shunts and a tendency towards low blood sugar in puppies.
4. Small does not mean less training
Behaviours never accepted in a large dog are tolerated in a three-kilo dog: jumping up, barking, growling at the bowl, being picked up whenever things become uncomfortable. That is how Yorkshire Terriers acquire their reputation as yappers. Training and handling create it, rather than nature. They need the same clear rules as any dog. For avoiding lead problems, read dog pulling on the lead, and for an overall plan for the first months, our book “Welpenerziehung & Junghundtraining” (book in German).
5. Beware of offers promising extreme smallness
Terms such as Teacup Yorkie, Mini Yorkie and Toy Yorkie are sales language rather than recognised varieties. Dogs below the breed standard’s weight have disproportionately frequent health problems: fragile bones, low blood sugar, heart and liver problems. A puppy from health-tested VDH breeding costs 1.200 to 1.800 euros. Anyone offering much cheaper puppies while promoting extreme smallness is selling a health risk.
Care: what they really need
- A harness rather than a collar. Essential because of the sensitive windpipe.
- Daily grooming or a short cut. Either is fine; choosing neither is not.
- Dental care from the start. Make brushing routine while the puppy still learns it calmly.
- Training taken seriously. The same rules as for large dogs, on a smaller scale.
- Real contact with other dogs. They need to learn to interact rather than constantly being picked up.
Who does the Yorkshire Terrier suit?
People in flats and cities seeking a small, lively companion, who are willing to treat them as a real dog. Anyone with time for coat and dental care, or a budget for a groomer. Owners who find a watchful, opinionated dog charming rather than exhausting.
Unsuitable for families with very young children: a three-kilo dog is fragile and defends themselves when crowded. Less suitable for people wanting complete quiet, or a dog they can simply take along without training. For a calmer small dog, consider the Havanese as a more relaxed alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Yorkshire Terrier shed? Hardly. Their hair grows continuously rather than falling out in cycles. This makes them relatively suitable for some people with allergies, although there are no allergy-free dogs and reactions remain individual.
Is exercise inside the flat enough? No. They need real walks, scent work and contact with the outside world every day. Their exercise needs are lower than large breeds’, but not zero.
Do they get on with cats? Usually, if they have known them from a young age. Their prey drive is strong, though, so later introductions need patience and supervision.
Steel blue and gold in a picture
The long, silky, shining coat in steel blue and gold is a gift for any portrait. It looks especially good in Watercolour, which picks up the soft transitions in the hair. Photograph at eye level, even if that means lying on the floor, rather than from above. Small dogs photographed from above always look squat in the finished picture. Read more in our photo tips.
Three kilos of dog, one large picture: the mismatch is half the fun. Acrylic glass gives the steel blue the shine of a freshly brushed coat. Posters, canvas and wooden frames are also available among our dog portraits.
A Yorkie puppy is tiny at collection, yet full of new impressions. What they need in the first days, and what they do not, is in our free Puppy Starter Pack.
Further reading
- Chihuahua: why the yapping is home-grown: the same training mistake, a different breed
- Pomeranian: why you should not clip the coat: small, watchful and with a coat philosophy of their own
- Maltese: grooming is a full-time job: when long hair is the main work
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