If you’re looking for a lap-sized companion to fill your days with love and spirit, the Yorkshire Terrier is ready for duty. Yorkies, as they’re commonly called, are consistently one of the top 10 most popular breeds in the US.
These toy dogs get their name from their original home in Yorkshire, England, where they were first bred in the mid-1800s to catch rats. They stand only about 8 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh less than 7 pounds.
But what they lack in size, they make up for in tenacity, playfulness, and love for their people. Below, learn more about the Yorkshire Terrier’s temperament and care needs to find out if they’re the right small dog for you!
Breed Characteristics
Key
- Low
- Medium
- High
- Origin: England
- Size:
- Weight: 7 pounds
- Activity level:
- Barking/howling level:
- Good with dogs: yes
- Good with kids: yes
- Good with cats:
- Shedding:
- Shedding: Seasonal
- Grooming level:
- Training level:
Is A Yorkshire Terrier Right For You?
“Yorkies love to be near you,” says Helen Arnold, AKC-registered Yorkshire Terrier breeder and owner of York Girl’s Pups. “They are very social and thrive on love and attention.”
Since Yorkshire Terriers are classic “velcro dogs,” they’ll want to join you on all of your adventures. You won’t want to leave them alone for long periods of time—and they can always ride in a bag if their legs get tired!
People who spend most of their time at home or work in a dog-friendly office would make ideal Yorkie pet parents. But if you have to spend time away during the day, you can always get a dog walker or pet sitter to check in on them!
Behavior and personality
Yorkshire Terriers are classic examples of the “small dog, big attitude” phenomenon. These pups are generally bold and feisty, and they can have a stubborn streak. But they also love with their whole hearts. They’ll gladly keep you company throughout your day and curl up on your lap at night. Their antics will keep you from getting bored!
Sociability and energy levels
Thanks to their strong prey drive, Yorkshire Terriers pack plenty of energy into their small bodies.
“They don’t necessarily need a daily walk for exercise as they are just as happy playing fetch and running across the yard,” Arnold says.
If you want a more intensive activity, many Yorkies also love dog sports, like agility and barn hunt.
While every dog is an individual, most Yorkshire Terriers have an outgoing nature. They love exploring new places and meeting new friends, Arnold says.
Obedience and potty training
Arnold says most Yorkies love to please and can excel at obedience training with positive reinforcement.
That said, potty training can be more difficult for toy breeds like Yorkies, due to their pint-sized bladders.
According to Arnold, they need a bathroom trip every 1-2 hours. And while you might want to use an indoor potty pad for convenience, she says some Yorkies may have trouble telling them apart from your rug.
These hurdles can make the potty training process longer and more challenging for a Yorkie. On the flip side, some Yorkies can be trained to use litter boxes like a cat!
Companionship and lifestyle
Yorkies are adaptable dogs who thrive in many different living situations, from apartments to standard houses. That said, even if you do have a backyard, you’ll want to avoid letting your Yorkie outside on their own. Birds of prey might think they look like the perfect snack!
While Yorkies do fine as solo dogs with a single pet parent, they also get along with families who have older children or other pets. Just supervise their interactions with bigger dogs or younger children—these tiny dogs can easily get injured through roughhousing.
What Types of Yorkshire Terriers Are There?
Yorkshire Terriers come in one size class: toy.
All puppies are born with black and tan coats, although some dogs’ coats may shift to blue and gold as they grow up. Some breeders advertise rare coat colors, like chocolate, gold, or parti (multicolor.)
But none of these coats meet the Yorkshire Terrier breed standard, and dogs with these coats may carry genetic defects, like skin problems or allergies. The American Yorkshire Terrier Club recommends avoiding breeders who intentionally breed puppies with these traits.
Is It Easy to Groom Yorkshire Terriers?
Yorkshire Terriers have naturally long, silky-smooth coats.
Arnold says they don’t shed much, which means you can enjoy cuddle sessions with minimal dog hair! People with allergies may also better tolerate them, although no dog is truly hypoallergenic.
However, Arnold adds that keeping a Yorkie’s coat long is a full-time job that requires daily brushing and twice-weekly baths to prevent matting.
So, many pet parents opt to give their dogs a shorter, more manageable “puppy cut.” If you go this route, your dog will need trims every 6 weeks and brushing only once or twice a week. Like all dogs, they’ll also need regular nail trims and dental care.
What Is a Yorkshire Terrier’s Life Expectancy?
Well-loved Yorkshire Terriers can live up to 15 years with their humans. But Yorkies can be vulnerable to certain genetic health issues that may affect lifespan and quality of life. These health concerns include:
- Patellar luxation (unaligned kneecaps)
- Eye issues, like progressive retinal atrophy or primary lens luxation (PLL)
- Liver shunts
- Microvascular dysplasia (MVD)
- Encephalitis
- Degenerative myelopathy (DM)
- Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (LCP)
Additionally, toy dogs like Yorkies should also eat a special diet for small breeds to help them get adequate nutrition and prevent obesity.
How to Ethically Adopt or Buy a Yorkshire Terrier
When you’re ready to bring a Yorkshire Terrier into your life, you can either adopt one from a rescue or shelter or buy a puppy from a breeder.
If you’d rather adopt a rescue, the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America runs rescue organizations throughout the US. You can also check your local shelters for Yorkies or Yorkie mixes.
Before you choose a puppy from a breeder, you’ll want to make sure the breeder is ethical and cares about every puppy’s health and well-being. To identify a good option, check for the following green flags.
- Health testing: All breeders should genetically test every prospective parent dog to make sure they don’t pass on health issues to their puppies. The breeder should provide a health guarantee and a vet reference.
- Older puppies: Arnold says breeders should only sell puppies over 8 weeks old. Ideally, puppies should go home with you between the age of 10 and 12 weeks.
- Home-raised: Arnold recommends choosing a breeder who raises their Yorkie puppies in the house with their families, not in outside kennels or cages. The breeder should be willing to let you see their dogs’ living space in person or via video chat.
Other Tiny Dogs
Not sure whether a Yorkshire Terrier is the right companion for you? Another small dog might be a better fit.
Here are 5 options to consider:
Takeaway
Yorkshire Terriers are spirited and social toy dogs who can keep you on your toes.
But if you’re willing to put in the work training and caring for them, they’ll reward you with love and loyalty 10 times their size!
Article Resources
- About Yorkies. (n.d.). https://www.theyorkshireterrierclubofamerica.org/yorkies#grooming
- Arnold, H. (2025). Personal interview.
- Coile, C. (2025). Yorkshire Terrier dog. https://www.britannica.com/animal/Yorkshire-Terrier-dog
- Johnson, M. E. (2024). YTCA health statement. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/670ad0c1e2e2523fbdb279a7/t/67666b328de95322616a7be2/1734765362729/YTCA+Health+Statement+-+June+16%2C+2024+update.pdf
- Learn, A., et al. (2020). Preliminary assessment of differences in completeness of house-training between dogs based on size. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787819300991
- Thompson, G. (n.d.). An important note about color in Yorkshire Terriers. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/670ad0c1e2e2523fbdb279a7/t/67699f1e560f3a32edb25781/1734975262088/Yorkie_Color_don_27t_fall_for_a_designer_color.pdf