Yorkshire Terrier – idiosyncratic adventurer in miniature

Under the bow that he cheekily wears on his head, cute button eyes flash out that don’t miss anything. That’s how you know the Yorkshire Terrier from TV. You could think of him as a cuddly toy, but far from it: The Yorkshire Terrier is an agile action dog with a strong character. He is certainly not an easy roommate for inexperienced owners who are intimidated by the resolute bundle of energy. But if the Yorkshire Terrier has accepted you as a leader, he is a cheerful and loyal companion and companion dog with whom you can go through thick and thin.

From rat hunter to noble dog

The Yorkshire Terrier has had an almost fairytale career. With industrialization, numerous Scottish workers came from the countryside to the big English cities. They brought their native dogs with them, such as the Skye Terrier and the now extinct Clydesdale. Finally, in the industrial cities of the northern English county of Yorkshire, there was a targeted breeding of small terriers. The breeders at that time were the less privileged population or workers. They needed the terrier as a working dog: its job was to bite rats and mice in households, cellars and the factory halls that were being built at the time. The Yorkshire Terrier’s workplace was dark, narrow and confusing terrain, where he could meet defensive rodents at any time. Later, the workers also used the dog to hunt rabbits.
Then the upper class became aware of the droll little guy and brought him into the fine salons as a lap dog. The sale to the nobility proved to be a good deal for the farmers and workers. In 1874, the breed was entered in the studbook. However, official recognition did not follow until 1886. The Yorkie established itself as the most popular dwarf dog of the British. Its popularity also grew outside the country’s borders. In 1970, there was a real hype about the little dog. Its exact genetic history can no longer be reconstructed today; too many breeds were crossed in over time. The progenitor is considered to be the show male Huddersfield Ben. He descended from a terrier male named Old Crab and a named Kitty.
From the alley to high society: Even today, the Yorkshire Terrier enjoys great popularity as a cheeky, loving companion. Even as a therapy dog in clinics, retirement and nursing homes, the bundle of energy spreads a positive mood.

Nature and character of the Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is a dog with a strong character. He meets his environment vigilantly and fearlessly and is always ready to defend himself and his family. These characteristics and the amazingly loud voice are typical traits of terriers and the reason why the intrepid dog does not belong in beginner’s hands. With early socialization, he is basically well tolerated with children and other animals. Apparently unaware of his own size, he confidently approaches even larger conspecifics. The Yorkshire Terrier loves his human “boss” and rewards him with great affection and his funny nature. With an active and lively temperament, the Yorkshire Terrier is anything but a domestic sofa dog: the little one needs adventure and exciting walks.

Training the Yorkshire Terrier

As small as it is – the Yorkshire Terrier is not an animal for inexperienced owners. The dog knows exactly what it wants and has its own plans. You should consistently educate and lead the fuzzy defiant as a puppy and set him fixed rules and clear boundaries so that he does not become a terror dwarf. Beginners often feel overwhelmed with this task. This is because the Yorkie does not have a pronounced “will to please”, which does not make his education easy. Therefore, the little four-legged friend needs a boss who shows him the way. His caregiver must be able to assert himself well. Because of his cute appearance, many are tempted to pamper and pamper the Yorkie. You should refrain from doing this at all costs. Like any other dog, he must learn to behave decently – be it towards other dogs or people or in general in everyday life with you. Even for experienced dog owners, support from a dog school or from a professional dog trainer is a good idea.

Keeping the Yorkshire Terrier

In order to make the most of his urge to move and his intelligence, the Yorkshire Terrier needs a lot of exercise. Due to his size, you can easily take him everywhere with you and explore new walking grounds. However, always keep an eye on him, because the little rascal likes to run away into the undergrowth because of his pronounced hunting instinct. He also loves to dig. It is advisable to give him the opportunity to do so outside – otherwise he will get it himself. You may not be too happy about the result. Search and hunting games are suitable as possible activities. Likewise, the Yorkie can quickly be inspired by agility courses or fetch games with a playful nature. If you offer him varied activities, you will have a balanced and sociable dog at your side. His handy small format makes him suitable for indoor housing – provided he comes outdoors enough often to let his energy run free.
Hardly any dog likes to stay alone at home, and the Yorkshire Terrier is no exception. You can leave an adult Yorkie to its own devices for up to five hours. If possible, it shouldn’t be much longer. Of course, you have to practice staying alone first. It’s best to start doing this in small steps as a puppy. As soon as you’re back, play a game with him, go for a walk or otherwise dedicate your time to your little friend.
What would look silly on other dogs is a trademark of the Yorkshire Terrier: You pin up the long hair on the head with a bow or a hair clip so that your dog can also see where his tireless paws are taking him.Top products for your Yorkshire TerrierGoing for a walkTraining and dog sports

Is the Yorkshire Terrier a “yapper”?

Yorkshire Terriers have a reputation as yappers. In fact, he likes to act up a little. Due to his alertness, coupled with his self-confidence and protective instinct, he tends to loudly comment on other dogs, visitors or any noise in the stairwell at all. If you don’t consistently stop this behavior from the beginning, he will develop into a yapper who constantly starts and provokes trouble. Show your Yorkie clearly which behavior is desired and which is not. Also make sure that he gets used to people of all sizes as well as children and conspecifics as early as possible. A dog school, for example, is suitable for this purpose. If you train your little four-legged friend consistently and make good use of it, he will become a nerve-strong companion for everyday life.

Yorkshire Terrier: size and weight

With a height of around 20 centimeters shoulder height and a weight of up to 3.5 kilograms, the Yorkie belongs to the dwarf terriers. That’s why it bears the name Mini Yorkshire Terrier. However, there are breeders who dwarf the small dog into a “Yorkshire Terrier Mini” version. You should not support them, because the mini dogs are much more susceptible to health and injury than their normal-sized breed comrades. To counteract this, the Association for German Canine Society (VDH) has set a minimum weight of 2.4 kilograms for adult Yorkshire Terriers. Everything else falls under the term “torture breeding”.

Types and colours of the Yorkshire Terrier

In 1984, the Biewer family from Hirschfeld discovered a puppy with white spots in their litter of two purebred Yorkshire Terriers. This marking is considered a color defect of the breed, which is said to be steel blue with lighter chest and head areas. However, the Biewers decided to select exactly this characteristic of the white spots. This is how the Biewer Yorkshire Terriers were created. They form a breed of their own, which, however, has not yet found official recognition. The three colors of the Biewer Yorkshire Terrier – black, gold and white – are evenly distributed over the body. An adult Biewer has a shoulder height of between 22 and 25 centimeters.

ProfileYorkshire Terrier

Caring for the Yorkshire Terrier

You need to give your Yorkshire Terrier’s silky, long coat special care. In addition to daily brushing and combing, the dog can be bathed occasionally if necessary. Use a special dog shampoo from a specialist retailer for this purpose, which strengthens the structure of the terrier hair.

You should be careful when it comes to food: The Yorkshire Terrier has a very sensitive digestive system and does not tolerate food changes well. Once you have decided on a brand, you should keep it – if possible.

What you need to know about Yorkshire Terrier health

The breed is prone to various diseases. These include:

• Patellar luxation (the kneecap often pops out of its frame)
• Eye inflammation (for example, due to the long, drooping fur)
• Bronchitis
• Lymphatic diseases
• Dental problems such as caries, inflammation and double dentition
• Skin allergies
• Tracheal collapse (a harness should therefore be given the distortion compared to collars)
• Heart problems
• Digestive problems

However, a Yorkie can live up to 15 years – or even older.

Buy Yorkshire Terrier

If you have decided on a Yorkie, then look for a reputable breeder who does not offer mini puppies. At best, the breeder belongs to a breeding club of the VDH (Association for the German Canine Society). Visit the breeder several times and take your time to look at the surroundings. If everything is correct, a Yorkshire Terrier puppy with papers costs between 1,000 and 1,500 euros.

Also check out these smaller terrier species:

• Cairn Terrier: The Scots have a heart for terriers and bred the Cairn Terrier in addition to other breeds. The dog should be versatile, attentive, courageous and yet friendly to its own family. The fuzzy Scotsman meets all these requirements and convinces with a successful mix.
•  Jack Russell Terrier: He is small, nimble and inspires with his droll nature: The Jack Russell Terrier is a charming clown and extremely smart. This should not hide the fact that the little dog needs consistent training and an experienced owner.
• Manchester Terrier: The Manchester Terrier is considered one of the most original British dog breeds. His passion and task was rat hunting. To this day, this hunting instinct is in his blood, which is why the elegant, black-brown terrier needs a very good education.
• Norfolk Terrier: The Norfolk Terrier makes an incredibly sympathetic first impression with its wavy, long fur and funny face. It lasts just long enough until the terrier discovers a cat and rushes away chasing away despite all calls.
• Norwich Terrier: The Norwich Terrier is one of the smallest terrier breeds. In recent decades, it has developed from a hunting dog to a family and companion dog. Nevertheless – the terrier heritage cannot be denied: The Norwich Terrier is up for any fun.
• Parson Russell Terrier: Are you looking for a sporty and cheerful dog, are you an active person, maybe with a family and children? If you also have a little dog experience, then the Parson Russell Terrier is your ideal candidate.
• Patterdale Terrier: With a Patterdale Terrier by your side, life with a dog never gets boring! The lively four-legged friends bring all their energy and joie de vivre into an active everyday life. After a long day in the fresh air and lots of exercise, they enjoy time with their family.
• Welsh Terrier: The Welsh Terrier is one of the rarest terrier breeds in the world. Its roots could go back to the Celts. In recent decades, its task has changed from hunting to companion dog. The intelligent small dogs are lovable family members.