A little Yorkshire Terrier in a field

Yorkshire Terrier Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Despite their small size, Yorkshire Terriers aren’t short of personality and love to spend time with their owners. They’re also naturally brave and curious, often trying to mix with dogs three times their size, or barking loudly to let you know when something is amiss.  

If you’re looking for an affectionate companion with a strong sense of adventure, a Yorkshire Terrier is a toy breed that could be the perfect choice for you.

Yorkshire Terrier Facts

Dog breed type icon
Type
Toy
Dog breed lifespan icon
Lifespan
12 - 16 years
Dog breed size icon
Size
Small
Dog breed weight icon
Weight
1.8 - 3.1 kg
Dog breed height icon
Height
20 - 23 cm
Dog breed temperament icon
Temperament
Intelligent, bold, friendly
Dog breed exercise icon
Exercise
30 mins per day
Dog breed grooming icon
Grooming
High maintenance

Is a Yorkshire Terrier Right for Me?

Yorkshire Terriers love nothing more than spending time with their owners, and can become restless if left for long periods of time. They are constantly on the lookout for affection and attention. They love to please, and feel most relaxed around owners who devote lots of time to them.

Their small size and stature mean they aren’t generally suited to households with small children – however, they will happily adapt to any environment, whether it’s a big open space or a small city flat. 

When socialised at a young age, Yorkshire Terriers can also live alongside other dogs. Though they may become a bit bossy towards them, no matter how much smaller they may be.

Two cute Yorkshire Terrier puppies playing and licking

What Are Yorkshire Terrier Puppies Like?

Yorkshire Terrier puppies are very similar to adult Yorkies. From a young age they establish their personalities and take on the characteristics known in this breed. They’re quick to find their voices and can be quite yappy.

Yorkie puppies are inquisitive and bold, exploring their area and play fighting with the rest of the litter. They’re small and fragile but they don’t think so! So, make sure to keep a close eye on them to prevent accidents and injuries.

A happy Yorkshire Terrier lying in bed

Life with a Yorkshire Terrier

Life with a Yorkshire Terrier is never lonely. Despite being small, they have a large personality and will always make their presence known. They love to play, walk, socialise and most importantly, cuddle.  

They’re not afraid to speak up and will often get in trouble for barking. Usually, it will be to get your attention but they can also be protective and will bark at other dogs or people. However, they are very friendly if socialised from a young age.

Caring for Your Yorkshire Terrier

An adult Yorkie should be fed twice a day, whereas a puppy will need to be fed 3-4 times. The amount you should feed your dog will depend on their age, weight and size. Standard size Yorkies will need more food than mini or teacup Yorkies. 

The dog food packaging will provide you with feeding guidelines and nutrition content, but ask your vet if you are unsure of what is the best food to be feeding your dog.

Their fine silky coat can easily become knotted or tangled and requires a lot of grooming. You’ll need to brush your Yorkshire Terrier daily, and bathe them weekly. On top of this, their long, silky hair can easily get in the way. That’s why many owners opt for a top knot to keep their mane away from their face. 

Yorkshire Terriers also need their nails clipping every few weeks. You might have to call in the professionals – these pooches need a lot of pampering to keep them looking their best.

They may be small, but Yorkshire Terriers have a lot of energy to burn. You should take your dog for a daily walk for at least half an hour and include lots of other physical activity such as fetch or tug-of-war. 

Yorkshire Terriers are not easy to train. They’re intelligent so have the ability to learn quickly, but they are also very, very stubborn. Using treats and toys to reward good behaviour may be able to help to make the training process easier.

Yorkshire Terrier Insurance

Yorkshire Terriers are Yorkshire Terriers, being brave and curious could find this little pup in a scrape when you least expect it. To possibly help when it comes to those unforseen moments, it can always be helpful to consider dog insurance for your Yorkie.

Everypaw’s Lifetime Dog Insurance can be there for you when you need it most. We may be able to help cover the cost of treatment if your Yorkie has an accident or comes down with an illness they've never suffered from before. We have a range of cover levels for you to choose from, and every policy comes loaded with a range of additional benefits. All you need to do is concentrate on your Yorkie to keep them happy and healthy.

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Common Yorkshire Terrier Health Problems by Vetstream

Small dogs are known for having more common health problems, and this is certainly true of the Yorkshire Terrier dog's health. However, most conditions usually don’t affect their welfare until much later on in their lives.

Tracheal rings are what hold the windpipe open, creating a clear passage to breathe. Yorkshire Terriers tend to have softer tracheal rings than other dog breeds. The softer they are the narrower the airway becomes, which leads to breathing difficulties.

Affected dogs will have a ‘goose-honking’ sounding cough that lasts for more than 2 weeks. Surgery is needed in severe cases, but maintaining a healthy weight and walking on a harness will help prevent problems from arising.

A luxating patella is when the kneecap slides out of place and causes the leg to lock up. The kneecap will either remain in the wrong position until surgically corrected, or it will slide in and out of place. Affected dogs will hop on one of their back legs and experience pain. 

A luxating patella can be caused by an injury to the knee. More commonly, some dogs are born with a groove that is too shallow or ligaments that are attached to the wrong place. The condition can be inherited so affected dogs should not be bred from. 

Surgery is required to realign the kneecap and prevent reoccurrence. If left untreated, a luxating patella can lead to lameness.

In Legge-Perthes Disease the ball of the thigh bone dies and collapses due to the blood supply being unable to reach it. The cause of this inherited condition is unknown. Affected dogs display signs of hind leg lameness and pain usually from 5 months old, but some dogs are fully grown before they show signs.

Surgery is the best treatment option, to either fully replace the hip or to replace the ball with a fibrous joint. Most dogs recover well and go on to lead a normal life.

Dental disease is caused by a build-up of debris and bacteria, called plaque. Over time plaque hardens to form tartar, which attacks the gum tissue causing infection and inflammation. The tissue will gradually wear away causing the teeth to loosen and fall out. If the bacteria and poisons get into the bloodstream, it can cause damage to organs. 

Dental disease can be treated with antibiotics, cleaning and removal of infected teeth. The best way to prevent your dog from dental disease is to brush its teeth daily with dog toothpaste. This will remove the plaque before it turns into tartar.

Quick Yorkshire Terrier Q&A

The Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie, was first bred in Yorkshire during the 19th century. While they were initially used as working dogs, they soon became pets of the wealthy. Yorkshire Terriers are one of the most popular breeds at dog shows.

Yorkshire Terriers tend to stop growing by the time they reach their first birthday. However, they have been known to continue developing into their second year. 

Yorkshire Terriers tend to live well into their teens with their life span usually ranging between 12 and 16 years.

Yorkshire Terriers do shed fur, but in relatively short amounts compared to other dog breeds.

No dog is 100% hypoallergenic, but as Yorkshire Terriers tend to shed a little to no amount, they are more suited to someone with allergies than another breed might be.

That’s All You Need to Know About Yorkshire Terriers

Overall, Yorkshire Terriers have the best of both worlds. They love roaming free and exploring, but they also love attention. One minute they might like nothing more than to cuddle up to their owner – the next they could be alert and ready for adventure.

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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