A cute Yorkshire Terrier sitting up in a field

A small Yorkshire Terrier sitting on a blue sofa

Yorkshire Terrier Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Despite their small size, Yorkshire Terriers aren&rsquo;t short of personality and love to spend time with their owners. They&rsquo;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&rsquo;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.

Type

12 - 16 years

Lifespan

Small

Size

1.8 - 3.1 kg

Weight

20 - 23 cm

Height

Intelligent, bold, friendly

Temperament

30 mins per day

Exercise

High maintenance

Grooming

<ul>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Yorkshire Terrier. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/yorkshire-terrier" target="_blank" title="Link Vetstream's yorkshire terrier page">https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/yorkshire-terrier</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Ford R B &amp; Tappin S (online) Trachea: collapse. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/Trachea-collapse" target="_blank" title="Link Vetstream's dog trachea collapse page">https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/Trachea-collapse</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Collapsing Trachea. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/owner-factsheets/collapsing-trachea" target="_blank" title="Link Vetstream's dog collapsing trachea page">https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/owner-factsheets/collapsing-trachea&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>Harari J &amp; Arthurs G (online) Patella: medial luxation. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/Patella-medial-luxation" target="_blank" title="Link Vetstream's dog patella medial luxation page">https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/Patella-medial-luxation</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Luxating patella. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/owner-factsheets/luxating-patella" target="_blank" title="Link Vetstream's dog luxating patella page">https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/owner-factsheets/luxating-patella</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Renberg W &amp; Rochat M (online) Hip: aseptic femoral head/neck necrosis. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/hip-aseptic-femoral-head-neck-necrosis " target="_blank" title="Link Vetstream's dog hip aseptic femoral head neck necrosis page">https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/hip-aseptic-femoral-head-neck-necrosis&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Aseptic femoral head and neck necrosis (Legg Calv&eacute; Perthes disease). In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/aseptic-femoral-head-and-neck-necrosis-(legg-calve-perthes-disease) " target="_blank" title="Link Vetstream's dog aseptic femoral head and neck necrosis page">https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/aseptic-femoral-head-and-neck-necrosis-(legg-calve-perthes-disease)&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>Penman S, Thompson M &amp; Oxford M (online) Periodontal disease. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/periodontal-disease" target="_blank" title="Link Vetstream's dog periodontal disease page">https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/periodontal-disease&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Dental disease. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/dental-disease" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's dog dental disease factsheet">https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/dental-disease</a></li>
</ul>

Content provided from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to vet experts Vetstream's website">Vetstream&#39;s Vetlexicon Canis</a>

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

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&rsquo;t generally suited to households with small children &ndash; however, they will happily adapt to any environment, whether it&rsquo;s a big open space or a small city flat.&nbsp;

When <a href="/all-things-pet/puppy-socialisation-helping-your-pooch-make-pals" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to puppy socialisation">socialised at a young age</a>, 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.

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&rsquo;t generally suited to households with small children. However, they will happily adapt to any environment, whether it&rsquo;s a big open space or a small city flat.&nbsp;

When <a href="/all-things-pet/puppy-socialisation-helping-your-pooch-make-pals" title="Link to Everypaw's article about puppy socialisation">socialised at a young age</a>, Yorkshire Terriers can also live alongside other <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Breed Guides">dog breeds</a>. Though they may become a bit bossy towards them, no matter how much smaller they may be.

A cute Yorkshire Terrier puppy lying in a field

Yorkshire Terrier <a href="/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance pge">puppies</a> are very similar to adult Yorkies. From a young age they establish their personalities and take on the characteristics known in this breed. They&rsquo;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&rsquo;re small and fragile but they don&rsquo;t think so! So, make sure to keep a close eye on them to prevent accidents and injuries.

A happy Yorkshire Terrier pup running on some grass

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.&nbsp;&nbsp;

They&rsquo;re not afraid to speak up and will often <a href="/all-things-pet/how-to-stop-dog-barking-in-5-easy-steps" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to preventing dog barking">get in trouble for barking</a>. 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.

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.&nbsp;

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 <a href="/all-things-pet/dog-grooming-101" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to dog grooming">requires a lot of grooming</a>. You&rsquo;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&rsquo;s why many owners opt for a top knot to keep their mane away from their face.&nbsp;

Yorkshire Terriers also need their nails clipping every few weeks. You might have to call in the professionals &ndash; 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 <a href="/all-things-pet/guide-to-dog-walking" title="Link to Everypaw's dog walking guide">take your dog for a daily walk</a> for at least half an hour and include lots of other physical activity such as fetch or tug-of-war.&nbsp;

Yorkshire Terriers are not easy to train. They&rsquo;re intelligent so have the ability to learn quickly, but they are also very, very stubborn. Using <a href="/all-things-pet/your-guide-to-clicker-training-dogs" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to dog clicker training">treats and toys to reward good behaviour</a> may be able to help to make the training process easier.

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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.

<a href="/Home/dog-insurance.html">Everypaw&rsquo;s Lifetime Dog Insurance</a>&nbsp;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&#39;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.

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.

<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/dog-insurance">Everypaw&rsquo;s Lifetime Dog Insurance</a>&nbsp;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&#39;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, including unlimited access to trained UK vets though <a href="/petcall" title="Link to Everypaw's Petcall information page">Petcall</a>. All you need to do is concentrate on your Yorkie to keep them happy and healthy.

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 &ndash; the next they could be alert and ready for adventure.

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 &lsquo;goose-honking&rsquo; 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.&nbsp;

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.&nbsp;

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.&nbsp;

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 <a href="/all-things-pet/dog-dental-care-tips" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to dog teeth care">brush its teeth daily with dog toothpaste</a>. This will remove the plaque before it turns into tartar.

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.

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.

When does a Yorkshire Terrier stop growing?

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.&nbsp;

What is the average Yorkshire Terrier lifespan?

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.

Yorkshire Terrier Insurance, Care, and Health Advice | Everypaw

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Yorkshire Terrier

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The benefit values featured in the table may vary across the different levels of cover and will depend on the cover you choose. Please check your cover before purchasing. Be aware, for some breeds of dogs we do not provide our &pound;8k and &pound;10k Lifetime cover. 
 
All policies and features are subject to special conditions and exclusions of the insurers, please click the link to read about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Insurance Exclusions page">our policy exclusions.</a> 
 
Excess is applicable to all vet fees claims. When your pet reaches a certain age, the excess payable may change. The excess will be your set excess plus a percentage of your claim amount.

Getting your furry friend covered shouldn&#39;t just come down to cost. There&#39;s a lot more to it than that, so take the time to do a pet insurance comparison. Think about their breed, the level of cover they might need, and what would be important to you. After all, insurance is there for both of you.

One of the best ways to do that is to compare cover levels. This will give you an idea of how much your pet insurance will cost, how much you can claim against vet bills, as well as the policy benefits. It&#39;s all about finding the Lifetime Pet Insurance that works best for you and your pet.

*Based on Everypaw claims data from February 2024 to March 2025

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As our furry companions age, they&#39;re more likely to suffer from ailments and illnesses here and there. And we want you to be able to look after your pet well into retirement. That&#39;s why we don&#39;t have age limits on our policies. Our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-for-older-pets.html">pet insurance for older pets</a> can help you do the most important thing &ndash; looking after your pet.

What about younger pets? We also offer <a href="/cat-insurance/kitten-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Kitten Insurance page">kitten</a> and <a href="/dog-insurance/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppy insurance</a>, covered by our cat and dog insurance. No matter how old or young your purr-fect pet is, our pet insurance can give you all-important peace of mind.&nbsp;

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Whether you are looking for a playmate for your pet or if your house is more like a <a href="/dog-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Insurance page">dog</a>, <a href="/cat-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Insurance page">cat</a> and <a href="/rabbit-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Rabbit Insurance page">rabbit</a> smallholding, you need multi-pet insurance that works for you. Everypaw&#39;s policies are just that and give you a discount on every pet too. No matter how many pets you have, from glorious <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides/golden-retriever-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Golden Retriever Dog Breed Guide page">Golden Retrievers</a> and majestic <a href="/cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides/maine-coon-cat-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Maine Coon Cat Breed Guide page">Maine Coons</a> to lovely <a href="/rabbit-insurance/rabbit-breed-guides/lionhead-rabbit-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Lionhead Rabbit Breed Guide page">Lionheads</a>, it&#39;s there for every single paw.

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How Does Pet Insurance Work: Getting a Quote

Our pet insurance quote form takes just 3 minutes to fill out. Here&#39;s how it works:

<ul>
	<li>Select which type of pet you&#39;re looking to insure and enter their age, breed and sex</li>
	<li>Enter basic personal details about yourself including your email and home addresses</li>
	<li>Select your vet fees limit</li>
	<li>We&#39;ll give you a pet insurance price! And we&#39;ll show you what the cost is for the year, plus what your monthly instalments will look like if you choose to pay that way</li>
</ul>

Will my pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Ever found the urge to discover what the best dog breeds to train are or maybe you want to get to the bottom of your pet&#39;s worm problem.&nbsp;<a href="/Home/all-things-pet.html" title="Link to Everypaw's All Things Pet blog">Everypaw&#39;s All Things Pet blog</a>&nbsp;has the content to keep you informed.

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For that extra peace of mind when your pets get up to mischief, there&#39;s Everypaw. Our pet insurance is for cats, dogs and rabbits, and every policy comes with unlimited 24/7 access to vet nurses and vets. So, if you ever feel a bit &#39;for pet&#39;s sake&#39;, know Everypaw is here for you and your pet when you need us most!

Why Choose Everypaw for Pet Insurance in the UK?

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Unlimited 24/7 access to UK vet nurses and vets with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/petcall" title="Link to Everypaw's Petcall vet page">Petcall</a>

Manage your UK pet insurance policy online in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/pet-portal-info" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Portal Information page">Pet Portal</a>

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Choosing the right pet health insurance isn&#39;t always easy. We know that. And we also know that a key part of deciding is knowing what&#39;s not covered. That way, at least there are no nasty surprises in terms of coughing up for bills that you thought were going to be taken care of by your policy.

So, here are a few of the main exclusions on our pet insurances:

<ul>
	<li>Treatment for any pre-existing conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment for poisoning or any accidental injury that occurs in the first 3 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment for any illness that occurs in the first 14 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment related to vaccine-preventable conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment related to breeding, pregnancy or birthing</li>
	<li>Treatment on baby teeth if your pet is over 16 weeks when your policy starts</li>
</ul>

*Switching to Everypaw Pet Insurance? If you can prove your previous insurance runs up to the policy start date, we can waive this for you.

Please see our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Policy Exclusions page">exclusions page</a>&nbsp;for further details.

Fingers crossed, you never have to! We want to reassure you that claiming on your pet health insurance is as hassle-free as possible. That&rsquo;s why we have Vet Pawtal. A direct platform for vets so they can submit claims and leave you to care for your pet.

Vet Pawtal is the fastest and most efficient way to claim. There&rsquo;s no more paperwork for you, and we&rsquo;ll keep you updated every step of the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

If your vet can&rsquo;t submit the claim, don&rsquo;t worry; you can still submit it in the <a href="https://petportal.everypaw.com/register#login" target="_blank" title="Link to the Everypaw Pet Portal">Everypaw Pet Portal</a>. It&rsquo;s straightforward; just log in and follow the instructions. Alternatively,&nbsp;you can <a href="https://www.everypaw.com/downloads-2020/everypaw-claim-form.pdf" target="_blank" title="Link to download an Everypaw claim form">download a claim form</a>, but this can take longer.

Please refer to the guidance in your policy documents for Third Party Liability claims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information, head to our <a href="/Home/claims.html">Pet Insurance Claims information page</a>.

We know pets are just as much a part of your family as any human. So, we know how important it is to you that they&#39;re protected. Choose Everypaw for pet insurance in the UK and give yourself that priceless peace of mind.

We know things can be tough right now, with many people facing money worries. If you have such concerns, please get in touch with us, as we may be able to offer some options to help, which could include reducing your cover or increasing your excess.

If you wish to find out more and your eligibility for any options, please call <a href="tel:03445431009" title="Call Everypaw Customer Services and Claims">0344 543 1009</a>.

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Deciding which pet insurance your furry bundle of fun needs can be tricky, especially if you&#39;re a new fur-parent. That&#39;s why here at Everypaw.com, we&#39;re trying to keep things simple, we&#39;re all about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/lifetime-pet-insurance.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance page">Lifetime Pet Insurance</a>.

Our Lifetime cover is available for your cats, dogs and rabbits. And if you&#39;re looking to cover your cat or dog, there&#39;s a range of cover levels to choose from. Lifetime covers your pet up to a set vet fee limit, and the limits reset for every year of cover.

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Yorkshire Terrier Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Yorkshire Terrier Facts

Is a Yorkshire Terrier Right for Me?

What Are Yorkshire Terrier Puppies Like?

Life with a Yorkshire Terrier

Caring for Your Yorkshire Terrier

Dinner time

Grooming time

Training & exercise

Yorkshire Terrier Insurance

Common Yorkshire Terrier Health Problems by Vetstream

Tracheal collapse

Luxating patella

Legge-perthes disease

Dental disease

Quick Yorkshire Terrier Q&A

What is a Yorkshire Terrier?

When does a Yorkshire Terrier stop growing?

What is the average Yorkshire Terrier lifespan?

Do Yorkshire Terriers shed?

Are Yorkshire Terriers hypoallergenic?

That’s All You Need to Know About Yorkshire Terriers

References