Breed Focus: Yorkshire Terrier

Another extremely recognizable breed of dog is the Yorkshire terrier. In 2013 they were ranked 6 in AKC most common breeds. Some of their popularity comes from their small size. Most yorkies fall between 4-7 pounds. Although with an abundance of breeders they can sometimes be slightly larger, depending on the breeding stock that is used. Still they will never be a large dog so they can adapt to most living situations large or small.

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Just because they are small in stature do not discount their strong personality! They have a voice and they will be heard! They were originally bred, like most terriers, to hunt rodents. In this case they were used mostly in factories. This type of job helped give them their tenacious attitude. For more information about their history you can visit the AKC website here. It is still recommended to pursue basic obedience courses and socialize them well as puppies. Another key element to consider about this breed is that they will require regular brushing at home and regular appointments with a groomer. Their long coat can be beautiful, but if not taken care of can be a nightmare full of mats. This can also be quite painful to them! Getting them used to this routine of brushing and grooming at a young age can be very helpful.

 

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As far as health concerns there are several things to remember, many of which will hold true for most toy breeds. First they are very prone to dental disease. Another good routine to start when they are young is brushing their teeth. Dental cleanings will likely be necessary later in life but hopefully with regular care at home they will be required less often. They are also prone to luxating patellas. This means that their knee caps can move back and forth. If severe surgery may be needed to correct this. Another condition to be conscious of especially when puppies is that sometimes smaller dogs have trouble regulating their glucose. This could be due to a liver shunt which may need to be screened for by your Veterinarian or it can just be their metabolism. Familiarizing yourself with signs of hypoglycemia can be very helpful. Also when puppies feeding frequent meals throughout the day may help as well.

 

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Overall Yorkshire Terriers are a very lovable and versatile dog. They crave human interaction so they make excellent companions!