The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular small dog breeds. This breed is considered to be very lively, happy, confident and devoted dog. The Yorkshire Terrier or “Yorkie”, as they are sometimes called, loves attention so much that you will find him near you all the time. He loves and seeks out adventure which can sometimes lead him into mischief. Yorkies have a very high-energy and require only moderate exercise because of their size. They would prefer long, daily walks to satisfy their energetic nature. When outdoors, this breed should always be leashed or be put in a safely enclosed area, because he will certainly chase after smaller animals. He is also fearless and assertive and will confront much larger dogs. He can get along with other dogs and possibly with cats if he is brought up with them. But he will hunt and can harm smaller pets. He gets along well with older, responsible children, but does not have the patience for younger and smaller kids.
He is a friendly dog and likes people, although he can be timid with visitors if he is not introduced to them while still a puppy. An outstanding watchdog, he is intensely protective, guarding his territory fearlessly with his acute hearing and his relentless, high-pitched bark. He can be annoyingly barky and yappy, and must be trained to stop yapping on command. He is easily trained, eager to please you and can remember many different commands. He excels at dog sports, especially agility. However, he can be stubborn at times; that is why he needs to be trained with a great deal of patience and praise.
Finally, the Yorkshire Terrier is 8 to 9 inches tall and weighs four to seven pounds. He has a long, straight coat. His coat colour can vary from black and gold, black and tan, blue and gold to blue and tan. His coat only needs to be brushed occasionally, and is clipped short every few months. Just brush his coat for 10 to 15 minutes daily to prevent tangles, and schedule him for a hair trimming every 6 weeks to avoid any health problems or grooming issues later on.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org.
