Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkie, unsurprisingly, has roots in Yorkshire, England. This small breed is thought to be a descendant of Scottish terrier breeds, such as the Skye Terrier and first made a name for itself during the 19th Century.

General Appearance

Yorkshire Terriers are small, black and tan dogs with a delicate frame. They have brown eyes and triangular, erect ears. Their fur should be long and silky and can even reach the ground if allowed to grow to its full potential. Owners need to be prepared for plenty of brushing to prevent tangles.

Temperament

The Yorkie makes an excellent companion dog. These small dogs are well adapted to house or apartment living and generally have very loving temperaments. Being a member of the Terrier group of breeds, Yorkies may have a tendency to chase anything small that moves so it can be best to ensure they are kept on a lead when walking in wooded or countryside areas. 

Health Considerations
As the Yorkie has a small jaw, many will develop periodontal disease in their middle age. Owners may notice that they dribble, struggle to chew hard biscuits and have bad breath. A dental cleaning under anaesthetic may be required a few times during their life. Owners can help by brushing their teeth. A finger tooth brush may be easiest to use as their mouths are so small. You may also wish to try your Yorkie on a dental specific chew or treat, like the Pooch & Mutt Dental Meaty Treats 

Trainability
Yorkies aren’t always easy to train. While smart, they aren’t the most obedient of doggos. Many are stubborn and may understand a command but refuse to follow it. We can help to ensure training sessions are successful by always ensuring tasty treats are on hand.

Grooming
A Yorkie’s silk hair is known to grow quickly and as such, it’s expected they will need a groom around once a month. There are many varieties of haircuts for Yorkies available so you’ll have plenty of choice whether you are planning to trim and groom yourself at home or visiting a groomer. Depending on the length of your Yorkie’s coat, we should aim to brush them almost daily to avoid knots. 

Exercise
Aim for 30 - 60 minutes of exercise for your Yorkshire Terrier each day. Vary this between shorter walks where they can sniff to their heart's content and at home play-times. Yorkies often love to ‘hunt’ so hiding toys and treats around the garden or using a snuffle mat can help to keep them happy.

Feeding Considerations

To help with their small mouths, feeding a small-breed specific kibble may be useful. Pooch & Mutts’ Chicken & Superfood blend comes in a variant specifically for Small Dogs.

You'll find a handy feeding calculator on every product page here at Pooch & Mutt to help you identify how much of our health led recipes are right for the age, size and weight of your dog.