If you are thinking of purchasing a dog then you will be in a spin as to what breed will best suit your needs.

If you want a little dog that loves to sit on your knee, cuddle up in bed beside you and is generally cute, intelligent, loveable and mischievous then perhaps a Yorkshire Terrier is for you.

The Yorkie is one of the smallest dog breeds in the world but I don’t think they’ve ever looked in a mirror because most of them seem to think they are the same size as a German Shepherd or a Rottweiler !!  They are full of energy and adore adventure, love and attention.  They are inquisitive, will often get into mischief and have a brave and stubborn nature but will make wonderful, devoted companions and a great watchdog.

Just purchase a cosy little dog bed for him to curl up in when he’s tired and a few little toys for him to play with when he needs some attention and he will give you lots of fun and enchantment every day.

Because of their many wonderful traits, the Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular dog breeds today.  He stands about 9 inches high at the shoulders and only weighs about 5 -7  pounds and have a lifespan of around 14-16 years.

Due to him being so small and possessing many of the Toy breed characteristics like his alert, active and inquisitive nature, the Yorkie is classed as part of the Toy breed group rather than the Terrier.  Yorkies are sociable and outgoing, bold and unafraid of anything.  They love their family dearly and will bark incessantly if they sense any danger.  Yorkies do love to bark and this trait makes them great watch dogs but can be very annoying if you’re not prepared for it.

Yorkies like children if they have grown up with them but if you have a child, he needs to show the little dog some respect and learn how to play properly with the dog  as a Yorkie won’t think twice about snapping at a child if the child is unintentionally rough or is teasing the dog.

Most Yorkies don’t get along too well with other animals (including dogs) unless they grow up with them, but there are always exceptions to the rule.  If you do have other pets in the house, make sure you socialize the dogs well and remember that Yorkies, regardless of how well they are socialized with dogs, are not usually compatible with cats and are never compatible with rodents of any kind.  As mentioned before, the Yorkie was originally bred to hunt rodents and this is part of their natural instinct and can’t be trained out of them.

Training Yorkies is reasonably easy as they are very intelligent little dog and learn quickly.  They do well with basic obedience and should be trained early on so that they can grow up a credit to their breed.  A dog cage is a good purchase as your new Yorkie will feel safe from clumsy feet if he can hide away in his own little “den”.  Learn how to use a dog training cage properly and your dog will feel safe and secure and will also prevent him from escaping through open doors.  A puppy play pen will also serve the same purpose.

As with all dogs, to maintain a healthy life, a Yorkie must have the exercise he requires.  Yorkies love to run and should be taken for a walk for at least 15-20 minutes a day and some will walk for an hour or more if they get the chance !  However, if you aren’t always able to take your dog out for long walks, he can be equally active indoors and will find ways to amuse himself – fetching a toy, a ball etc.   A Yorkshire Terrier will live happily in both the town and country provided he is given the love, time and attention he deserves.

ideas-4-pets also advise that you take your Yorkie to visit your Vet for regular checkups so that he can be tested and watched for common illnesses and specific health problems that affect the breed such as knee, eye and liver problems.

Although your Yorkie will not shed its hair, it will need grooming daily as they have long, silky hair that needs to be brushed and combed to prevent matting and knots.  A dog grooming table can make this activity easier for both you and your dog.  Some owners keep the hair on the top of the Yorkie’s head long and tie it up with a rubber band or ribbon to keep it out of his eyes.  If the long hair is too much effort, the dog will need his hair clipped every few months but will still benefit from daily grooming.

Look after your Yorkie in the way he deserves and he will love you back tenfold !!