Overview: The Yorkshire Terrier Breed (often referred to as the Yorkie breed), is one of the most popular dogs around these days. Odds are that you know someone who has, or wants one of these little balls of fur. The Yorkie is an exceptionally small dog, weighing in between five and seven pounds, and standing approximately seven to eight inches tall. They have soft, abundance fur and a small sweet looking face. However, while the Yorkie looks innocent, these little dogs are known to be oozing with that classic terrier spunky personality.

Exercise Requirements: The Yorkie breed is relatively low maintenance and will do fine in an apartment provided that it is given a daily walk of at least thirty minutes. Ideally however, they would do well with an hour of outdoor exercise daily. These dogs are also quite active indoors, and will be able to meet much of their exercise needs through indoor play, such as tug-o-war or some fetch in the hallway.

Shedding: Despite the Yorkie’s long and abundance coat, this breed is not know to be especially heavy shedders. However, they should be brushed (twice weekly) and even trimmed regularly to avoid tangles and mats, as well as bathed whenever an odor is present. If you are interested in acquiring a Yorkie for dog show pursuits, be warned that their coat will require drastically more work to be in proper show condition, and you may want to consult an experienced groomer for assistance with this.

Training: Like many terrier breeds, the Yorkie is smart but stubborn, so training a Yorkie can be quite challenging. Firm consistency is a necessity and starting on training from an early age is beneficial. Unfortunately, this breed is also known to be difficult to housebreak (most toy breeds are), so it may take some time and a lot of training efforts before your Yorkshire Terrier is the model, obedient dog that it can be.

Health Concerns: Health Concerns: Yorkies generally live long lives, most commonly in the twelve to fifteen year range. They generally healthy animals, however are prone to certain health conditions, including luxating patella and dental issues, which are common in many toy breeds. Also of note is that the Yorkie breed is sensitive to the cold weather, and would benefit from a doggy jacket when the temperature is frigid.