Yorkshire Terrier

When it comes to Yorkie haircuts, you have some choices to make. If you’d like to keep things short, you can pick a teddy bear haircut or “puppy cut”—both tend to be about 1–2 inches all over.  

Otherwise, you can keep it long. All Yorkie grooming requires the same amount of upkeep, no matter the style.  

• Bathing: Plan on bathing your dog about once a month. After you shampoo your Yorkie, apply a conditioner—yes, this breed needs to be pampered—and then rinse. Many Yorkie parents spritz their dogs with a leave-in conditioner, too. 
• Brushing: A Yorkie’s hair is fine and delicate, almost like a human’s. Brush it every day with a pin brush to avoid breakage and matting. While you’re brushing your pup, check their eyes for discharge and clean it away with a soft, damp cloth or vet-approved eye cleaner. 
• Dental care: Brush their teeth daily to keep their teeth and gums healthy and reduce the risk of dental disease. Get a pro cleaning at your vet’s office once a year, too.  
• Ear and skin care: Give their skin, paws, and ears a once-over when you brush your Yorkie. Look for any signs of inflammation or infection, like hair loss, sores, redness, flaking, or bumps. Any ear odor could also be a sign that something is off.  
• Nail care: Trim your dog’s nails every two to four weeks—you’ll know it’s time when you hear them clicking on hard surfaces. 

With their quick wits, Yorkies can master cues (like sit, stay, and come) easily through positive reinforcement—think praise, toys, and treats. Yorkies love soaking up compliments and are eager to please, so they’ll be delighted to show you what they can accomplish.  

Not only are they good at learning cues and tricks, but Yorkshire Terriers also excel at agility and obedience competitions.  

An important part of training your Yorkie is socializing them with other pets and humans from as early as 7 or 8 weeks old (though you can definitely start later if you adopt them as an adult or senior—ask your vet for advice). This helps your Yorkie puppy grow to be confident (and not anxious!) when confronted with new situations. 

If your Yorkie is still a puppy, talk to your vet about when you should start obedience school or socializing with other pups. If you adopt your dog when they’re older, take things at their pace and slowly introduce them to new people and pets, again with advice from a trainer or vet. The goal is to get them to feel safe around everyone, two-legged or four-legged.  

Your Yorkshire Terrier will never be hesitant to tell you what they’re thinking; it’s rare to meet a quiet Yorkie. If you live close to your neighbors, it might be worthwhile to work with a trainer or behaviorist to help manage your pup’s chatty nature.  

Yorkshire Terriers typically do well on a high-quality commercial dog food that’s AAFCO-compliant. Choose a diet that’s right for your dog’s life stage (puppy, adult, or senior). You can even find dog food made specifically for Yorkie puppies and adults. 

Because Yorkies are so small, they don’t need nearly as much food as, say, a Mastiff. But they do have very fast metabolisms, which might leave them feeling hungrier faster.  

Talk to your vet about possibly serving your Yorkie three or four smaller meals per day instead of just morning and evening feedings. If your Yorkie is a grazer, it might also be possible to leave their kibble out during the day and let them choose when they nosh. Your vet can help you decide.  

Yorkshire Terriers love a heavy dose of appreciation—so cue the treats. Though dog treats are great tools for training, you don’t want to overdo it. Remember that those little morsels of praise are still calories, and even an extra pound can make a big impact on such a small dog. Treats should be no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories.  

Despite being energetic, spirited pups, Yorkshire Terriers don’t need a ton of exercise. However, they do need plenty of movement and play—and don’t forget to engage their mind as well.  

Without exercise and mental engagement, these clever canines can easily get bored (and you might not appreciate your pup’s new form of entertainment, which might include chewing your pillows or singing loudly).  

Two 15-minute daily walks are sufficient, but also keep puzzle toys around so your Yorkie is mentally stimulated. A living room game of fetch is great, too, and some particularly athletic Yorkies might love the challenge of dog sports, like agility trials.  

When you do go out and about together, remember not to speed walk—your Yorkshire Terrier’s little legs can’t keep up! Instead, be patient, and give them the time to stop and smell the roses (literally—scent work is great for their mind).  

It’s tempting to pick up these little cuties and carry them everywhere, but this deprives them of the exercise and stimulation they need. Of course, make sure they’re safe in your arms in crowds, busy stores, or if they’re feeling overwhelmed by all the big breeds at the dog park. As long as you have a balance of walking and holding, you should be set.  

You don’t need a ton of space or even a yard to make a Yorkie happy. They can have a (literal) ball playing fetch right in your living room.  

These pups will also enjoy a good snuggle, so it’s nice if you let them accompany you on the sofa and bed. Make sure they have lots of options for cozy spots around the house. Tiny dogs often like places where they feel safe, like covered beds where they can come and go as they like.    

Most Yorkies will get along fine with other dogs and cats, and they can do well with children as long as both dog and child are taught how to interact with each other. Because Yorkies are so tiny, any young kids will need to understand that this dog is not a toy and shouldn’t be treated like one.  

If you work long hours, you’ll be fine if you can bring your Yorkie to the office with you. However, this isn’t a breed who likes to be alone for most of the day; doggy daycare or a pet sitter is a good option for warding off separation anxiety.  

Yorkies don’t love extreme heat or cold, but who does? Get a good dog sweater or dog jacket in the winter, and make sure they have 24/7 access to water and AC in the summer.