Is A Yorkie Right For You And Your Family?

As with any breed of dog, there are very positive points to the Yorkshire Terrier breed, and there are also some special considerations that you need to be aware of, before deciding if a Yorkie is the correct dog for both yourself and your family.

The Yorkshire Terrier is no different, and some of the positive points that it has may also be difficult for some families or individuals, due to their living arrangements, schedules or personal preferences.

Before planning to get a Yorkshire Terrier puppy or dog, it is a good idea to make sure that you understand Yorkies, and exactly what situations the Yorkie does the best in.

Attention

Yorkie dogs really are a companion dog. They love to be with their owners as much as possible, and probably a Yorkie dog's best day would be sitting on his or her owner’s lap, or being with the person all day. Since they do require this attention, it is important to take this into consideration when you are getting a dog.

If you have a hectic work schedule, or would have to leave your Yorkie dog alone for long periods of time, this would probably not work well for your Yorkshire Terrier. When Yorkies are bored or lonely they tend to find their own entertainment, and this may be chewing or barking. Both of these behaviors are problematic, and are not easily stopped once they have got started.

Having said that, those purchasing from professional Yorkshire Terrier breeders will have a much better chance of ending up with a healthy and well behaved Yorkie.

If you are looking for a dog that is loyal and loves to be with its owners, and you are able to provide time and attention to the dog on a regular basis, then a Yorkie dog would be a great breed to consider.

Grooming

While not needing an excessive amount of grooming, Yorkies do require a full brushing at least once a week, and preferably every other day, depending on the amount of exercise and outside time the dog has. The coat is very fine and silky, so will knot and mat if not cared for.

The Yorkie does not have a furry undercoat, so there is little shedding. It is necessary to keep the long hair on the face pulled back unless it is clipped short. Many owners that are not showing their Yorkies simply cut the hair, to keep it out of the dog’s eyes and mouth, and to keep the Yorkie looking neat.

Yorkie dogs require cleaning of the ears and eyes on a daily basis, but this is a simple process involving the washing of the ears and eyes with a soft cotton pad or cotton ball and some warm water.

Yorkies do have a tendency to have tooth decay and dental problems, so it is important to feed dry food, and to brush the dog’s teeth frequently. This can be done with a finger sleeve of special material and some doggy toothpaste. Most Yorkies don’t mind this at all, and will quickly become accustomed to the process.

That's just a snippet of information to help you decide if a Yorkshire Terrier is right for your family.

It is suggested you do your research well as it will pay off in the future for you.

What about the reality of living with a Yorkshire Terrier?

The reality of living with a Yorkshire Terrier is that you need to be able to spend time with dog, and provide more attention to the pet than you would have to give to many other breeds. In return for this attention and affection, you will have a loving and loyal companion that will be with you and your family for fifteen or more years.

Your Yorkie will have the hunting instinct of all terriers, and may be a bit difficult to train, but will be highly intelligent and able to figure out how to get in and out of cupboards, how to find treats where they are hid, and how to find the right place to sit in your lap for hours on end. They will be great dogs with your older children, and will learn to play with other pets in the family with a little training and socialization.

They will need to be brushed regularly to keep their coats smooth and tangle-free. While they will not shed, they also need to be kept indoors in cold or wet weather, as they have no undercoat for insulation. They will require clipping of the facial hair, or keeping it pulled back with bows or berets.

The Yorkshire Terrier will also need daily eye and ear cleaning, and frequent tooth brushing to remove tarter and build-up off the teeth. Because of their loving nature they will quickly look forward to these routines.

For more information please visit our Yorkie web site.