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Pros And Cons of a Yorkie.

The Complete Pros And Cons Of A Yorkie Guide

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Last Updated on August 14, 2023 by Denise Leo. Post first published on January 20, 2023.

Like all dog breeds, there are pros and cons of a Yorkie, and we will discuss them in detail here. Yorkshire terrier is one of the best dog breeds in the world.

Whenever you are looking for great companion dogs, Yorkshire Terriers are always among the top contenders. They are so cute that they can melt anyone’s heart. Yorkshire terrier is very intelligent and has a mind of their own.

Yorkshire Terriers are also the number one choice for those who suffer from allergies; they are considered hypoallergenic compared to other toy breeds. They have hair, not fur, that helps control dandruff more effectively.

The Yorkshire Terrier breed (nicknamed the “Yorkie”) is named after his city of origin. In the 19th century, he was used to catching rats in clothing mills. The Yorkie originally belonged to the working class people, but eventually, he became a companion of people in European high society. He’s one of the most popular dog breeds and is determined, brave, and energetic.

Pros And Cons of a Yorkie.
Pros And Cons of a Yorkie.

Yorkshire Terrier Quick Facts

  • The Yorkshire Terrier (nicknamed the “Yorkie”) is a popular dog breed due to its small size, hypoallergenic qualities, and friendly personality.
  • Yorkies are known for their courage, curiosity, and attractive appearance with bows and ponytails.
  • They are easy to carry when traveling by car or plane due to their small size, making them ideal companion dogs for apartment dwellers who suffer from allergies.
  • These dogs have hair instead of fur, their hair helps reduce dandruff levels, making them less likely to cause allergic reactions in humans than other breeds.
  • Yorkies make excellent pets due to their cuddly, loyal nature and small size.
  • They are easy to get along with and the favorite pet of the elderly.
  • The Yorkshire Terrier also makes an excellent watchdog.
  • Their hypoallergenic nature makes them ideal for those who suffer from allergies or asthma.
  • Yorkies are in the top 10 intelligent dogs because they were bred as working dogs; this means that they have fewer exercise demands than other breeds and consume less food, leading to lower bills overall.
  • Additionally, their therapeutic dog-like qualities can help reduce symptoms of depression or anxiety in owners, making them ideal companions for those suffering from such conditions.
  • Before getting a Yorkie, it is essential to consider all the pros and cons of this particular breed so you can be sure you’re ready for life with one!

Pros of Owning a Yorkshire Terrier

Several qualities in Yorkshire terriers make them popular. Here are some of the pros of Yorkies.

Appearance and Personality

One of the main qualities that attract people to Yorkies is their appearance and the personality that goes with it. Yorkies are adorable and are always well cared for. You will always see a Yorkshire Terrier with bows and ponytails that make their appearance more powerful.

Yorkies also have a very calm nature, and their curiosity and courage make them loved by people. They are always considered dogs full of courage and who do not care about their size.

Small Size

Everyone thinks that Yorkies’ size makes them easily adaptable and easy to carry. If you plan to go on a trip, these dogs are very easy to carry and move due to their size and flexible attitude. They can easily fit into small-sized crates and even fit easily in the aircraft cabin. It is also straightforward to travel with a Yorkie by car. It is straightforward for a dog of this size to adjust them on your lap during the trip. He stands at 7 – 9 inches in height.

Hypoallergenic

Another benefit of Yorkie is that they are hypoallergenic, making them one of the most popular apartment dogs. Hypoallergenic means that these dogs are less likely to cause allergies in humans. Some people are still allergic to Yorkies, but the intensity of the allergy is not that hard.

To understand how Yorkie puppies are hypoallergenic, you need to know how allergies work in humans. If you are allergic to something, your body will make antibodies whenever you come in contact with that substance. In dogs, that protein is that substance that can be spread through drool, dander, and hair.

Yorkies have hair instead of fur, which helps reduce dandruff. They also like to be neat and clean and constantly move around with pride. If appropriately groomed, Yorkies will shed significantly less hair as well.

These factors will combine to protect you from allergens, and sensitive people will react less when they come in contact with Yorkies.

Pros And Cons Of Owning A Yorkie
Pros And Cons Of A Yorkie

Easy to Cuddle With

Due to their small size, Yorkies make excellent lap dogs. If you are one of those people who likes to be affectionate with their pet, Yorkie is the perfect choice for you. You can hug them, pick them up and place them on your lap. You don’t even have to worry about them if they sleep on your lap due to their weight.

Never Get Aggressive

If you have Yorkies, you don’t always have to keep them under control because they don’t have temperament issues. They are very kind to children and adults, and there are no worries that they will hurt anyone because they never get aggressive. You’ve never heard Yorkies pouncing on a young child and knocking him down.

Attentiveness

Yorkshire terriers are too small to be guard dogs, but they make excellent watchdogs. They are territorial by nature and will instantly alert their owners if they feel something wrong. These dogs’ unique ability is comforting for owners because if someone arrives in the twenty to the thirty-foot range, they will inform you.

However, they are not used because people often get large breed dogs for this purpose. But their squeaky nature and high-pitched bark make them very noticeable. The benefit is that this comes at no cost; you don’t have to train your dog for this; they are naturally trained.

Best Apartment Dogs

As explained above, the rise in popularity of Yorkies is due to their adaptability to urbanization. Yorkies can easily fit in apartments and bungalows, which is why they are the first choice of all pet owners.

There are also a few other things that are a plus for apartment-living Yorkies. The main point is their hypoallergenic nature. You know that allergies occur when you come into contact with a specific protein; the greater the amount of protein, the greater the allergic reaction.

If you live in a smaller apartment, allergens are more likely to build up quickly. In such an environment, if you have a hypoallergenic dog, there is less chance of allergy.

Another benefit is that you don’t need to worry about losing your dog. They love to live in tight spaces, and if they live in big houses, they easily lose track. Living in a small apartment can make life easier for both of you.

Low Exercise Requirements

Most people in cities don’t have time to take their dogs for long walks and exercise. It is also difficult for those living in small apartments due to a lack of space. Due to this urbanization, most people want dogs that can live in small spaces without driving their owners crazy. For these urban areas, a Yorkshire terrier is always a perfect pet.

These dogs are very active, but it is very easy to wear them due to their small size. Because of their tiny legs, they have to take more steps to perform the same activity as you in fewer steps. If you take them out for a walk with some playtime, that’s enough for these guys.

Also, you will always quickly know when a Yorkie is bored because he will bark and act restless. If you’ve taken them out for a walk, but they’re still fidgety, it means your dog needs some mental stimulation to satisfy their curiosity.

Yorkshire Terriers love nothing more than participating in family activities and playing with their owners. They always love to participate in such activities.

Highly Intelligent

The great point in favor of the Yorkies is their intelligence. They are so intelligent and alert that they can grasp all the instructions quickly. Their intelligence makes them excellent watchdogs. Sometimes they go past the barking stage when a stranger gets too close to them.

They are also compassionate in nature and can easily detect changes in your mood. They are also very easy to train and can learn all the tricks quickly. They are so bright that people often use them for agility courses. They’re an excellent option for first-time dog owners because they pick up directions so easily, and that’s a huge plus.

Yorkies also have a sense of emotional intelligence because they can easily sense when you feel down and offer their love and support by sitting on your lap. These are the reasons that make these intelligent dogs so affectionate and cuddly.

Pros And Cons Of Owning A Yorkie
Pros And Cons Of Owning A Yorkie

Cons of Owning a Yorkshire Terrier

Many qualities make Yorkshire terriers so popular in today’s world. But like any other pet, owning a Yorkshire Terrier has some downsides. You must know the downsides before deciding to own a Yorkie.

Bad with Other Dogs

One of the important characteristics of this breed of dog is that they often become aggressive towards other animals, especially other dogs. Their behavior will be different if they think that a dog is driving attention away from them.

Yorkies are notorious for their jealousy; they think the world revolves around them, and if they don’t get attention, they react very badly. If Yorkies understand that some dog is drawing their owner’s attention, they will respond aggressively.

You may think your pet may harm any other dog out of jealousy, but that is not the case. Due to their small size, they cannot harm anyone, but the problem is that they get in trouble by becoming aggressive toward large breed dogs. As you know, they don’t care about their size, and they get aggressive with dogs that are much bigger than they are. They don’t consider it a problem, but it’s up to you to save your puppy from any awkward situation.

Difficult to House Train

It must be strange to know that a dog of such intelligence is challenging to house train. However, there are certain factors behind this.

Due to their small body size, Yorkies have small bladders, making it difficult to hold their urine for long. This is why you will often see more bathroom accidents in the case of Yorkshire terriers.

Being a Yorkie fan, this can be offensive, but the truth is that they require very high maintenance. Yorkies are also very bad at warning their owners to go to the bathroom. When owning a Yorkie, you should always look for any warning signs.

If your dog does not learn good habits, he will learn the bad ones, and once he has learned the bad ones, it is difficult for him to forget them.

Can Get Injured

As you know, there are different disadvantages to the small size of Yorkies, one of the main disadvantages of their small size is that they are prone to accidents and easily get injured. If you are one of those owners who like to get physical with their dog, Yorkies are not made for that. They are so fragile that they cannot bear to be thrown away. If you have small children in the house, it is also a very dangerous situation because children do not understand how sensitive Yorkies are.

Another thing Yorkies do is hide in different inconvenient places. The best place they like to hide is under the blanket, and it is difficult for anyone to realize that they are under it until something terrible happens. This is one of the most common reasons for Yorkie injuries as they dig under something and get sat upon, resulting in severe damage.

If you like to be a little rough with your dog and at the same time worry about hurting him, Yorkie is not the best pet for you.

Pros And Cons Of Owning A Yorkie
Pros And Cons Of Owning A Yorkie

Persistent Health Problems

Yorkshire terrier suffers from specific health problems that are primarily hereditary. Some diseases are associated from birth to life. Another problem is that their immune systems are not the best, and they often struggle to stay healthy.

One of the common diseases that affect Yorkies are

·         Patella Luxation

This problem occurs when the knee cup slides out of its usual space. This problem occurs in the puppy stage when the tendons are weak.

·         Hypoglycemia

This problem is prevalent in all toy dog ​​breeds. The leading cause of this problem is low blood sugar. This problem is quite common in the first few months and later in the adult part of life.

·         Leggs-Perthes Disease

This is a genetic problem and affects different lines of Yorkies. In this disease, there is the weakness of the femur that causes many problems in the bones.

High Grooming Requirements

As you know, Yorkies don’t require a lot of exercise to stay in shape, but they do need a lot of grooming to stay healthy. Compared to their size, they require a lot of care. Otherwise, their fur can easily become tangled. It always takes hours to groom your dog. However, the main thing to consider is its silky coat. They need daily brushing with a brittle steel brush, which is enough.

Yorkshire Terrier Grooming Requirements:

His long coat is tan and blue and needs to be brushed regularly. If you have difficulty grooming your dog, use a conditioner to make the coat silkier. You can also use water to moisten their coat.

Also, if they get dirty in some routine activity, you should bathe them immediately. You will generally need 15-20 minutes a day to keep your puppy clean and tidy. If your puppy is misbehaving, this time may increase.

Your Yorkie will also need a full-body wash after each week. It takes almost an hour to bathe your dog thoroughly. It is essential to train your Yorkie to bathe; it will help in the future.

Another important thing is the haircut your Yorkie requires every month, especially on the front of the face and legs. This haircut is important so your Yorkie can see clearly. You must have understood that these dogs have a very demanding schedule, and if you leave them dirty for too long, they can get in a bad mood.

Struggle to be Left Alone

Yorkies are always the center of people’s attention and love to get noticed. But when these dogs are left alone, they don’t do well. Yorkies show different activities such as frequent urination, barking, and scratching at furniture when they get anxious or bored.

This is the biggest problem for owners who cannot live with their pets all day. Also, Yorkies do not like living with other dogs, so that option is also in vain. To overcome this problem, people often acquire two Yorkshire terriers from a young age to keep each other company and not get involved in any fights.

But getting two Yorkies means double the money for grooming, vet bills, health problems, and food.

Do Yorkshire Terriers Make Good Pets?

Yorkies make excellent pets because they are adorable and cuddly. They love physical contact and are very loyal to their owner. Their small stature makes them adaptable and perfect for living in tight spaces. Yorkies are easy to get along with and the favorite pet of the elderly.

They may not be able to defend your home physically, but they make excellent watchdogs and do not allow anyone near your home. They are in the top 10 smart dogs because they were bred as working dogs.

Another reason Yorkie makes great pet is because of their hypoallergenic nature. If you have allergy problems, the Yorkie is an ideal breed for you. Yorkies also shed less hair; not only will it cause fewer allergy symptoms, but there will also be less need for cleaning and maintenance.

The main benefit that makes Yorkies more unique is their therapy dog ​​nature. If you suffer from depression and anxiety, Yorkies can help reduce many symptoms. They also have less exercise demands compared to other dog breeds. Similar to their small size, they consume less food and fewer bills. All of these points add up to make Yorkies an excellent pet dog.

Pros and Cons of a Yorkie Conclusion

Before getting a Yorkie, it is essential to consider the pros and cons of this breed. Knowing all the good and bad about them will make it easier for you to live with them.

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References and Further Reading:

[1] American Kennel Club, Yorkshire Terrier Information.

Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier

 

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  • Denise Leo

    My name is Denise Leo, and I hail from Australia. My journey with dogs, especially with the delightful Pomeranian breed, has been a lifelong passion extending over 50 years. I have had the honor of breeding and exhibiting close to 100 Pomeranian Champions, dedicating many years to the intricate art of dog training across various disciplines. Beyond the show ring, my experience stretches to the pastoral fields as both a Dairy Farmer and Beef Cattle Breeder, where working with dogs of all breeds has been an integral part of my daily life. This diverse exposure has deepened my understanding and appreciation for these incredible animals. I firmly believe that dogs are the most extraordinary beings in our universe, capable of offering us unconditional love that surpasses even their own self-interest. The countless wonderful dogs that have shared my life over the years have not only brought immense joy and companionship but have also profoundly enriched my existence in ways I could never have imagined. About us page