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The doghouse

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Original poster

Talk to me about Yorkshire Terriers

58 replies

NormallyOK · 21/08/2021 21:36

I've only ever had a cat, never been a dog owner. When I was out at work, a cat was the best choice as they are more independent and can be left alone longer than a dog. I'm due to retire soon and would like a small dog that I can take away with me in my campervan. I've always liked the idea of a Yorkshire Terrier, but actually know nothing about them.

Are they as cuddly as they look? good-tempered? easy to train? Should I buy a puppy or an older dog? Do they have many known health issues? How do I find one from a reputable source? Any advice gratefully received.

OP posts:

userxx · 21/08/2021 21:40

I've always found them to be quite yappy dogs and a bit arsey. Border terriers are brilliant little dogs, huge personalities and very cuddly.

Original poster

NormallyOK · 21/08/2021 21:49

Are they much bigger than a yorkshire ?

OP posts:

storkstalk · 21/08/2021 21:50

I’ve never got on with them. They yap and nip in my experience. I’d also agree with PP that a border terrier might be better.

bobbilyknob · 21/08/2021 21:51

The one I know is sweet and feisty, but not particularly cuddly.

userxx · 21/08/2021 22:08

@NormallyOK

Are they much bigger than a yorkshire ?

Height wise probably not, but borders are chunkier.

Beamur · 21/08/2021 22:11

Been ages but my Mum looked after two (at different times) that were owned by friends.
These ones were fab little dogs. Surprisingly fierce and yes, a bit arsey, but very loyal and affectionate. They were not what I was expecting and I rather liked the breed. They're small but with big personalities.

Beamur · 21/08/2021 22:15

I know a few Borders. Mix between sweet and lovely and really grumpy and arsey!
Don't get a Patterdale. They are the sweetest looking dogs but can be really hard work. Stubborn and a bit naughty!
A friend of mine has a Norfolk terrier and he seems to have a really chilled disposition but needs to be well exercised mentally and physically to be like that - he's a smart dog.

wetotter · 21/08/2021 22:21

All terriers can be a bit arsey!

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/toy/yorkshire-terrier/

No particular health concerns, but I think like many small breeds there's a tendency towards luxating patellae. Silky coat - requires lots of grooming.

Other small breeds which it might be worth reading up on (even if it's only to confirm your preference for Yorkshires): Norfolk terrier, Norwich terrier, Maltese terrier, bichon frise, toy poodle

fruitpastille · 21/08/2021 22:23

The borders I know are quite bouncy and much bigger than a Yorkshire terrier. I had a yorkie growing up and it was nice but I don't remember it being very cuddly. What about a west highland terrier? Or a Jack Russell? V loyal and pretty hardy.

TrainspottingWelsh · 21/08/2021 22:26

I don't know anything about modern breeding or health issues, but imo they have an undeserved reputation, as do many terrier breeds.
Admittedly breeding for size and appearance more recently will have played a part for some lines, but essentially they are intelligent, active working dogs. That doesn't mean they aren't a convenient size or temperament to sit on your knee and be cute and cuddly pets, but they do need more than a lap dog lifestyle. Bred and raised for a short daily stroll on the lead and a boring lifestyle with minimal training effort, they are inclined to be snappy, yappy little things. But provided you do some research into breeding, are fairly competent at training and are prepared to give them a physically and mentally stimulating lifestyle they are lovely little dogs with big personalities.

DrEllie · 21/08/2021 22:27

Have a x border, she's a lovely dog. Big enough not to be yappy like Yorkies but not too big either

isthisfishy · 21/08/2021 22:31

I have a border who loves a cuddle on the sofa. He is not noisy unless someone knocks at the door in which case he does bark.
Such a gentle nature, likes a bit of rough and tumble play and is always please to see me when I get home but no separation anxiety. He's a bit stubborn but gets on well with the cat and was easy to train.

countrytown · 21/08/2021 22:35

I grew up with yorkies & loved them. Didn't yap or nip

countrytown · 21/08/2021 22:35

They're small but with big personalities.

yes

countrytown · 21/08/2021 22:36

one of mine was incredibly cuddly & it would sleep with my teddies, dolls pram etc. loved attention.

M0rT · 21/08/2021 22:40

I used to work with a woman who bred Yorkshire terriers. Silky coat and very intelligent interested in the world dogs. Shrill bark though and territorial.
I have much bigger dogs because I nearly fell over one of hers more than once and I decided I just wasn't graceful enough for small dogs that can appear under your feet with no warning.

Phoenix76 · 21/08/2021 22:44

I had two yorkies, I posted on here a couple of years ago when I lost one (I miss them everyday). They were the light of my life. They weren’t yappy or nippy and tolerated my then very young dd’s being a bit clumsy around them. They only barked when someone was at the door. I could take them anywhere with me, trains, buses, boats and people would comment saying you wouldn’t know they were there. They were fun, loyal, caring and super cute. They didn’t need a lot of grooming as we kept their hair at a certain length. When I first met my partner, I’d already had them for a number of years. He didn’t particularly like dogs at that time but these two changed his whole perception, he is now a self proclaimed dog lover and marvels at how intelligent they are. They were the best friends I’ve ever had. I think it’s like most things, if you invest time, energy and love in anything you reap what you sow.

Reallyreallyborednow · 21/08/2021 22:44

I have a yorkie. As with all there are good ones and bad ones, and a lot depends on the owner.

Mine is a little lap dog. You sit, he sits on your lap. I work from home with him on my knee. Sleeps at the foot of the bed. He’s very attached to us so easy to walk off lead as he’s always checking where you are. I had to teach him to bark at the doorbell etc, now he’s a great little warning system, but he isn’t yappy. He’s actually a bit too quiet sometimes and get tripped over as he follows me around. He’s fine with a little exercise or can walk all day. Easy to train, good basic commands, i can pretty much take him anywhere.

He’s also a very good mouser, we live rurally and this is how he spends quite a bit of time, often he teams up with the cat. He also likes playing with the cat.

I got mine as a puppy, well about 20 weeks. I wanted a certain line as I knew they bred dogs with the above traits. Older dogs are a good choice too, lots of older yorkies in rescue, often because owners have died or are elderly.

user1471453601 · 21/08/2021 22:49

We have a one year old Jack Russel. She's super cuddly, but that might be because of the way we brought her up. She stands 11inches from feet to head, so she's quite small (I've had bigger cats).

She's also quite prey driven, we've not tried her around cats, and don't purposely intend to. She's quite stubborn, but quick to learn also.

She's the first puppy we've had, we've tended to go for rescue dogs in the past, and I wouldn't wish those months between three and six on anyone. However since she had her first season, her "mad behaviour" has modified quite drastically. Now she gets the zoomys about once a week, instead of Two to three times a day. And she rarely picks stray bits of paper, cardboard, plastic up from the floor.

Though she does seem to love pebbles

Tulips15 · 21/08/2021 22:51

My grandfather always had one.
They stink, the hair I think and it was always 'greasy hair' .
Maybe it was just my grandfathers yorkies but it put me off them and small dogs in general.

Tulips15 · 21/08/2021 22:57

Though I did rescue a 7 yr old Jack russell.
Adores people, children and fuss BUT not good with other dogs, she is feisty and an escape artist...., though now age 15, deaf and partially blind...she sleeps a good 20hrs a day. You won't find a more loyal breed imo.

what about king charles spaniel?
my childhood family dogs, wonderful gentle and loyal, real lap dogs!

Cloudandsunshine · 21/08/2021 23:39

Had a Yorkshire terrier growing up, she was the most lovely little thing. She wasn't yappy and never nipped or snapped, extremely tolerant. Have a bichon now who is very cuddly but much more challenging than our little Yorkie was. My dad did go to a good breeder and did his research before getting her so I guess that was why she was so great

Cloudandsunshine · 21/08/2021 23:43

Forgot to say, she needed regular clipping as her behind would get dirty otherwise. She lived to 13 with no health issues until the end

Usernameisgone · 21/08/2021 23:57

I have 2 Yorkie's and honestly I love them.

1 is yappy an wants to fight everything 😂
The other is chill and relaxed.

1 I have had 5 years and he was a nightmare to potty train. Yorkies are notoriously stubborn.
He was hyperactive and a real live wire until recently. I think now at 7 he is starting to slow down 😂
My other Yorkie we got almost 2 years ago an he has just turned 13. He is a proper old man. Don't like rain, cold, long walks etc.

Lou98 · 22/08/2021 00:23

@userxx

I've always found them to be quite yappy dogs and a bit arsey. Border terriers are brilliant little dogs, huge personalities and very cuddly.

I second this. I'm a dog groomer and some of my favourite customers are borders! They're a lot less maintenance than yorkies when it comes to grooming aswell if you get them hand stripped.

I groom absolutely loads of yorkies and have a few friends/family members with them and I'd say 90% of them are very yappy. I've also had quite a few of them nip, although there's definitely worse breeds for that. From talking to the people I know that have them and the owners of the ones I groom, there isn't a lot of them that are overly cuddly/affectionate dogs

Really just depends what you're looking for in a dog though, is there any key points you want, easy to maintain? High/low energy? Size?

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