There are a lot of reasons to get a dog, companionship, security, someone to help keep your feet warm at night. If you’re looking for a little dog with a lot of love to give, then you might want to consider getting a Yorkshire Terrier. For older couples, or people who need some companionship but can’t handle a larger breed, toy breeds make for a perfect match, especially Yorkies. Yorkies are small enough to not get in the way and make for a perfect lap dog. There are a lot of factors to consider when picking the perfect pup, and Yorkies are no exception, here are a few things to consider if you’re looking at adding a Yorkshire Terrier to your home.
Big things and small Packages
As dogs go, Yorkies have a tremendous personality for such a little dog. Yorkies are part of the toy group, which means they tend to be smaller and more fragile than other, larger breeds. Because of their size, Yorkies not only make for great lap dogs, can are better suited for apartment life than a larger dog. But don’t let their size fool you, even though Yorkies are a toy breed, they’ve got a lot of energy and are prone to excitability. It’s important to have them properly trained, otherwise you might find that that high energy and a shrill bark aren’t exactly a winning combination, especially where the neighbors are concerned. Here’s some tips for the Yorkie owner to be.
Training
Yorkies can be willful little dogs, which makes them more difficult to train than some breeds, especially when it comes to house breaking. Consider a fenced in yard or a dog run to help keep “accidents” to a minimum.
Socialization
Proper socialization is a must for Yorkies. Terriers can be standoffish, and highly suspicious of, well everything. By socializing your Yorkie often, you can cut down on the amount of barking and aggression towards people and other dogs.
Barking
If you want something to let you know someones at the door, the Yorkie is at your service. However, without proper training, your Yorkie will let you know if there’s someone at the door, walking down the street, the there’s a squirrel on the fence next door… You get the idea. It’s important to train them to stop barking by command if you don’t want a ruckus anytime something in the house moves.
Size
This is an important thing to keep in mind when it comes to small dogs and toy breeds, little dogs are fragile. Yorkies can be seriously hurt if they’re stepped on or fall from any height. It’s also not suggested to have a Yorkie in a house will young children who don’t quite understand the aspect of fragility.
If these sound like problems, then perhaps a Yorkie isn’t for you. However, if you’re looking for a dapper little gentleman to keep you company on rainy days, then training certainly won’t be an issue. Much like any other dog, a Yorkie needs a bit of patience and, more importantly, a lot of love. So if you’re looking for a little dog with a lot to offer, a Yorkshire terrier might just be the perfect fit for you.
+Neil Kilgore is the Jack (Russell) of all trades at Greenfield Puppies in Lancaster Pa. He regularly blogs about dogs, breeders and puppies on the Greenfield Puppies website.
