Yorkshire Terrier
Height18–23 cm (7–9 in)
Weight2–3 kg (4–7 lbs)
TypeToy
Life Expectancy13–16 yrs
OriginEngland
A tiny terrier with a huge personality, the Yorkshire Terrier is a spirited, glamorous companion. Despite their small size, Yorkies are bold, confident, and make excellent watchdogs.
Breed Ratings
Personality
Intelligence
4/5
Trainability
3/5
Playfulness
4/5
Energy Level
3/5
Social
Good with Kids
2/5
Good with Dogs
2/5
Good with Strangers
3/5
Lifestyle
Apartment Friendly
5/5
Exercise Needs
2/5
Watchdog Ability
4/5
Barking Level
5/5
Care
Shedding
1/5
Grooming Needs
5/5
Health Robustness
3/5
Where Are Yorkshire Terriers From?
Yorkshire Terriers started as rat catchers in the textile mills and coal mines of northern England during the Industrial Revolution. Scottish workers migrating to Yorkshire brought small terrier breeds with them, and local breeders crossed them to create a tiny but tenacious ratter. The breed quickly transitioned from working-class pest control to Victorian parlor pet when wealthy women discovered that a Yorkshire Terrier fit perfectly in a handbag and came with a stunning silky coat.
What Is It Like Living With a Yorkshire Terrier?
Yorkies have no idea they’re small. They carry themselves with the confidence of a Rottweiler and will boss around dogs ten times their size without blinking. This terrier boldness is entertaining but can create problems — they’ll pick fights they can’t win and bark at anything that moves. Beneath the bravado, Yorkshire Terriers bond intensely with one or two people and can be suspicious of everyone else. They’re loyal to the point of possessiveness and may not share their favorite person willingly.
How Much Exercise Does a Yorkshire Terrier Need?
Yorkshire Terriers need 30–45 minutes of daily exercise. Short walks, indoor play sessions, and interactive toys keep them satisfied. Despite their small size, they have genuine energy and enjoy brisk walks more than being carried everywhere. Mental stimulation through puzzle toys and training keeps their sharp terrier minds engaged. Yorkies bore easily and a bored Yorkie is a barking Yorkie.
How Often Do You Need to Groom a Yorkshire Terrier?
Grooming is the most demanding aspect of Yorkshire Terrier ownership. The silky coat grows continuously and requires daily brushing if kept long, or professional grooming every four to six weeks if kept in a shorter “puppy cut.” Their coat is actually more similar to human hair than typical dog fur, which means less shedding but more tangles. Major health concerns include patellar luxation (very common), tracheal collapse, portosystemic liver shunt, dental disease (their tiny jaws crowd teeth severely), and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.
Are Yorkshire Terriers Healthy?
Yorkshire Terriers are ideal for apartment dwellers, seniors, couples, and people who want a genuine companion dog with outsized personality. They’re not well-suited for homes with very young children (Yorkies are fragile and may snap if handled roughly) or people who want a quiet dog. The fact that surprises people: Smoky, a Yorkshire Terrier found in a foxhole during World War II, became the first therapy dog on record and ran communication wires through underground pipes too small for soldiers to access. She weighed just four pounds.
Our Honest Take on the Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terriers are bold, brilliant, and utterly convinced they are the largest dog in the room. Wonderful companions — but their small size masks a demanding personality that catches first-time owners off guard.
Common Mistakes New Owners Make
- 1Treating them like accessories rather than dogs. Yorkies carried everywhere, never walked or trained, frequently develop Small Dog Syndrome — anxiety, excessive barking, and resource guarding that becomes genuinely difficult to reverse.
- 2Skipping dental care. Yorkies have some of the worst teeth of any breed — small mouths, crowded teeth, rapid tartar buildup. Without weekly brushing and professional cleanings, dental disease is nearly universal and painful by age 5.
- 3Leaving long coats unmaintained. The floor-length show coat requires daily brushing and professional grooming every 4–6 weeks. Most pet owners wisely opt for a shorter 'puppy cut' — budget $60–$90 per session.
- 4Overfeeding treats due to their size. At 4–7 lbs, a Yorkie gains weight from quantities that seem trivial. Obesity in small breeds leads to joint problems, tracheal collapse, and shortened lifespan.
Who Should Think Twice
Yorkshire Terriers are wrong for families with very young children (Yorkies are fragile and can be snappy when startled), owners who travel extensively without dog-care plans (Yorkies bond intensely and don't transition well), or anyone who wants an easy, low-maintenance breed. Their grooming and dental care demands are higher than most people expect.
Real Costs in 2026
Yorkie puppies from reputable breeders: $1,200–$3,000 in 2026. Teacup Yorkies (under 4 lbs) are not a legitimate size classification — they're undersized dogs with elevated health risks, often sold for inflated prices by irresponsible breeders. Annual ongoing costs: food $15–$25/month (tiny dogs eat little), professional grooming $720–$1,080/year, dental cleanings $300–$700/year under anesthesia. Small breed = small food bill, but not small vet bills.
Living With a Yorkshire Terrier: Year by Year
Yorkie puppyhood is fragile in a literal sense — they're often under 2 pounds at 8 weeks, and hypoglycemia is a real risk requiring frequent feeding. By month 4 the breed personality is fully online: bold, vocal, opinionated, and entirely unaware of their size. Adolescence (1-2 years) is when the territorial barking and small-dog reactivity peak; expect alarm barking at delivery drivers, leash-lunging at Great Danes, and absolute conviction that the Yorkie is the largest dog in the room. Prime adulthood (2-10) is generally pleasant — affectionate, loyal, surprisingly trainable when handled like an actual dog rather than a pocket accessory. The breed lives long: 13-16 years is typical, with dental disease and tracheal collapse as the dominant senior issues. The surprise that defines the breed is the personality-to-body ratio — Yorkies are genuinely brave, often recklessly so, and will pick fights with dogs ten times their size if not actively managed.
The Training Reality
Yorkies are intelligent and trainable but are often undertrained because owners excuse small-dog behaviors that would never be tolerated in a larger breed. Most can be reliably housetrained by month 6, but many never are because owners don't put in the work — bladder size makes timing critical, and indoor potty pads create lifelong confusion if mixed with outdoor training. Marker training works well in short sessions (2-3 minutes); Yorkies bore fast. The ceiling is higher than most owners realize: the breed competes in agility, obedience, and tricks at high levels. The frustration most owners hit is the barking, which is genuinely difficult to extinguish — territorial barking is hardwired and management (window film, white noise) is often more effective than training. Off-leash recall is achievable but rarely reliable around larger dogs or moving prey.
A Day in the Life
Morning walk is 20-30 minutes — Yorkies need real exercise despite their size. They eat breakfast in seconds and will food-guard against larger dogs. Most sleep 13-15 hours, often in a covered bed or under blankets — the breed cannot regulate body temperature well and seeks heat. They bark at every doorbell, every floor creak, every shadow; this is genuinely the loudest breed per pound by most measures. Daily coat care is significant if kept long: brushing every other day or matting begins within a week. Most pet owners shave to a 'puppy cut' every 4-6 weeks ($50-80 per groom). Surprising things owners learn: Yorkies are extremely cold-sensitive (sweaters required below 50F), have fragile tracheas (no collars, harnesses only), can break legs jumping off couches, and develop dental disease at a rate that requires professional cleaning every 1-2 years from age 4 onward.
How Yorkshire Terriers Compare to Similar Breeds
Compared to a Maltese, Yorkies are bolder and more vocal; Maltese are calmer and slightly more fragile. Compared to a Silky Terrier, Yorkies are smaller and less athletic; Silkies are essentially a slightly larger, sturdier alternative. Compared to a Toy Poodle, Yorkies are more independent and harder to train; Poodles are more biddable but have higher grooming costs and similar dental issues.
Great For
- Apartment living
- Allergy-conscious homes
- Home security
Think Twice If
- You want low grooming effort
- You need a quiet dog
- You have young children
Are Yorkshire Terriers Prone to Health Issues?
Yorkshire Terriers are predisposed to: patellar luxation, portosystemic shunt, tracheal collapse, dental disease. Regular vet visits and a healthy diet help prevent common issues.
Health Robustness
3/5
How Much Does a Yorkshire Terrier Cost?
Purchase Price
$800–$3,000
Monthly Food
$25
Annual Vet
$450
Annual Grooming
$500
Est. First Year
~$3,150
Est. Annual
~$1,250
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Yorkshire Terrier cost?
A Yorkshire Terrier puppy typically costs $800–$3,000. The estimated first-year cost including food, vet visits, and grooming is around $3,150, with ongoing annual costs of approximately $1,250.
How long do Yorkshire Terriers live?
Yorkshire Terriers have an average lifespan of 13 to 16 years. Common health concerns include patellar luxation, portosystemic shunt, tracheal collapse, dental disease.
Are Yorkshire Terriers good with kids?
Yorkshire Terriers score 2/5 for being good with children. They may not be the best choice for families with young children and require careful supervision.
Do Yorkshire Terriers shed a lot?
Yorkshire Terriers have a shedding level of 1/5. They are minimal shedders, making them a good option for people concerned about pet hair.
Are Yorkshire Terriers good for apartments?
Yorkshire Terriers score 5/5 for apartment friendliness. They adapt very well to apartment living and don't require a large yard.