Dee's Lil' Yorkshire Terriers

Personality

Yorkshire terriers are excellent watchdogs, readily alerting their family when strangers approach. In comparison, females tend to be better watchdogs than males. Male Yorkies tend to let the females do all the work.

Yorkies willingly share their homes and families with other breeds. They are primarily indoor dogs but, since they are terriers at heart, they can live a rugged outdoor terrier life. With proper care and attention, they can live anywhere.

Home and Family Relations

The Yorkie is generally not very tolerant of children but can do well if raised with them. They are affectionate and loyal to the family but can be aggressive towards strangers if not properly socialized.

Training

The Yorkshire terrier is intelligent and easily trained in basic obedience.

Special Concerns

Even though the Yorkshire terrier is generally thought of as a pet, they are still terriers at heart and readily chase and kill rodents. Yorkies should not be allowed unsupervised time with small pets such as hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs.

The long hair coat requires daily care to prevent tangles and mats.

Common Diseases and Disorders

In general, the Yorkshire terrier is a healthy dog with few medical concerns. However, the following diseases or disorders have been reported:

Patellar luxation is a disorder affecting the kneecap.

Alopecia is a disorder resulting in a loss of hair.

Urolithiasis is a condition affecting the urinary tract resulting in the formation of bladder stones.

Cataracts cause a loss of the normal transparency of the lens of the eye. The problem can occur in one or both eyes and can lead to blindness.

Cryptorchidism is a condition in which one or both testicles do not descend into the scrotum.

Entropion is a problem with the eyelid that causes inward rolling. Lashes on the edge of the eyelid irritate the surface of the eyeball and may lead to more serious problems.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is a disorder of the eye that results when tear production is decreased.

Portosystemic shunt is a malformation of the blood flow associated with the liver. The blood is shunted away from the liver, resulting in accumulation of blood toxins and subsequent profound illness.

In addition, the Yorkshire terrier is prone to dwarfism, difficulty delivering puppies, hydrocephalus and low blood sugar.

The life span of the Yorkshire terrier is 14 to 16 years.


We realize that each dog is unique and may display other characteristics. This profile provides generally accepted breed information only.