Yorkshire Terrier
Quick Facts:
- AKC recognized in 1885
- Lifespan: 13-16 years
- Size: Small
- Energy: Medium
- Recommended Crate Size: 18”-22" dog crate*
Return to the main Dog Crate Sizes Breed Chart.
Yorkshire or Yorkie easily adapts to its surroundings, travels well and makes a good companion. This dog is considered a toy dog or toy terrier due to its small size. Despite the size, the Yorkie is also considered a great little watchdog as they have a tendency to bark at anything they may find disturbing. Loyalty is in their nature as they closely bond to family members.
Breed
The American Kennel Club formally recognized the Yorkshire terrier in 1855. These are medium energy dogs. They are a small sized dog with long hair in four standard colors: tan and blue, black and gold, black and tan, and blue and tan. The coat is parted from the skull base straight down on each side of body and on the face. The Yorkie body is compact, neat, and well proportioned.
Appearance
The Yorkie's hair should be glossy, straight, fine, and silky. Generally, the coat will grow very long and parted on the back to the lower body. This dog is small in size but not weak. They are muscular, athletic, and swift on the feet which make them fairly energetic. For many people, the small size and silky straight hair are the most outstanding feature of a Yorkie.
Nutrition
It is important to provide feed formulated specifically for Yorkshire terriers. It is highly recommended to discuss your dog’s feed and care maintenance with your veterinarian or breeder in order to determine size and frequency of meals. This will ensure the proper health and good lifespan. As always, it is important to provide clean and fresh water and have it readily available.
Grooming
The Yorkshire requires regular combing and brushing or they can quickly turn into a matted mess. If you cannot give them frequent brushing; you should regularly trim their coat to keep it neat, short, and healthy. If an owner wants to minimize frequent maintenance they can also shorten the coat with clippers to ensure that grooming is much more manageable. The Yorkie’s nails tend to grow quickly; thus, they require regular trimming to avoid cracking, clipping, and overgrowth. The ears also require regular checks to prevent debris and wax to grow, which can lead to infection. Last but certainly not least, the teeth should be regularly brushed.
Exercise
The Yorkie requires some regular exercise. Owners will find that they enjoy investigating smells, sounds and sights at the dog park. Even though this dog is small in size they are very active, curious, overprotective, while being fond of affection. Staying true to their trademark confidence, they are also known as the “tomboy toy”. They are full of enthusiasm and energy. They can get along well with other dogs as well as being on their own. They are loyal and likely to stay near the owner but they do not need to be pampered. Yorkie tends to bark which makes it a good watchdog with its overall gentle nature making them good company for a family with children.
Pet Crate Size
Pet Crates Direct recommends 18” to 22” dog crates* for most adult Yorkshire terriers.
* Links for crate sizes will bring you to the most appropriate Amazon page.
Return to the main Dog Crate Sizes Breed Chart.
