Yorkshire Terrier Temperament

Yorkshire Terriers are a sweet and cuddly toy breedthat originally hail from Yorkshire, England, and were bred of many different breeds that existed at the time to minimize a problematic rat epidemic.

Today, they are either seen as a vivacious, high-energy terrier, or a delicate dog that was born to be pampered. Cute and fluffy, they are vivacious lap dogs trailed by luxurious, flowing coats, sometimes topped with a little bow on their heads. They are a small, yet sturdy and mighty breed with a love for family and a true zest for life.

Their temperaments, as with most breeds, vary, as each Yorkie is very much an individual. That said, the core temperament and personality traits of Yorkies are generally that they are affectionate and energetic, with a genuine outgoing nature, a love for their humans, and a strong desire to be close to them.

They are watchful and alert, territorial, and canbe quite the vocal little scoundrels; whether a visitor has arrived or the postman is here, you will certainly know all about it! Yorkies can be momentarily wary of strangers and newcomers, and if they are ineffectively trained and/or socialized, they can become temperamental and snappy.

A Brilliant Companion

Yorkshire Terriers are lively and inquisitive, physically and mentally quick, and love to spend their time roaming about and checking that everything is to their satisfaction. He can also be an enthusiastic chaser of butterflies and other small wildlife.

Yorkies can also be a lover of comfort, eager to cuddle at length with its human family or snuggling into soft pillows.

Though the Yorkie can be wary and even snappy of strangers, a well socialized dog gets on quite well with other pets and can co-exist quite well. That said, they can become overwhelmed rather quickly with children who play too rough and owners should bever allow this to happen with the delicate Yorkie.

Some Yorkies are quick and eager learners, while others are more willful and independent individuals. They may dislike walking on a leash and will dart about if not properly trained. Housebreaking is difficult with some Yorkies, leading their owners to compromise with an indoor litter box, or a doggy door that leads to a covered potty area. Barking should be curbed from day one, and they must be taught that possessiveness of their food and toys is undesirable.

Dominant Individuals

The Yorkshire Terrier of long ago was a larger dog, and although they were bred into the smaller Yorkies we love today, they still have the dominant personality of their original size. They are assertive and want things “their way”. They may be called a “toy breed” now, but that would surely be news to them, as in their minds, they are giants!

The Yorkie’s dominance can translate into stand-offs and fights with larger dogs, unaware of their marginal chance at winning. It can also get a tad aggressive with strangers in general, leading many Yorkie owners to keep them on leash in public areas. This is for the safety of their beloved pet. Happily, many of these behaviours can be controlled with proper socializing and training.

Their personality makes them ideal for a single person or a home in which they are the only child. They crave all of your attention and can become disheartened if they don’t get it. The breed tends to be possessive of their masters, and can get truly down in the dumps if they have to compete for their attentions.

They Love To Learn

Despite their famously stubborn nature, the Yorkshire Terrier takes great joy in learning and can be a very obedient little dog. In fact, they are among the smartest of all dog breeds with a passion for learning new tricks! They are highly active and energetic, and tend to be the stars of dog shows because they make fabulous performers and love the attention!

They Also Like to Play

The Yorkie loves to play and their energetic nature will leave you entertained and laughing throughout their life. They love to splash in the pool or roll in the grass on warm Summer afternoons, or they will delight in playing a game of hide-and-seek indoors.

Without being taken for lots of walks, these little devils will become moody and brooding. They have been known to beat obstacle courses with their fine-tuned agility. Any game you play will be a blast for your Yorkie. However, they don’t need a ton of exercise and can just as easily live a life without a yard to frolic in. A quick walk around the block or a few minutes at the park will suffice. They much prefer to romp around inside the house with you.

You Must Lead

Yorkies will quickly dominate a home where they feel they have been established as the pack leader. However, if you display leadership and assert that you are indeed the master of the home, they will become sweet, loving, docile companions that can be trusted with children. They are better suited for older children who know how to respect the dog’s boundaries and play safely with them, having an understanding of the dog’s physical fragility.

Adopting

The Yorkie is a great dog to adopt, as he will quickly come to affectionately adore you. As soon as you show him love, he will return it fully and lovingly and be completely loyal to you. Another perk to adopting is that the dogs are usually already housebroken!

A Yorkie is happiest with their family, receiving attention, snuggles, and love, but he is not a couch potato; he loves to be active and play with you.