Yorkshire Terrier
Overview
A tiny, feisty toy terrier with a big personality — ideal for flats but delicate around small children.
Temperament & family fit
In general, a Yorkshire Terrier is best with older, calm children and generally fine with other dogs. They tend to be a vocal / alert barker, and as a guide they are good for first-time owners. As with any dog, early socialisation, reward-based training and supervision around young children make all the difference.
Exercise needs
A healthy adult Yorkshire Terrier typically needs around an hour of exercise a day (roughly 60–80 minutes), split across walks plus play. A good sniffy walk, some play and a little training usually keeps them content; mental stimulation matters as much as the distance covered. Puppies, seniors and dogs with health conditions need adjusted amounts — check with your vet.
Grooming & coat
Coat upkeep is high upkeep and shedding is minimal. Plan on frequent brushing — often several times a week — plus regular trips to a professional groomer to keep the coat free of mats. Whatever the coat, check ears, nails and teeth as part of a regular routine.
Feeding considerations
Like any dog, a Yorkshire Terrier should get most of its nutrition from a complete, balanced dog food appropriate for its size and life stage. Portions scale with body weight and activity, so a toy breed will eat relatively little compared with other breeds — follow the food’s feeding guide and your vet’s advice, and weigh portions to avoid creeping weight gain. Treats — including fruit and veg — should make up no more than about 10% of daily calories.
Pros & cons
Pros
- +Compact, portable and low-shedding
- +Bold, affectionate and flat-friendly
Things to consider
- –Fine silky coat needs frequent grooming; fragile around toddlers
- –Can be yappy and prone to dental problems
Is a Yorkshire Terrier right for you?
On space, a Yorkshire Terrier is flat-friendly — they can adapt to a flat as long as they get their daily exercise and company. For experience level, they are good for first-time owners. That makes them a reasonable choice for a committed first-time owner.
Kit that suits a Yorkshire Terrier
Size-appropriate everyday essentials:
Helpful tools
Similar breeds
Frequently asked questions
Are Yorkshire Terriers good with children?
Best with older, calm children. As a general guide, Yorkshire Terriers tend to be better suited to homes with older children or no young children. Whatever the breed, always supervise dogs and young children and teach kids to interact gently.
How much exercise does a Yorkshire Terrier need?
As a healthy adult, a typical Yorkshire Terrier needs around an hour of exercise a day (60–80 minutes), split across walks plus play. A good sniffy walk plus some play and training usually keeps them happy. Puppies, seniors and dogs with health conditions need less — ask your vet.
Do Yorkshire Terriers shed a lot?
Minimal shedding. Coat upkeep is high upkeep — plan on frequent brushing and regular trips to a groomer.
Are Yorkshire Terriers easy to train and good for first-time owners?
Good for first-time owners. Yorkshire Terriers are generally a forgiving choice for first-time owners who put in early training and socialisation. Reward-based training and early socialisation help any dog.
Do Yorkshire Terriers bark a lot?
Vocal / alert barker. They can be quite vocal, so early training and enough exercise and stimulation help keep barking in check.
Are Yorkshire Terriers good with other dogs?
Generally fine with other dogs. Early, positive socialisation with other dogs from a young age makes a big difference.
Do Yorkshire Terriers suit flats or smaller homes?
Flat-friendly. A Yorkshire Terrier can adapt to flat living as long as it gets its daily exercise and company.