Yorkie Personality and Temperament

Of all the different dog breeds, few to none have gained such popularity like the Yorkshire Terrier or “Yorkie”, as called in the US. This small dog was originally bred in Yorkshire England. They were originally meant to hunt down mice in the mills. As it turned out, their personality came to be very compatible with other dogs and even cats for that matter.

Personality

Personality refers to the combination of characteristics or qualities that form a whole being. The idea behind creating this particular breed was that it could be close to humans and willing to hunt mice. This resulted in a dog that is lively and highly curious, physically and mentally quick and spends most of its time dashing around checking things out. Hunting mice calls for a curious, physically and mentally quick dog, just as this type of dog.

This breed is also known for its love for cuddling on people’s laps and soft pillows. Their tiny size makes them afraid of larger dogs and frequently has them call humans for their protection. They are very sensitive to any changes in their surroundings and are quick to announce strangers’ arrival.

Activity Requirement of a Yorkshire Terrier

This dog breed is very athletic and agile; they are however small in size and not very strong. Moderate exercise like walks at a steady pace would be best for these dogs. The idea here is that your dog walks without panting. For best care, 2 walks per day are advised and when this isn’t possible a single walk should be fine. Dogs below 2 years should get 15 to 20 minutes walks. Those above two years should go for 20 to 25 minutes walks.

Another good form of exercise would be short cardio workouts. These should be in the form of short intense activities that call for a burst of energy but last for a short period of time. A good example of this is running after a ball. You should make sure that your Yorkie gets his or her cardio exercises twice a week. Once a week would be minimal, in case you don’t have enough time.

Trainability

Yorkies trainability is moderate. Being that they are terriers implies that they have the desire to be independent. Independent dogs are not easy to train as they lack the desire to be told what to do. Terrier is however only part of their origin and how much it affects trainability varies.

The secret is to begin their training while they are still young. Young Yorkshires are obedient and willing to learn. Starting their training at this age offers better chances for quick results. There is, however, no definite way to compare how trainable one Yorkshire is to another. The ease varies from one individual dog to another.

Their trainability can also be affected by other factors. For example, some Yorkies hate rain, this results in them refusing to get out while it’s wet. Training outside on wet days is therefore not possible and requires you to postpone training. Other Yorkies don’t like to be told what to do. This also negatively affects training, making it longer for them to obey compared to others. However, some pick up training quite fast, in a matter of a few weeks.

Behavioural Traits

Courage – Most Yorkies are bold; this is shown in being unhesitant to approach unknown situations courageously. Because this breed was meant to hunt mice, boldness was a must, in order to be able to do so effectively. Furthermore, since they are playful, their boldness can sometimes serve them as means of seeking attention from otherwise busy owners.

This dog’s courage has also proved advantageous as they don’t hesitate to announce the arrival of strangers. This has proven useful many times, for those seeking a better sense of security that comes with a dog living in your home.

Independent – Yorkies originate from terriers which are known to be highly independent, therefore they do exhibit such characteristics, but at varying rates. While being independent does not mean that these dogs love to stay alone. They are just known to dislike to be told what to do. Even though this can sometimes restrict their learning during train sessions, this trait is nonetheless just a part of Yorkies.

Even though the Yorkshire Terrier is an England originating breed, nowadays it is one of the most popular dogs in the US. These dogs are small with a lot of fur, are great company and love to get involved in almost everything. They require exercise twice a week but nothing too extreme, making them a great type of dog to have.

Dave Nielsen

I have lived in big cities my entire life. Having grown up on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, my early life was an exciting one, filled to the brim with interesting encounters and opportunities popping up at every street corner. Like many city people, my passion for dogs first started when my parents decided to bring a puppy into the household. For them, it was a way of getting me to spend less time at his computer or wandering aimlessly around the city with my friends. Little did they know that bringing a Labrador Retriever into their apartment would determine not only the course of their son’s professional career but also my love life.

Having obtained a Computer Science Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, I went on to pursue an IT career in the Big Apple. After a few years of doing basic cybersecurity and tech support work in various offices around Manhattan, I decided to leave New York and look for my calling in Boston, Massachusetts. There, I got a Master’s degree in Computer Science with a specialization in Web Development. As a means of supporting myself through college, he found a salesman job at a local paper company, where he met Mary, the love of my life and the person I’d end up creating My Sweet Puppy with.