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.

IndependentYorkies 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.

2 thoughts on “Yorkie Personality and Temperament”

  1. I just got my first yorkie. She was 9 months and potty training was DIFFICULT!
    We’re getting there using a wire crate and pads. She’s the sweetest little lapdog. Her tongue is like a rose petal. Loves her toys and wrestles with our 18 lb. Maine coon cat!

    • Thanks for connecting to Mysweetpuppy.net. Please keep in mind that I, Claudia Bensimoun, do not write any of the blogs or reviews on this website, nor have I in the past. I only answer the comments section.I am in no way connected to the content written within this website, most especially the German Shepherd blog. This website hires other writers for their blogs.Please do not contact me regarding website content. I only write content within the comments section.he Yorkie is a superb dog breed that is intelligent and assertive. This dog breed learns easily and is very responsive to training cues.Positive puppy training during puppyhood needs to begin as soon as you bring your new puppy home, and may begin as soon as 8 weeks of age. Opt for fun dog sports like agility with your Yorkie. For more on dog agility sports, visit:https://www.facebook.com/USDAA

      “In past research it’s been demonstrated that dogs are very sensitive to new stimuli and communicative cues. Researchers have found that non-human primates may be able to perceive goal-directed behavior, most especially dogs that are sensitive to human communicative cues. With this research, Dr.Sarah Marshall-Pescini and colleagues found that dogs will look at a new object and respond to people that are doing something important in the same way as an infant would. In this research no communicative cues were used with the dogs.House-training accidents will happen during the first couple of months. That said, it’s best to be consistent, kind and proactive when it comes down to house-training your Yorkie puppy.Teaching your Yorkie puppy to relieve himself outdoors needs to be emphasized. Although it may seem to be a good idea to keep using pads, it’s best in the long run to take your puppy outdoors often to go potty. Whichever method of house-training that you’ve used in the past, try to get your puppy to go outdoors after eating or drinking.” via Plos One. For more on my article about how “Dogs React To Goal-Directed Behavior in a Surprising Way!” visit: http://www.usdaa.com/article.cfm?newsID=3006

      Keep your Yorkie puppy on a schedule, and give her lots of praise and a treat when she does go potty outside. Yorkie’s learn fast, and you’ll soon see how easy it is to teach your Yorkie puppy to eliminate outdoors on a schedule. There’s an interesting study that applies to all dog breeds.This study demonstrates that the way our canine companions respond to the level of our attentiveness is linked to a combination of specific cues, context, and previous experience. Keep this in mind when positively training your pooch.Although dogs cannot read our minds, this study seems to prove that man’s best friend might just be able to understand human behavior or have theory of mind, the ability to infer what their owners or handlers know. The idea for this research, which was published in Springer’s journal Learning and Behavior in 2011, was based on the research by Udell and her team. “Their research suggests that a combination of specific cues, context, and previous experience contribute to how dogs respond to the level of a person’s attentiveness. Our canine companions respond and understand human body language, verbal commands, and attentional states.” via The United States Dog Agility Association. (USDAA) For more on my article, visit:http://www.usdaa.com/article.cfm?newsID=2388

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