The Yorkshire Terrier was developed in England from the Waterside Terrier, rough-coated Black & Tan English Terrier, Paisley & Clydesdale Terriers. Originally bred by working class weavers, the Yorkie quickly became the darling of the Victorian upper class. Unlike its ancestors, the Yorkie was bred purely to be a companion animal not a working terrier breed. A true “toy terrier” the Yorkie is a vivacious & lively companion that also makes a great alarm dog.

Yorkies are not aware that they are a small dog! The males can be very territorial, and will even attack much larger dogs if they wander into their yard. This breed is clever, spunky and brave, and full of self-importance.

Yorkies demand lots of attention from their human family, and are very sweet and loving dogs. They make excellent watchdogs, and are wary of strangers.

Yorkies are not recommended for families with small children. They can be nippy at times, and due to their small size they can easily be injured with rough play. They can get along well with older children, and play very well with other pets.

Yorkies are great for apartments as they do not require a lot of exercise. They will play energetically indoors and tire themselves out regularly. Yorkies do not like the cold weather and need to be protected with a sweater during the winter.

This breed does need daily brushing due to their long hair, but they shed very little. They are prone to tooth decay and need their teeth cleaned in order to prevent this.

The Yorkshire Terrier was first registered with the AKC in 1885. For more information on this fascinating little breed visit the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America website or the American Kennel Club. If you would like to adopt a Yorkie in need to a loving family, you can visit www.yorkshireterrierrescue.net, or PetFinder.com.