iNtElLiGeNt?????

[sarahjmiller51]

Are Yorkies typically intelligent???? I was just wondering, because of my three dogs (all mixes, and my 'yorkie' is a mix between a yorkshire and 'wire-haired' terrier), my little Hobo ('yorkie') is a LITTLE GENIUS!!! I mean, he picks up on understanding differences between many toys that i have named after only saying the name a few times, and understands parts of sentences that pertain to his little life as a dog, and so many other things that my other dogs just don't get. I've even trained him to 'go get the leash' and he 'brings it to me'...now this one did take about a week or so, when i'd get home at nite from work, but he's got it down, now!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Most dog people who know the breed say they are very intelligent, quick to learn but a bit on the - shall be say - stubborn side about many things.

[chachi]

Yorkies are very intelligent. Mine do alot of things that tell me they are some of which your just shaking your head wondering how they know or how they know to make me aware of something or any number of things

[Lovetodream88]

Judging by my experience with Callie and my moms rescue Sammy I would say that they are. Callie scares me sometimes with how smart she is.

[Britster]

Jackson thinks he's intelligent:

Jackson, Worlds Smartest Yorkie - YouTube

But, no, really, he's the smartest dog I've ever had (growing up with a Golden Retriever and a German Shepherd, as well as being around other breeds all my life). My dad always says the same thing... he just picks up things sooo fast, he's very in tune to what us humans are doing, he understands so many words, phrases and things, we often have to spell stuff, lol. He is a thinker- I can see his little wheels turning in his head when he gets an idea. He remembers everything. If something bad happens once, he won't forget it.

This can get him into trouble too. His mind needs to be occupied a lot, he's not one to just lie around, and he likes to work for things. Just today, he was hungry and he actually carried his food bowl all the way from the kitchen to the living room to tell me he wanted food, LOL!

[KazzyK810]

Brit...I absolutely LOVE that video of Jackson! Infact, I've even played it for my daughter when she was home from college and she loves it too. She downloaded the background song you used to her ipod and she saved it as the "Jackson song"

Being raised with yorkies, my experience has always been that they are a very intelligent dog. ZoE was extremely quick to train and its easy to teach her new tricks. You can tell she really likes the stimulation of learning new things.

[kdhawks]

Levi is very intelligent, picks up on things quickly, and understands many words, phrases, and sentences. He needs a lot of stimulation and activity to keep him from becoming bored because he is so intelligent and so active. However, he is also quite stubborn - very terrier-like.

[R_Z]

Such an awesome video!

I think Bailey is pretty smart, but he has much to learn.

[LuvMyFurkidz]

This is just incredible. You should be very proud - of you AND Jackson. What a sweetie he is and SO smart! Listening to the song and watching you & Jackson brought tears to my eyes. This is very special.

[Munchki]

I love it thats so sweet: )

[Teresa Ford]

I think the question of dog intelligence is very interesting. I have discussed this with other trainers, breeders, and pet owners. I have studied animal behavior and been involved with selecting dogs for service training and therapy programs. I have my own theory about how smart Yorkies are.
If you ask are Yorkies intelligent on YT (clearing throat here LOL) you are going to hear many yes answers. How people answer also depends on the way that person defines intelligent. Many trainers think other breeds are easier to train than Yorkies, including Poodles, Labs, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Goldens, and Shetland Sheep dogs. But trainability does not necessarily mean intelligence. Self motivation and problem solving skills may be a better indication of intelligence. In this category the Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Airedale Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, and Collies excel. Herding dogs are usually born with strong instincts intact. They have the ability to work for and with humans. Shepherds can work alone, watching, guarding and moving their herd. Most people I have talked with over the years, think this group of dogs is the most intelligent kind of dog. I am not so convinced.
I think about it like this, (excuse the generalized statements, I intend no put down to anyone) The smartest humans do very little manual labor. I mean they design the bridge, get the funding, manage the business that hires the contractor and so on. They don't usually shovel the dirt or push the broom. Why wouldn't it be the same in the animal world ?
I think Yorkies are brilliant. By being the perfect companion to people they get to really enjoy life. Our Yorkies have perfected their knowllege of human behavior. They can make the saddest puppy dog eyes, and have the most child like mannerisms. A tip of their silky head,a tiny paw on your hand, gets what they want. We rarely scold or deny them anything. We pay all the bills. We get their hair and nails done. They get the best food we can afford, expensive treats, toys, clothes and great preventive health care and state of the art treatment if they need it. We arrange our lives to accommodate their needs.
Yorkies are so intelligent they don't have to work. Kind of like being able to make money off the stock market. Yorkies don't have to pull a sled in the snow, chase sheep, retrieve a duck in icy water, pull a cart to market, or even chase bad people away. Yorkies discovered how to understand the human heart, and have perfected just what they need to do to make themselves indispensable. They love us and we love them, now I think that is pretty darn smart.

[concretegurl]

There is a reason terriers were circus/performing dogs, doing tricks etc.

I don't beleive labs, heelers, poodles, aussies are smarter...I beleive terriers are as smart as cats, they only perform on command when it benefits them!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by concretegurl

There is a reason terriers were circus/performing dogs, doing tricks etc.

I don't beleive labs, heelers, poodles, aussies are smarter...I beleive terriers are as smart as cats, they only perform on command when it benefits them!

I love how you put that about the cats I think that was a great way to put it

[gemy]

Originally Posted by concretegurl

There is a reason terriers were circus/performing dogs, doing tricks etc.

I don't beleive labs, heelers, poodles, aussies are smarter...I beleive terriers are as smart as cats, they only perform on command when it benefits them!

Lol and sometimes even not then

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

I think the question of dog intelligence is very interesting. I have discussed this with other trainers, breeders, and pet owners. I have studied animal behavior and been involved with selecting dogs for service training and therapy programs. I have my own theory about how smart Yorkies are.
If you ask are Yorkies intelligent on YT (clearing throat here LOL) you are going to hear many yes answers. How people answer also depends on the way that person defines intelligent. Many trainers think other breeds are easier to train than Yorkies, including Poodles, Labs, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Goldens, and Shetland Sheep dogs. But trainability does not necessarily mean intelligence. Self motivation and problem solving skills may be a better indication of intelligence. In this category the Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Airedale Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, and Collies excel. Herding dogs are usually born with strong instincts intact. They have the ability to work for and with humans. Shepherds can work alone, watching, guarding and moving their herd. Most people I have talked with over the years, think this group of dogs is the most intelligent kind of dog. I am not so convinced.
I think about it like this, (excuse the generalized statements, I intend no put down to anyone) The smartest humans do very little manual labor. I mean they design the bridge, get the funding, manage the business that hires the contractor and so on. They don't usually shovel the dirt or push the broom. Why wouldn't it be the same in the animal world ?
I think Yorkies are brilliant. By being the perfect companion to people they get to really enjoy life. Our Yorkies have perfected their knowllege of human behavior. They can make the saddest puppy dog eyes, and have the most child like mannerisms. A tip of their silky head,a tiny paw on your hand, gets what they want. We rarely scold or deny them anything. We pay all the bills. We get their hair and nails done. They get the best food we can afford, expensive treats, toys, clothes and great preventive health care and state of the art treatment if they need it. We arrange our lives to accommodate their needs.
Yorkies are so intelligent they don't have to work. Kind of like being able to make money off the stock market. Yorkies don't have to pull a sled in the snow, chase sheep, retrieve a duck in icy water, pull a cart to market, or even chase bad people away. Yorkies discovered how to understand the human heart, and have perfected just what they need to do to make themselves indispensable. They love us and we love them, now I think that is pretty darn smart.

I like how you put the above. What sticks out for me about my Yorkie is his stubborness. Also his territorialness is still very close to the surface.

I believe dogs are like people, each breed has a different sort of intelligence, and every breed has exceptional/excellent individual members.