shall i get a yorkie? questions about the breed :)

[Cher10uk]

Hi all,

New to the forum and new to the breed! I have been browsing around the forum for a couple of hours now. Took a long stop on the pics and videos section they are all so sweet!

When i was younger i wanted a little Yorkshire Terrier but mum wouldn't buy me one. Then years later i wanted one and the ex husband wouldn't let me . Then i got with my new partner and he said that he wouldn't walk down the road with one ( in his eyes they aren't real dogs ) and we ended up getting a Staffordshire bull terrier. At the moment it looks like me and my partner will split up and as much as i hate to say it i will probably miss the dog more than him!

My staffy is lovely but it is his dog and he will take it with him. I have an 8yr old son and i don't want to be without a dog again although i would like something smaller than the staffy and more controllable. I am after a companion something to get me through lonely nights and snuggle up and watch t.v in the evenings. I have a house and a yard and a big park up the road. I am at home all day

As i learnt from my staffy you can read all the books you want on breed characteristics etc but the best place to get advice is from those who know them best those who own them. So that's you guys!

Obviously i do have experience with dogs when i was growing up we had German shepherds and now obviously the staffy who we crate trained and although he is slightly neurotic he seems to have turned out okay.

So do i get a yorkie? What downsides are there to this breed? I have heard the rumours they are snappy and noisy but surely this is the same as most dogs its all about the way you raise them?

So time to dig out all your little yorkie horror stories. Chewed carpets, sleepless nights, nipping and destroyed prada shoes! hehehe

Cher x

[chachi]

Yorkies are wonderful little dogs. They are cute and affectionate. Many are lap dogs but they are also the spunky terrier personality. Potty training them can be more difficult. Also they go through a chewing stage when they are younger. Those are the two most commonly heard of complaints about them. They do calm down alot as they get older. I think you would be happy with a yorkie. I wouldnt be without one

[Superstarkba]

Yorkies are awsome. I have two, and want more!!!! Potty training, I am going to tell you, its going to take some time, especially if you don't work with them all the time. Also, you need to make sure you have a small enough space to leave them during the day, especially if you work.

[Tillys_mom]

My Yorkies are great! Very loving, great with my son, anything I could ask for in a dog. Tilly was easy to potty train but JJ is pretty hard. It was just I had more time to work with Tilly. So as long as you have the time to devote to them they can sooooo easily become part of your family.

[lara2913]

I think you sound like a great person to own a yorkie, I have 3 and I would not be without them. As has already been mentioned potty training can take a while but provided you can be consistent then you should be able to crack it....eventually. This is a great place for any questions you may have... I say go for it!

[jp4m2]

Welcome to Y.T.!!!...I'm so glad you are making sure this is going to be the right fit for you without jumping right in and getting one just because it's cute....I can only tell you what I have encountered in owning a yorkie that was a bit of a surprise....they are known for plaque build up on their teeth ( most small dogs have this problem) so teeth brushing is crucial or reg. cleanings at the vets (they have to be put under for this procedure).... the coat is long so they need baths at least every week or less.... the coats tend to mat quite easily, I can't even put a collar on mine he mats up like a brillo pad in one day.... the eyes are known for collecting mucus and need to be kept clean, the long coat needs daily brushing and with a long coat comes the poo stuck in it, so get out the wipes..... hair in the ears needs to be removed on a regular basis, etc. etc...etc...other than that their wonderful little dogs ... t's a bit more work than owning a larger pet....

[celstu1]

If you have the patience to crate train then do it... with a yorkie... to the extreme. They are very difficult to housebreak. My 2 boys are 2 years old in a couple days and not housebroken at all. They KNOW to go outside, but they dont care. They go inside and then run & hide cuz they know they did wrong. I wish I crate trained.

I have not had any aggressive behavior at all (snapping or biting or even growling) but my boys are not to keen on small children. Mostly they are afraid of them and will go in the opposite direction to get away from them. If the child persists then one of mine will tolerate it, the other will bark once at the child. He has never snapped or anything but I do keep an eye on him JUST IN CASE! Any child who can be patient and wait for my boys to come to them will eventually be rewarded. They LOVE attention... so they will voluntarily go up to a child who is calm.

Chewing... hhhmmm..... i have nightmare stories on that one. They chewed from 4 months old to about 8 months old. NIGHTMARE! My baseboards, cabinet corners, shoes, bras, laptop cord, pants, bedspread, their bed (multiple ones), toys are destroyed in a day, dining room chairs, expensive sunglasses.... uugghhhh I have great advice to prevent chewing though. 1. If you put something down that the dogs can reach MOVE it... if you THINK they might be able to get it, they WILL. And it WILL be chewed... close your closet doors, put your shoes away in them and hang up or put away all clothing on a daily basis. As for walls, baseboards, furniture and cabinet chewing, put them in a contained area in the house with no access to things. Like an xpen or an indoor/outdoor pen. I had a plastic pen that could be for outside or inside, high thick plastic walls on all 4 sides. I set it up in the house and put their bed, food, water, and toys in it with them. Those were the only things they could get. This will work for when you cannot watch your baby so he/she does not chew up cords and other things... when he/she is out of the pen, WATCH with a close eye! They will eat/chew ANYTHING if they can get to it. Mine have outgrown this phase thank god!!

Yorkies are on a list as top 10 BEST watch dogs! They have exceptional hearing! So this CAN make them little barkers. My guys are doing much better with barking but its almost 2 years now. I say NO everytime they start and it quiets them down. Sometimes they start to go into a FRENZY where they dont even hear my voice. Thats when I pull out a spray bottle and give them a squirt to the back of the head. It immediately stops them in their tracks. This is working wonderful and their barking is really curbing now!

Now for the pluses ... they are just the most affectionate, funny, sweetest dogs. You want a lapdog they are PERFECT!! One of mine, his greatest dream would be to be permanently attached to my arms/lap if he could! HAHA the other one is more independant, but when hes tired its right to moms lap for them both. They sleep under the covers at night, curled up right next to me always touching me! They are sooo alert all the time, so friendly to everyone. They are so smart but very headstrong.

I think if you are prepared for the struggle of puppyhood then you'll love a yorkie as a pet! If you are unsure of puppyhood, try to adopt an adult (1+ years old) yorkie!

welcome to the family

[Amy81]

You DEFINITELY have to watch them closely because they will get into EVERYTHING. I am disabled so i'm home alot. which helps cause i can spend more time with my baby. his name is Cody. he just turned 6 months on the 26th and i'm SOOOO READY for him to settle down some
I live in a apartment . He has managed to chew a chunk of carpet out, chewed 3 different corners on the wall, chewed my moms dining room table and rocking chair. and he just loves to get a hold of my socks and cell phone charger.
As far as the potty training goes. It can be difficult but patience is the key. it took me about 2 weeks or more . Cody has it down pat give or take a few accidents when i dont get him out on time. But I'll say Cody you need to go out and he comes running to me.!
He LOVES to play soccer ball .

he is a cuddler on his own time! He LOVES to be on the arm of the couch staring out the window at the world. and occasionally will bark at a passerby saying "hello"

but i wouldnt have it no other way.... sometimes i have my bad days and have to vent. but i soooooooo LOVE my baby. i can't have kids. so this is my son. and i wouldnt trade him for ANYTHING in this world


good luck and i hope you find the perfect furbaby for you

[Patti]

Welcome!!! Cali and Pixie are the 4th and 5th Yorkies I have had. I had a pom after having 3 yorkies, one at a time and learned very quickly that Yorkies were my breed. They are all lovable little sweethearts. Potty training can be difficult but can get done. Cali is real good, Pixie not so good. I think you will love Yorkies. Keep reading and asking questions here.

[Hensleigh]

My first yorkie was a female and she was very possessive and felt she had to protect me from everything, including my family but we all loved her and as long as she was given her space she was fine. With young children I used to be a bit wary as they seem to come down on her from a height and that made her nervous. We had her for 16 years until she dropped dead at my feet. A terrible shock as we were not expecting it but she had had a very good life. I now have two more yorkies both boys this time and they are very different in charachter. My oldest one is 4 years old and is very feminine in character - eats very slowly - is loving and loves cuddles. My 2 year old (Hensleigh) which is the one in the photo is more fousty and can be very irritated especially when tired - typical male - does everything including eating very quickly and has taught my other one to bark at doors, phones and anything that upsets him. He really is cute most times though and he loves children and is very gentle with them. My four year old backs off from small children. some breeders do not like yorkies to go to homes with small children as they can think they are toys that they can pick up and throw away when bored and although yorkies are tough little creatures they can break bones easily and need care and love. You will need to consider this and as long as it is managed well they are lovely pets but they are large dogs in a small body. All the best

[Yorkiekids]

If you're looking for a loving cuddler then a Yorkie is for you. You do have to understand that they are super hyper as pups that like to nip at everything, and are hard to potty train, but in the end it is well worth it. Also, they really like to bark a lot. LOL