Hey y'all, I'm brand new to the forum and I joined up so I could learn more about Yorkshire terriers. I just received my first one (an 8 week old little bundle of cuteness) this weekend as an early Christmas gift.
His name is Oliver and at his first vet visit, the vet said that he was going to be a
huge yorkie. Her estimation is 16 pounds!
I've never heard of a yorkie that big! I saw both of his parents at the breeder's compound though, and his father was definitely a big one. The daddy was conformationally sound and proportioned, except for his excessive size which was well out of the standard.
Which is just fine with me, because I'm new to the small dog experience anyway. If Ollie gets a bit bigger than average, it won't hurt my feelings. He's a pet, not a show animal. My father tried to talk me into a "teacup" yorkie, but after having heard about so many health issues with the smallest of the breed, I deliberately picked the largest in the litter.
In any case, Ollie is a doll and has completely won me over to little dogs. I have never owned a small breed dog in my life (grew up with Goldens, German Shepherds, and hounds) so having a lapdog is definitely a new experience.
I have to admit, I was pretty biased against small breed dogs in the past because many that I have known have been vicious, spoiled little tyrants whose owners let them do whatever they liked, biting people and yapping constantly and provoking larger dogs. I never understood the mindset that said when someone's little lapdog snapped at my retriever, it was somehow okay because "he's too small to do any damage", but if my amiable, well-trained large breed tried to defend itself, I had a dangerous dog! I think dogs that bite are dangerous no matter
what size they are.
I got assaulted once by a woman's pack of three terriers (not yorkies) who attacked my dog en masse. My big Chow-Golden mix was on leash (doing her best not to get in a fight with the scrappers, bless her heart) and the woman's dogs were running loose. When she made no move to collect her dogs (just summoned them to her, that recall was
real authoritative let me tell ya, I wouldn't let that wuss be my alpha either!!!) I yelled at her, "If you don't get a hold of your dogs, I'm letting mine go! Who do you think is going to win?!?"
(And this is by no means intended to offend those of you who have had small dogs attacked and killed by large dogs - I realize sometimes the tables get turned as far as aggression goes.)
I also had a friend in college with a Peekapoo that would lunge and bite you if you even said a harsh word to his owner. He would also snap and bite and growl if you were anywhere near him. His owner would just laugh at his behavior, but me and the other two people living in the house who got bit by the dog did
not think it was funny...
So, needless to say, I was enamored with Oliver from the first moment I saw him, but I was also apprehensive.
I've sworn that I will not let this "Napoleon complex" happen to my Ollie. I'm already working him with clicker training and a "nothing in life is free" program, and he's such a smart boy! He is well on his way to being housebroken and he is already learning tricks like "sit up" and "bow" on top of regular obedience.
I have discovered that, despite my previous skepticism about "ankle biters," yorkies may very well replace Golden Retrievers as my breed of choice. They have the intelligence, heart, and courage of a Golden with the perks of a small package.
It's all a matter of training.
