My Oliver is 3 lbs ... I was a bit afraid of this (my last yorkies were 5 - 7 lbs) but he is pretty dang tough! He is 2.5 yrs old, he walks with me 2+ miles a day - sometimes more. Not in the freezing cold and not in the heat & humidity.
I've tried hard to keep him from jumping to no avail. He tears after our cat around the house like a full fledged CARPET TIGER. It's hilarious! All over the sofa back, up on the ottoman, kitchen chair... his one place of caution is the stairs that are not carpeted, he will not go down them - period. Which I'm thankful for.
I free feed him and treat him with raw food after we walk or play. He's a decent eater , he does prefer to snack, however. And he will mow down on some cat food if I'm not really careful.
A lady I pet sat for, she was a major yorkie breeder yrs ago and had a few dogs make it to Madison Square (long time ago) had a 6 lb female and her daughter which was 1.8 lbs - nope not a typo.
She actually kept this puppy because she was sooo very tiny and didn't want some idiot trying to breed her. She was an absolute doll and very sweet. She liked to be carried ect. She never had any injuries but she also didn't jump. She was quite playful with my dogs though. Had to watch her food intake as well for low sugar. I think she lived to be 13 or so.
So my take from having a smaller Yorkie is that they are fragile, my kids have always had yorkies around so they are VERY skilled at little dog care, but I put him away when friends are over. I don't want any accidents, which is no fun for Oliver. (I also have a few inept at parenting friends and I get tired of saying NO to their kids)
I don't treat him like a breakable object, he runs, jumps tears around outside chasing geese... acts just like a big dog! I am very careful to watch him though. I am afraid of hawks and owls in the early mornings and late day.
I'll stop blabbing now!
