YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - Why do people say yorkies are "brats" and "yappy dogs?"

LadyGemma · 02-09-2015, 04:49 PM

I assume they mean "oh, those small dogs bite and growl and bark and whine all the time and are not nice dogs," which I have heard frequently, much in the same manner people say pit bulls are all dangerous. Is this a stereotype, a breed temperament, due to the owner, a mix of all three (as it can be with pits)?
So far Moxie is not aggressive in general, very sweet with other dogs, sweet as soon as she makes contact with female humans (she may back away or bark until she smells them, then she loves them), and generally good with male humans as soon as she knows them (she LOVES my male roommate, several male friends). I want her to get better, not worse, and am researching yorkie and dog behavior to make sure that doesn't happen. I am also in talks w/ a trainer who works mostly with small dogs. Any other tips? Most of my experience is with big dogs, and any kind of growling and barking towards people would not be tolerable and I need Moxie to learn it is not ok for her, either! What is your experience with yorkie temperament and keeping them well behaved, friendly, well mannered, etc?

02-09-2015, 04:49 PM	#1
LadyGemma Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New York Posts: 164	Why do people say yorkies are "brats" and "yappy dogs?" I assume they mean "oh, those small dogs bite and growl and bark and whine all the time and are not nice dogs," which I have heard frequently, much in the same manner people say pit bulls are all dangerous. Is this a stereotype, a breed temperament, due to the owner, a mix of all three (as it can be with pits)? So far Moxie is not aggressive in general, very sweet with other dogs, sweet as soon as she makes contact with female humans (she may back away or bark until she smells them, then she loves them), and generally good with male humans as soon as she knows them (she LOVES my male roommate, several male friends). I want her to get better, not worse, and am researching yorkie and dog behavior to make sure that doesn't happen. I am also in talks w/ a trainer who works mostly with small dogs. Any other tips? Most of my experience is with big dogs, and any kind of growling and barking towards people would not be tolerable and I need Moxie to learn it is not ok for her, either! What is your experience with yorkie temperament and keeping them well behaved, friendly, well mannered, etc? Last edited by LadyGemma; 02-09-2015 at 04:51 PM.