This is a tough question. I would never take Lola to a dog park where there wasn't a small dog section, but that's because she's less than 3 lbs and very shy. The one I take her to sometimes does have a small dog section, but I definitely see some yorkies out playing with the big dogs and having a blast. I think it really depends on your pup and how comfortable and sturdy he is when playing with other dogs.

That being said, there are always health risks for dogs that are not vaccinated, might have kennel cough and other respiratory diseases, etc. Like someone else mentioned, there are risks with everything I guess. I would do more research to find small dog or yorkie meetups in your area... I've found that people who attend these tend to be much more conscious and responsible than your average dog park attendee (sorry to generalize).

I paid that much without insurance. All she did was jump off of my hand from about 4" above the livingroom carpet when I was setting her down. She's impatient and doesn't wait until all 4 paws are planted on the ground before taking off like a rocket. The accident just made me realize how extremely fragile these little ones are. Her surgeon warned me that if that leg is broken again, he doesn't believe there is enough "good bone" to work with, and he won't be able to fix it again. Needless to say, I'm super duper careful now. Lesson learned. I use to have a Rottweiler/Lab cross before I got Missy, and she was injured at a dog park by a Cocker Spaniel. The CP grabbed her back leg as she was running and tore her meniscus. I dunno...I guess that I'm just more comfortable with a controlled environment and socializing my dogs with other dogs that we know well through friends/family. Plus, as others have said...there's always the risk of "kennel cough" etc. Missy won't be getting the kennel cough or rabies vaccines because they aren't required by law in my area.

"Skinkids" is a term that I learned here on YT :p

My two have never been to a dog park.
I just do not trust other people enough to take them there.

Totally agree!!!!

Look for a Yorkie or Small dog meet up in your area.

Do something, Learn something, Share something, Change something - Meetup.com

I have 2 ...5 lb dogs. maltese and yorkie. They get at least a 30 min walk once, sometimes twice, a day. when the leashes and harnesses come out they go balistic with excitement! They are happier dogs for it I am sure!

Also we have 2 dog parks here both with a small dog area. But people don't control their dogs and my dogs hate when 5 boy dogs all pounce on them at once trying to smell under their tales. Plus owners don't always pick up after their dogs and well its not pretty. So I've pretty much signed off on the dog parks here.

However there's a small soccer field that no one uses in the afternoon and 5-9 yorkies meet there every week day for an hour. They are all girls oddly enough and the dogs look forward to their daily play group. we all are consciencious to pick up after our dogs and keep the park clean. its not fenced in but the dogs have learned to stay near us and still have their freedom to roam and sniff. Its a wonderful situation.

so I hope when you come home from work, you'll walk your yorkie and help him get some of that pent up energy from being home alone all day. He'll be a much mellower dog for it! thats for sure! maybe you can find a weekend play group or start your own.

my puppy is so well socialized and I know I owe it to our daily play group.

I think it depends on your area. I take Thor to a lot of parks, not necessarily dog parks per se, because I don't have a yard, Thor needs lots of exercise, and I would say that running around in the grass is one of his greatest pleasures in life. It makes me happy to see him so happy.

Thor is also 4 lbs.

That being said, I am not used to having such a small dog, and we've definitely had some learning experiences. I avoid certain parks because they tend to be peopled ("dogged?") by larger fellows. Our favorite park is quite large and naturally breaks into different areas, so if a large dog play group breaks out, I just make sure to take Thor to the other side of the park.