Terrier Personality
 

I am still in the research stage of getting a yorkie and have read so much about their "terrier personality". I have never had a terrier of any kind, but have had: lab, mastiff, english setter, maltese, and currently a pug. How does a terrier personality compare to any of these other breeds? I guess I just don't know what to expect from a terrier.

Thanks.

I have had experience with a few different types of terriers and I would describe most of them as energetic, playful, loving, and feisty. They age very well, better than many other breeds in my opinion. They have a keen sense of smell and love to use their noses. Arguably, some can be a bit stubborn, but many terriers' geniality makes up for it. :)

I think that about sums it up!

I will add that I think Yorkies are somehow more human-like than any dog I've ever owned. They seem to understand me more and are almost like a small child. Sometimes mischievous, sometimes naughty, and always loving!

:thumbup::thumbup::p

Not to mention very smart, almost too smart, which in turn makes them a bit more challenging to train. But more worthwhile in my humble (Yorkie owned) opinion. :D

I think a lot of people get yorkies expecting the typical small dog/ lap dog personality. They want a very calm, quiet dog who does well with no exercise and no stimulation. They want a dog content to lay in the same place for long periods of time. This is why I think they are so shocked by the terrier personality and why you hear so much about it with Yorkies. Yorkies ARE great little dogs- they can get a lot of exercise in a smaller area making them ideal apartment or city dogs. However, they do need exercise and mental stimulation. This can be accomplished many ways- some time to run in the backyard, games of fetch down a long hallway, long walks, trips to the dog park, trips to the pet store, etc. You need to give them the opportunity to get out and see new things and also to stretch their legs. Yorkies are feisty, playful, outgoing, and stubborn, and loving. If mine don't get enough exercise or mental stimulation- they will make their own fun- this usually means tearing something apart (hopefully their own toys!) or getting into some other kind of trouble. If your prepared for the crazy life that is a TERRIER, you will be rewarded a million times over with the love they provide. :animal-pa

I agree with all of the descriptions offered so far. I might add that they have no idea they are a small dog -- very brave little ones! Sometimes that can get them in trouble. I appreciated salazark's statement that they are more human-like than any other dog and almost like a small child. I do compare mine to toddlers all the time. They have to be watched, they make messes, they are stubborn, have accidents in the house, but they are also always willing to give you some loving!

Probably more like the Maltese than any other on your list. I have not owned a Maltese though so I can't be sure. But others who have both have made comments making me think they are similar in many ways.

I agree with all posters above and wanted to add that I found this Yorkie Recipe online it about sums it up lol

a pinch of mink
a teaspoon of a bunny
a few grams of a house kitten
one part of a king`s fool
a touch of princess
a pinch of owl
some begger
one teaspoon of a monkey
a tiny tiny bit of baby seal
big portion of a teddy bear
and to finish , sprinkle of gold

My husband bought me a sweatshirt with Yorkie Property Laws on it

1. If I like it, it's mine
2. If it's in my mouth, it's mine
3. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine
4. If I can take it from you, its mine
5. It it's mine, it must never appear to be yours
6. If it just looks like mine, it's mine
7. If I saw it first, it's mine
8. If it's edible, it's mine
9. If you have something and put it down, it's mine
10. If I chew something up, all the pices are mine
11. If I get tired of it, it's yours
12. If I want it back, it's mine

Pretty much sums up my Yorkie.

Tenacious..... without a doubt a true terrier will be tenacious. :)

Definitely! Once they get an idea into their noggins, there is no letting go. :D

I love the sweatshirt. I think they print a whole bunch and they just change the breed of dog. I have a magnet on my refridge that says the same thing but I would love to get a sweat shirt also.

I agree... Tallulah is my first terrier and I have never had a dog like this. Whatever she is doing is SO important -- whether it's chewing on a toy, investigating invisible footprints on the floor, or even sleeping. I think that's why we love them so much -- because when they're in a cuddly mood, we get 100% and then some.

:thumbup: :thumbup::thumbup: 100%.

Think big, active dog squeezed down in to a smaller body. A friend of mine describes her doxies as "Can do attitude with a can't do body". I think that applies to Yorkies, too.

Could not have said it better. Terriers have a adventerous zest for life.
My airedale never slowed down even when she was 13 yrs old. She was a wonderful dog.

Alot of personality in a small body

I had an airedale too and she was a puppy all of her very long life! She was such a clown, but still feisty, loving and loyal. I'm a huge fan of airedales. :)

The "adventurous zest for life" is what inspired me to name my Yorkie Teddy, after Theodore Roosevelt.

I have to admit that much of my Dinky's good behavior comes from the fact that he can't reach so much of the stuff he would like to get hold of.
He is a sweetie, but he is active and needs to play and run.
My brother calls his Yorkie a "Yorkshire Terrorist." That little guy is a real handful!

Excellent! If there could only be one word -- that would be it -- tenacious!

Terrier personality... oh how can I put this....

They have non stop energy, hard to tire them out.
They are very very loveable, most often only obey their mom or dad,they get very attached to theyr mom/dad.
They can sense smell really well, are very very good for tracking,my one is going to be in a saving-team here in Iceland, if someone gets missing, he will be out looking for that person.
Very very cleaver dogs, can learn everything you teach them.
They have a true terrier spirit, dont know how I can describe that, they have a huge heart, they never leave their owner, they watch the house very well but never hurt a person.
They are always trying to be so loveable and gentle, my Fido is really good with children that are different than others (for example disabled people), he's always so careful, once my sister was a bit too rough and hurt him, then he bit around her finger to teach her ''IF you hurt me, I can hurt back'' (He knew what he was doing, he could NEVER hurt her), and since then she has always been so good to him and never hurt him again :)
They are VERY brave dogs, mine for example has jumped into a crack in the lava (dont know what its called, its very very old lava, all around Iceland) ,he saw a cat on the other half and decided to jump over it so he could play with the cat, he fell right in the crack, thank god my mom had him in a leash so he was ok!
He has ran up to a roof and then decided to jump down (I catched him before he jumped!), you have to watch out that they are not too brave! They often think ''oh i can do that!'' when they can't.
They dont ''get old'' like other dogs, i know a 9 year old yorkie bitch, and she has energy like a 1 year old!!
Terriers are very hard dogs to raise, much much harder to raise and own that poodles, labradors or other dogs, my yorkie is a bad boy , lol :p he loves being naughty!
His favorite ''food'' are dirty underwears, socks, and eating my sisters toys, and no matter what I've never been able to make him stop jumping on the table and eating my food, ahh I love that, if he wouldnt do that he werent longer that Fido that I love! he's MY Fido :D Reminds me alot of the dog in Marley and Me :)
Terriers are famous in lots of dog sports, Terriers are the hardest to raise, so keep that in mind if you get yourself an yorkie, just because he's small and cute, doesnt mean that he can't be a little devil sometimes :)

They are just the best dogs ever in my eyes, I will always have Terriers in my home :D ! ONLY Terriers :D Yorkies and Airedale's own my heart!