How does your Yorkie defy sterotypes?
 

What have you been told that small dogs can't do... but your dog can? Photographic evidence is appreciated.

As for my pup... he fetches. He outruns bigger dogs and outlasts them. He hikes. He does tricks. He likes playing in the snow. He wrestles with other dogs. He does various dog sports.

I think I am in love with your dog! LOL...

Yeah pretty much everything you listed.

He does not enjoy being oohh'ed and awww'ed over, does not like to cuddle or sit on laps or be picked up, he is not a 'yapper', he would never tolerate being put in a purse, he loves the cold and the snow, he loves the water, any body of water, he loves to play frisbee and fetch, he can go for miles upon miles, he is potty trained, he is trained in general, ... Ummm... what other stereotypes are out there?? Lol

Winston has never had an accident in the house, he was trained to potty outside only on day one...not typical for a yorkie.

My Brody is only 4 months old and goes potty on command. Every time. There are horror stories about potty training yorkies, but I am SOOOO happy my little guy is not part of that stereotype. :)

Callie like never barks, she digs in the mud, she loves kids, she is potty trained and has been 100% sense 9 months, she does tricks, and she is not an ankle bitter.

Tell Nandi that work kept us from blogging about him this week. Next week for sure. :)

My boys defied the difficult-to-potty-train stereotype. Other stereotypes vary according to whom we talk to. Some people expect Yorkies to be hyper, and others expect them to be completely docile. My boys aren't either of those.

Nilla, like Callie, rarely barks. If someone is at the door or something disturbs her or a dog outside, she may bark a couple of times and she's done. She may bark when she does a trick because I taught her to 'speak', so she will do a trick with another trick (lol), but everyone is so surprised by how quiet she is.

I was just thinking the other day how much I love that Joel has almost no small dog stereotypes:) There was a very short time he was experiencing with being aggressive and trying to protect me but I nipped that in the bud fast so he is not anymore.
He fully potty trained at 10 months, never has accidents
Not nippy or yappy
LOVES any kids
Doesn't like being put in things, carried or smothered (doesn't mean I don't smother him lol) but he does like to cuddle for naptime:p
He also has never chewed or destroyed anything when he was little other than a puzzle piece or crayons(still) lol
I think he is just perfect hehe:D

Bless our differences. ;)

My guys have a job, that being security for me/property.
I don't encourage them to attack, but alarming/barking is. Both of my Males are very alert, territorial and protective (puppy Ickey is coming along well) and I don't encourage them to be "friendly" either.

I leave the social encounters to my Female Becca, who never met a stranger, and frequently just put the Males in their Room, when we have Guests. Wish I could tell them the difference between a good Guy with a Gun, and a bad Guy with one. If I ever figure that out, I'll start working on their social skills.

Yeah, the last straw was when I was sick and my mom put a blanket on me and Joel nipped her hand. The funny thing is when he was protective it was only to my mom, not even a stranger lol

I adopted Milo 4 months ago. He is 3 yoa & supposedly a purebred Yorkie which really doesn't matter to me whether he is or not---love, love, love this little guy.

He is definitely a lap dog & soooo laid back. Not yappy, but will alert to most any unusual activity going on outside (or inside) until I quiet him. One of my neighbor friends who also has a Yorkie just cannot believe how laid back he is. At first he was very wary of other people & things, but now seems to take most everything in stride EXCEPT one neighbors' Basset Hound & another's 5 month old Boxer puppy. He goes absolutely ballistic when he encounters either of them & I just can't understand why. They are both good dogs. If anyone has ideas or suggestions about this I would really appreciate it!

Grand Ch Razzle - YouTube

Lets see, Razzle probably was the first Yorkie who was actively showing in the ring, along with swimming, dock diving, hiking et al. Full wraps never held him back.

Razzle is barkey, and quite a good watch/alert dog.

He is not a pickey eater at all, and has a great appetite.

He is very friendly to people and is not an ankle biter.

Tibbe hates bows, fancy clothes, would never get in a purse and sit quietly but give him a yard and a squirrel or two, he'll chase them down all day. Would rather run & play than visit a boutique any old day. Prefers challenging games of hunting, hide and seek and find the treat/toy over lying about on a frilly pillow in a cute outfit. Top notch watch dog and never barks for no reason. Would rather work than cuddle - though he does the latter anytime asked and hams it up beautifully for his mommie.

Rhett is fierce and protective, he will even try to protect me from other animals on TV (video later). Scarlett wouldn't sit in a purse if her life depended on it.

As for Cali (yes, she finally has a name) we are still trying to figure her out. But for now, we know she is just as fearless as they come.

Awww.

My boys embrace it all, the frou-frou, affectionate baby aspects of life and the feisty, athletic free spirit.

This is a GREAT thread! :good job:

I live in an area of the UK where a lot of folk go shooting etc and have gundogs like Labradors and Springers. The amount of times I've had folks twist their faces when I say I'm saving up for a small breed like a Yorkie is SO insulting!!!! :mad: At first I was stupidly 'shy' of admitting it but then I thought ''NO! Why should I have to account for why I want a particular breed!'' and now I will openly say ''I'm getting a Yorkie!'' :D And once I get her she will be well socialised around town (carried in my arms to take in the sights and sounds until her vaccinations are complete) and will not be yappy or snappy or nervous. She WILL be well trained and I plan to take her everywhere with me and be a credit to her breed for manners and obedience and, like my first yorkie in the 80's, will be just as capable of a day's hiking as any other bigger breed! :p

A dog is what you make it and Neil and I wanted a small breed just so she is a little bit more 'portable' and can come on holidays around the UK with us when we stay in caravans and cottages :thumbup: PLUS....we like the breed :wub:

C'mon everyone.....lets bust a few myths about small breeds and show everyone that Small Dogs Rock :yorkiesar

Good for you! And doesn't it make you feel good to say these things too.

Perhaps Yorkie World Domination may be a teensy bit ambitious ;) but if I can persuade even just ONE person to change their mind about small dogs or even get one of their own (from a good breeder obviously!) then I'll be a happy bunny :D

I've always adored Chihuahuas too and it really annoys me when folk consider them 'handbag' dogs :mad: I know of one who can keep up with his owners Labrador & Jack Russell no problem! :wub:

No problem for me that is how we live our life. Razzle goes where the big dogs go.

Thanks! If you ever make it out to the West Coast... play date! They would have a ball. I wonder which of them would get tired first.

Agreed. He even (reluctantly) goes out while it is raining.

Will do. He is both. Full of energy outside and chill indoors. People who see him either outdoors or indoors don't believe he is the opposite in the other setting.

Razzle is a busy boy! I wish my pup would swim but he is part cat.

Couver defies many stereotypes about yorkies, but also fits some of them. He rides in a purse, but he also goes hiking, runs the dog park, and can walk all day long. He loves water and will attack any sprinkler or hose that gets in his way.

He is definitely not frou frou and is a terrier through and through. He will chase any big dog down and is very bossy.

Khloe is more of the typical yorkie. She is shy and loves riding in the bag. She would rather lay in the sun than go to the dog park.

It's fun having one of both :)

What a wonderful baby. Loved the video!

Thank you:)

Wow, am I jealous. The potty training is a bit tough for me since Cookie ALWAYS has her nose to the ground like a bloodhound.

I took the advice of a friend that trains dogs. She told me do not let his paws touch your floors in the house, until he has pottied where you want him to be trained to go. So when we brought him home, he went straight outside in the backyard. We waited, and waited, and waited, when he finally peed outside, we gave him a ton of praise, treated him and only then was he allowed inside. That was it...he never, not once had an accident in the house. To this day, I jokingly say that he would explode before going in the house. One time he had HGE, with bloody diarrhea...still no accidents. He never fails to amaze me.

Sabre is not yappy, but he is not cuddly either. He is aloof and standoffish, and very very serious. He is an old man. A grumpy old man. That doesn't want any kids on his lawn. But he's not mean or snappy.
Pixie is not yappy, is not snappy, everyone is OMG HER BEST FRIEND. She snuggles and cuddles and kisses and loves EVERYONE.

But they are both rather food picky, so I guess that goes in with the small dog stereotype.

Lola defies most of the stereotypes
She is NOT a lap dog, to busy to sit on your lap
Barks very little
Is afraid of very little, including fireworks
Is not a picky eater, even chews big milkbones
Loves to swim, and will dive off docks to fetch her toy
Loves to fetch
Loves the snow
100% housebroken, will not step foot on a piddle pad
at almost 3 has white teeth with hardly any tartar (even the vet is amazed)
OK LOL I am done bragging.

It is good to see so many others that are free of some of the not so good stereotypes:thumbup:

I had to laugh. When I got Remy I was very unsure of why I was getting a Yorkie. I really started out wanting another shih tzu, but my vet talked me into yorkies. When i brought her home I got grief from my family, both of my daughter's were saying "a yorkie, really??? omg mom" now two years latter both daughter have yorkies and my dh loves all of them:)

Yorkies do tend to weasel their way into our hearts, once you really "know" one, you'll just have to have one of your very own...anyway I did.