New here, first yorkie - what is typical behavior?
 

Hi everyone.

So we've had our new yorkie puppy for a month now (he's 3.5 months) and I was just wondering what is typical yorkie behavior. I've had many small dogs in the past but most were maltese mixes, or my current other small 3.8 lb dog who is a mystery breed (waiting DNA results) and they were pretty calm.

My yorkie pup is quite a handful! I've read this is common with the breed. Is this true in your experience? We love him to bits, he's so cuddly (unlike our other dog, who would rather lay at our feet than in our arms) but does seem to have an aggressive streak. I was told his snarling was normal, but just want to see if this is true from actual yorkie owners.

Looking forward to participating, now that I'm a yorkie parent! I've always wanted a yorkie so I'm thrilled to have him and thrilled to be here.

yorkies
 

My Mickey Joe is one year old now. I wanted a yorkie because I thought they was lap dogs. Boy was I wrong. I can tell you . Mickey is my mobility motivator. We are always doing something. I love him so much. They require lots of watching and they are lions in small bodies. You really will have a blast with him. They do change your house routine. But when you look at those shining eyes ,looking up at you , you will melt :-)

Just sounds like a puppy to me not necessarily a yorkie lol. If he is acting aggressive it's best to nip it in the bud now then wait until he is older and it's a bigger problem. What do you mean when you say aggressive? Biting or growling or what?

Hi and welcome to YT :)! He sounds like he's acting like both a yorkie and a puppy. Most terriers are very lively breeds, so I'm not surprised :D.

All my passed pups as babies were super hyper pups, very active, loved zooming around the house, they are tireless lol, love to play, play, play. The growling, if he is doing this to one of your other pets you need to correct him NOW while he is still young. Enjoy this puppy period, they are so funny and cute and grow so fast. In a nut shell, you have a true Yorkie.

Both of my yorkies have loved to cuddle but I know that isn't true of all of them. The one I have now is almost too much, she wakes me up crying if she isnt close enough :2omg:

At 2 yrs. old Hannah was and sill is a burst of energy! She was not a lap dog or super cuddly as a puppy as she was never still enough for that unless she was sleepy. Now she asks to get up in my lap especially when I'm on my computer. Even while watching TV she has her favorite spot on the back of the couch so she can watch too. She was also a chewer and she remodeled most of the edges of my base boards, night stands...
At about 1 1/2 she has settled some but is all yorkie. She only growls when playing with her toys and has never tried to nip at me. Typical puppy behavior especially when you have other furbutts in the house is to run, jump, play, growl, tug and so on. But if your pup is nipping at you then time to nip it in the bud! Yorkies are full of energy and you will have to find fun ways to wear them down. Long walks, swimming, fetch, hide and seek with treats and toys... Good luck with your baby and welcome to YT! Post pictures when you can!

Thanks everyone!

Constance - I know that melting feeling. He's so adorable.

Lovetodream88 - he's snarling and biting, especially if we pick him up while he's playing with our other dog (Maple). They play pretty aggressively with each other, but they don't hurt each other. And they LOVE to play together. It's just if a human gets involved, my yorkie (Clark) doesn't care for the interruption and starts snarling and biting the person that picked him up.

Wylie's mom - Maple, our mystery dog, is quite lively also which is why we think she might have some kind of terrier in her too. She's calm and listens, but has these ridiculous bursts of energy and runs around non-stop. It's a good match for a new puppy!

Matese - Yeah, we've been trying to correct him when he does the growling with Maple. It's getting better, but quite slowly. Other than that issue, we are enjoying him immensely. He's already changed so much over the last month.

LOL shelbysmom, I once had a dog like that. He was a real sweetheart but wow, sometimes I just needed him to NOT be on me (especially when my kids were tiny babies, lol). I do miss it though, which is why I'm so glad Clark is such a snuggler

joyce evans - most of the dogs I've had take about 2 years to settle...everyone told me that certain breeds were sooner, some later, but 2 years seems to about right for all of them. I do have to find ways for him to burn off energy. It's really hard in the winter here, especially lately it's too icy out to take him for walks. I'm sure when it warms up things will improve on that front. He runs around plenty inside though.

Thank you all for your responses, it was really helpful to see how other yorkie puppies are. I've never actually known someone with a yorkie, only a silkie (and she used to snarl a lot too, lol). Most small dogs I've known were poodle or maltese mixes and the temperament was quite different, so it's interesting to see that it's probably a breed thing. Thanks all!

I would say no and put the puppy maybe in his own space for a little while. Mine would nip a bit as a puppy and would hold onto shoes/feet and pants and the only way to get her to stop was a squirt bottle of water and squirt her and say no.

The only time Oliver growls at us is when he grabs laundry out of the dryer and runs behind the end table with it. sigh.....

Puppy play is really rough with another dog. The learn by biting and nipping and growling, that if it is too much the other dog screetches, yipes or growls back. The seem to pause and look at each other then start in again, but this time it doesn't go to far. Thing is it has to happen over and over until they start to calm down at about 2 yrs. I wouldn't intervene in this play unless one dog was trying to kill the other. That puts you into the game and you are just as open territory for nips and snarls as the other dog. Just my experience.