Is your Yorkie an athlete?

[alaskayorkie]

I wanted Eddie to be a superstar athlete. I put him in agility. I worked with him every day on jumps and teeter-totters and all kinds of stuff. He did well. But I was flabbergasted when I dogsat a friend's female Yorkie who put Eddie to shame athletically. She ran faster, jumped higher and, while untrained, was obviously a better natural athlete.

So I wonder. Are most Yorkies gifted athletes or are most Yorkies just average? Do they amaze you when they jump up on couches or chase a squirrel? Or are they like you'd expect: Just normal.

When you look at your Yorkie's pure athletic ability, how would you rank him or her?

[Britster]

Jackson's an Olympian! LOL... No, really, he's a natural. Everything comes easily to him, as far as activity goes.

I always encouraged his athleticism, which I know helped, but at the same time, it DID come natural. For example, as a pup, he used to play in the water on the pool cover, and in the pond, etc, so once the pool was opened, I encouraged him to get in. Had I not, he probably never would've gone further than laying on the step. Now, he does this:

Jackson Diving & Swimming - YouTube

So far, he's excelled at anything I've thrown at him though.

He's just very swift, very fast, very agile, quick in his movement. Jumping on/off furniture is very easy for him, he enjoys jumping onto fallen down tree trunks outside, onto benches, picnic tables etc. It's something I don't pay attention to, but he's given others heart attacks!

His nickname is 'Action Jackson' for a reason!

[alaskayorkie]

Ha ha. I was thinking of Jackson when I posted this. He's definitely one of the YT Yorkies I'd put in the Olympian class.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Tibbe isn't up to Olympian status but he does love his little home-schooled agility and seems not to tire easily at all. He will politic me to train him and set up his jumps and little treat-hunt field trials. He has a ball doing all of that. He is only 5.3 lbs. but he can jump so high and when he hears a cat outside, he can jump off the couch, clearing the doggie steps entirely and about 18" beyond them and he's off. I have worked and worked to stop the latter activity so now, when I hear a cat outside, I start telling him to stay and then "doggie steps" and get over to him before he can make that dangerous a jump for a dog his size. And, when he's motivated, he can said up onto the couch from several feet away without using the doggie steps at all. Again - don't want him jumping like this so in the house I really have to watch him to stop this. I think he would do so well in actual agility but right now I'm not up to it. When we go on walks, I never can tire him out. He's sure no lap dog - he's all terrier.

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Tibbe isn't up to Olympian status but he does love his little home-schooled agility and seems not to tire easily at all. He will politic me to train him and set up his jumps and little treat-hunt field trials. He has a ball doing all of that. He is only 5.3 lbs. but he can jump so high and when he hears a cat outside, he can jump off the couch, clearing the doggie steps entirely and about 18" beyond them and he's off. I have worked and worked to stop the latter activity so now, when I hear a cat outside, I start telling him to stay and then "doggie steps" and get over to him before he can make that dangerous a jump for a dog his size. And, when he's motivated, he can said up onto the couch from several feet away without using the doggie steps at all. Again - don't want him jumping like this so in the house I really have to watch him to stop this. I think he would do so well in actual agility but right now I'm not up to it. When we go on walks, I never can tire him out. He's sure no lap dog - he's all terrier.

Sounds like any Olympian to me!

[HauteDogCouture]

I just rescued my first Yorkie from a no kill shelter. I named him Doodle. He is my first small dog. I have had Bouviers for the last 20 years. I put my last Bouv, Grace, down about a month ago. I was NEVER getting another dog. That feeling lasted 2 weeks! I knew I wanted to downsize and rescue. Pit Bulls are abundant but larger than I wanted. I found Doodle in the 2nd shelter I went to and it was love at first sight! I knew nothing about Yorkies. He is on the bigger side at 10 lbs. I could feel his ribs and every vertebrae on his spine. At first he wolfed his food. I feed him twice a day, 2 tbl. of wet and a palmfull of dry. He snacks on the dry all day now. The reason he was put up for adoption is that she did not have time for him. I don't get it...he is pee pad trained, comes when called, sits on command, and walks great on a leash! I am thrilled with my little guy. It was kismet the day I walked into that shelter. I think he only needs some socialization but not much. He loves my cats and they seem to love him too. I'm looking forward to many years with my Doodle and really appreciate this small breed!

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by HauteDogCouture

I just rescued my first Yorkie from a no kill shelter. I named him Doodle. He is my first small dog. I have had Bouviers for the last 20 years. I put my last Bouv, Grace, down about a month ago. I was NEVER getting another dog. That feeling lasted 2 weeks! I knew I wanted to downsize and rescue. Pit Bulls are abundant but larger than I wanted. I found Doodle in the 2nd shelter I went to and it was love at first sight! I knew nothing about Yorkies. He is on the bigger side at 10 lbs. I could feel his ribs and every vertebrae on his spine. At first he wolfed his food. I feed him twice a day, 2 tbl. of wet and a palmfull of dry. He snacks on the dry all day now. The reason he was put up for adoption is that she did not have time for him. I don't get it...he is pee pad trained, comes when called, sits on command, and walks great on a leash! I am thrilled with my little guy. It was kismet the day I walked into that shelter. I think he only needs some socialization but not much. He loves my cats and they seem to love him too. I'm looking forward to many years with my Doodle and really appreciate this small breed!

Welcome to YT! We'd love to see some pics of your lovely pup! What luck you got there. It's pretty rare to come across a yorkie in a shelter that isn't very old or sick.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

I wanted Eddie to be a superstar athlete. I put him in agility. I worked with him every day on jumps and teeter-totters and all kinds of stuff. He did well. But I was flabbergasted when I dogsat a friend's female Yorkie who put Eddie to shame athletically. She ran faster, jumped higher and, while untrained, was obviously a better natural athlete.

So I wonder. Are most Yorkies gifted athletes or are most Yorkies just average? Do they amaze you when they jump up on couches or chase a squirrel? Or are they like you'd expect: Just normal.

When you look at your Yorkie's pure athletic ability, how would you rank him or her?

I think Uni is an athlete, perhaps not Olympian, but maybe like minor leagues. She has LP grade 2, but still she loves to jump. We have the home AKC agility high jump thingamabob, and she can clear it with the pole almost to the top. It could help that she has unusually long legs tho.

Also she can go for super long walks. After a 2 mile hilly walk in the park, she's still ready for more. One day we went to three parks in a row and she still wasn't ready to go home.

She's a super fast runner too. I think it's those legs again. I've always wanted to pit her up against a whippet. A full sized greyhound would not be fair.

[kjc]

All 4 of mine are closet Olympians! I had a ring jump set up in my Living Room, at floor level, my poor old Peek A Boo fell over it twice. I raised it 4 inches for Tink, then the doorbell rang and he turned and flew over it like he'd been doing it his entire life!

Sapphire almost beat the UPS guy to the gate, lol. He said, Gosh they're so little, I never thought they could run that fast! Lol.

Tink is just plain fast, and seemingly tireless.

Finny rolls, walks backwards, and has escaped every harness I've ever put on her. Miss Houdini.

[ilovejoel]

Joel is an Olympian AND a couch potato haha!

[Britster]

Oh, I forgot, I also clocked Jackson running about 20-22mph easily. Lol. I was shocked. (I ride the four wheeler next to the fence and he runs at top speed, haha).

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Britster

Oh, I forgot, I also clocked Jackson running about 20-22mph easily. Lol. I was shocked. (I ride the four wheeler next to the fence and he runs at top speed, haha).

That is cool! I have always wondered how fast a Yorkie can run. Jackson is definitely trialthlon or any sport material!

I would rate my guys as Olympians. Max has amazing strength and can propel his body in any direction seemingly without flexing a muscle.

Dad and I always argue who is faster, Max or Teddy. When the boys got outside once without permission, Teddy tried to catch Max but couldn't quite pounce on him. So, while Teddy is lighter and has prettier movement, Max is still fast.

[stovesj]

If sleeping were considered an athletic event then Gracie would be a World Champion.

[Deb1]

Teeka is only eight months and can run with the big dogs! She is not a jumper but she is fast. She can outrun our Cocker Spaniel! For a 3 pounder she "runs like the wind"!

[Ldyrev1]

I would not have thought that Princess Sophie could be in any way an Olympian until I saw her fly over DH's shoulder to land (belly first) on her Cloud 9 below. If I can post the video, I will. Just need time to figure it out!! LOL