Dog Fancy Magazine - Meet the Yorkie

Advocating for the purebred dog as a family companion, advancing canine health and well-being, working to protect the rights of all dog owners and promoting responsible dog ownership, the American Kennel Club:

Sponsors more than 22,000 sanctioned events annually including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, lure coursing, earthdog, herding, field trial, hunt test, and coonhound events

Features a 10-step Canine Good Citizen program that rewards dogs who have good manners at home and in the community

Has reunited more than 400,000 lost pets with their owners through the AKC Companion Animal Recovery - visit www.akccar.org

Created and supports the AKC Canine Health Foundation, which funds research projects using the more than $22 million the AKC has donated since 1995 - visit www.akcchf.org

Joins animal lovers through education, outreach and grant-making via the AKC Humane Fund - visit www.akchumanefund.org

Were more than champion dogs. Were the dogs champion.

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A lthough it is one of the worlds smallest breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier (or Yorkie as hes known by his millions of fans) is noted to be sturdy, hardy, and fearless. Anyone thinking this is just a pretty lap dog will be in for a big surprise.

The Yorkie is all dogplayful, energetic, bold, and courageous. However, it is the breeds fascinating blend of temperament traits that really sets him apart.

Yorkie Play Dates

One of the newest trends in the dog park social scene is the breed-specific play date. Some dog parks feature regular get-togethers where owners of specific breeds meet to socialize, exchange advice, and let their dogs mingle with others of the same breed. These events are usually publicized through online mailings or breed-related chat lists. Some have become truly gala affairs featuring birthday celebrations, costume contests, treats, gifts, and more.

The Yorkshire Terrier enjoys a long-standing, well-deserved reputation as an ideal companion. He does not like to be ignored and will go to great lengths to prevent it from happening. Affectionate and entertaining, he is equally happy to join you for a walk in the park or an afternoon siesta. He has no trouble keeping himself entertained, making sure you are never bored in the process. Without a doubt, this breed is a great choice for urban dog lovers seeking a non-shedding breed that needs little space. But that doesnt mean that Yorkies are not adaptable to a range of lifestyles. As long as you are prepared to provide him with daily care, attention, and exercise, your Yorkie can be happy just about anywhere.

The Yorkies loyalty is wholehearted. However, be warned that this extreme devotion can translate into protective and possessive behavior that you might not expect from a pint-sized dog. Despite his size, the Yorkshire Terrier is famed for his watchdog ability. Game for anything, he wont hesitate to defend his territory (or owner) against any threat, regardless of size. And he wont just bark to warn you of potential dangers, hell jump into the fray without hesitation. These lionhearted instincts can get a Yorkie into trouble if he is not well supervised. Males, especially, can be noted for poor judgment in choosing to take on larger opponents, regardless of an obvious size disadvantage.

Along with this breeds remarkable confidence and poise, the Yorkies terrier ancestry can be seen in his cleverness, curiosity, and intelligence. From his working terrier forebears, he has inherited a definite independent streak and an amazing knack for solving problems. Traditional working terriers were expected to take care of themselves and do their job without human direction. For modern-day Yorkshire Terriers, this personality trait can cause them to become easily bored with strict repetitive training. The Yorkie is smart, but you will need a creative approach to training in order to motivate him and hold his attention.

Meet the Yorkshire Terrier

AKC Meet the Breeds, hosted by the American Kennel Club and presented by Pet Partners, Inc., is a great place to see Yorkshire Terriers, as well as more than 200 other dog and cat breeds. Not only can you see dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens of all sizes, you can also talk to experts in each of the breeds. Meet the Breeds features demonstration rings to watch events for law enforcement K9s, grooming, agility, and obedience. You also can browse the more than 100 vendor booths for every imaginable product for you and your pet.

Its great fun for the whole family. AKC Meet the Breeds takes place in the fall in New York City. For more information, check out www.meetthebreeds.com.

Getting a small dog like the Yorkie is a big decision. Make sure to research the breed and discuss the pros and cons of living with a Yorkie with your whole family.

The breeds terrier instincts also include a strong predatory drive, which is most often expressed as exuberant playfulness, stalking, pouncing, and killing his squeaky toys. Like all breeds with a strong prey drive, this trait can complicate training, causing a Yorkie to become easily distracted and inclined to turn everything into a game. Consistency is the key to training any dog, but more so for a Yorkshire Terrier. Lessons should be frequent, short, and upbeat. Dont expect your puppy to learn something after just one or two repetitions, and dont become frustrated with the training process.

Training is essential to your Yorkies well-being. Yorkie owners can rarely resist the temptation to spoil or coddle their petsand that is exactly what Yorkies are for. But this should never include overlooking bad behavior. Every dog, no matter how small, must be taught to understand rules and socially acceptable behavior. A stern verbal reprimand is usually sufficient to get your point across. Despite his size, the Yorkie can be headstrong and inclined to try to get his way. And he really should not be the one making decisions for your family. It is your responsibility to create rules that are in his (and your) best interest.

The first rule of training is to teach your puppy the meaning of the word no. Its invaluable because it can mean anything from no barking to no biting or no fussing while being groomed. Consistently reinforcing your rules and boundaries through training is one of the best ways to foster a close bond with your dog. Looking to you as his pack leader, your Yorkie will take his behavioral cues from you. So, be clear and be consistent.

Yorkies and Other Canines

If you plan to get a Yorkie as a companion for another dog, be realistic about potential complications before moving forward with the plan. This breed may not be the best choice for a large or rambunctious dog. Even friendly roughhousing can result in serious injury for a tiny dog like the Yorkie. Most dogs enjoy having a canine companion, and they usually develop a close bond, but dont meddle in the process. Your efforts to speed up things can undermine its success. Forcing dogs to share food or toys may inadvertently instigate rivalries and dominance problems. Most importantly, give them time. It can take three or four weeks for a bond to develop between unfamiliar dogs.