About Toy Yorkie Puppies

The Yorkshire terrier (or Yorkie) is the third most popular dog breed in America, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). For showing and registration purposes, the AKC and the Kennel Club of the UK place the Yorkie in the toy group. Toy dog breeds are the smallest-sized dogs specifically bred for companionship. The term "toy Yorkie," which pops up frequently on the Internet, refers to the Yorkshire terrier.

  1. Grooming

    • Yorkie puppies need to get used to being brushed, combed and bathed as soon as possible. Yorkies need their coats brushed at least once very two days, according to "The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds." The long, floor-length coats that show Yorkies have is too much work for a pet Yorkie, so they need to be trimmed a few times a year. Take them to a groomer for a bath and clip when they are 8 to 14 weeks old, if possible. 8 to 14 weeks is when a puppy is most impressionable and will remember well any good experiences.

    Teeth

    • Toy Yorkies have bad teeth, according to "The Veterinarians' Guide to Your Dog's Symptoms." This is due to a condition called unstable jaw. As soon as possible, get the puppy used to having its teeth brushed with toothpaste made specifically for dogs. Do not use human toothpaste. Tooth brushing will help to prevent or delay tooth loss in Yorkies, according to Dog Breed Info Center.

    Fragility

    • Yorkie puppies possess the attitude of much bigger dogs. They are boisterous and will want to play with big dogs. Unfortunately, because they are so small, their bones are much more fragile than other toy breeds such as the Chihuahua. Restrict play with larger dogs that may accidentally cause the Yorkie puppy a broken bone. Do not let the Yorkie puppy jump down from heights of over 1 foot, because this can also cause injuries.

    Housebreaking

    • Yorkie puppies have tiny bladders and so they need to go outside more frequently than larger breeds. Puppies will need to go outside about every two hours until they are six months old. Yet, even adult Yorkies may have trouble holding their bladders and bowels after four hours. Yorkies are small enough to train to use a litter box.

    Size

    • Although "teacup Yorkie puppies" or "pocket Yorkie puppies" are advertised on the Internet, the AKC does not recognize such a breed. Full-grown Yorkies that are lighter than 6 pounds will be even more fragile and prone to health problems than a normal toy Yorkie. Show dogs are 6 to 7 pounds. Purebred Yorkies can certainly grow to be larger than seven pounds.