Things to Know About a Yorkie Puppy

Yorkshire terriers, or Yorkies, are one of the most common toy dog breeds in the United States. They make wonderful companions for both urban and rural people. If you're buying or adopting a Yorkshire terrier puppy, you will need to give it plenty of exercise and attention. It helps to learn about Yorkie puppies.

  1. Home Environment

    • Adult Yorkshire terriers can do well in a house with children, but the same home might be a little too rough for a Yorkie puppy. Likewise, a home with larger dogs might or might not be a good environment for your Yorkie. Yorkie puppies weigh very little and can be seriously injured or killed if someone accidentally steps on them. Owning a Yorkshire terrier means you have to constantly monitor its environment with an eye for the dog's safety.

    Life Expectancy

    • Yorkshire terriers are small dogs. This means they have a significantly longer life expectancy compared to larger breeds. If you keep your dog healthy, a Yorkie can live up to 15 years -- even longer, in some cases. Before you get a Yorkie puppy, you should be as certain as possible that you will be able to provide care for the dog for at least a decade.

    Coat and Grooming

    • The Yorkshire terrier is known for its long, silky coat that almost looks like human hair. When you first get your puppy it will have short fluffy hair, but that hair will grow out as it ages. If you're keeping a Yorkie as a companion, you can clip its fur short to keep it clean and manageable. Yorkies are a single-coated breed, which means they have no undercoat.

    Color

    • When you first take home your Yorkie puppy, its coat will be mainly black, with tan around the muzzle, tail and underside. As the puppy matures, the black will lighten and mix with the tan, which will change to a straw color. The fur on the dog's back will change to a distinctive grey-blue. There are many variations of this color pattern, and you shouldn't worry about your Yorkie's color unless you plan to show it.

    Tail

    • Yorkshire terriers naturally have long tails. In the United States, most breeders dock the tails of Yorkie puppies to a medium length when they are a few days old. Docking has no advantages for the dog's health and is only done to meet the AKC breed standard. The Yorkie Info Center claims that puppies feel little discomfort during the procedure, because their nervous systems aren't yet developed. However, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, which is adamantly against docking, states that puppies have well-developed nervous systems. If an undocked puppy is important to you, look for a breeder that does not perform the practice.