Yorkies And Children

Yorkies are small dogs with long silky coats and entertaining personalities. When properly trained, they make good pets for families with kids. Yorkies are in third place on the American Kennel Club's list of America's most popular pet dogs, after Labrador retrievers and German shepherd dogs. Yorkshire terriers, or Yorkies, were originally bred for vermin control in Yorkshire, U.K. mills.

  1. The Yorkie Temperament

    • Yorkies are not the most frequently breeder-recommended dogs for families with young children. They make protective, sociable and very vocal pets. On the less positive side, their frequent barking can startle kids and it's their nature as hunting dogs to chase anything that moves. Breeds only account for part of a dog's disposition. Traits are responsible for much of the Yorkie's temperament. Traits are hereditary and breeders match males and females to enhance good qualities. If you adopt a Yorkie puppy and have children living at home, ask your breeder to pick out a puppy that's especially good-natured. Observe the litter and see if you agree with his recommendation. Temperament, traits and training all combine to make a good family dog. For the best results, choose well, train your Yorkie and educate the kids to act responsibly around you Yorkie.

    Do Yorkies Bite Kids?

    • Any breed of dog has the potential to bite, given the right set of circumstances. Half of American kids are bitten by dogs by the time they reach the age of 12, according to the American Humane Society. These bites are not only from strange dogs; most are from the family's pet dog. This is because dogs are animals first and foremost. They may be tamed and trained, but they will respond automatically with varying levels of aggression when they think their home or family members are threatened. Yorkies, like all other breeds, sometimes confuse signals. A young child's screams of joy can be mistaken for fear.

    Yorkies and Kids Safety Tips

    • Kids and Yorkies can safely co-exist if basic safety rules are followed. The experts at Breeders.net say "Never leave a dog alone with a child under five years old.Neither of them understands the other well enough to prevent accidents." Don't allow children to feed your Yorkie. It may nip or bite them. Show children and the Yorkie where his bed or crate is. Make this its own personal space, where it can rest undisturbed by children. Ensure all family members and their guests understand how to interact with your Yorkie. Teach everyone who comes into contact with it to allow it to sniff their hands in introduction, and to avoid startling the dog with loud noises or violent horse-play.

    Training Yorkies to Live with Kids

    • Training is a vital tool to control the behavior of Yorkies. A weekly class, or regular sessions at home, will socialize it. Teach older, responsible kids to use your Yorkie's commands. This tells the dog it's inferior in status to this child, an especially good move if the child and puppy were raised together. Introduce Yorkie puppies gradually to the noises of traffic and busy shopping areas. During training, encourage it to greet kids with an appropriate sniff of their hand. Always be clear you are its "boss" and be consistent with your commands.