Dog breed

Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie, is a toy terrier with a long, silky coat in dark steel blue and tan. The FCI standard allows a weight of up to 3.2 kg. Despite its pocket size, the Yorkie has kept a terrier's temperament: it is brave, alert and a loud guardian of the home. It thrives in an apartment but needs daily coat care and caution during play with small children.

Low shedding
FCI Group III · Terriers · standard no. 86

Weight: 1.8–3.2 kg
Height: 18–20 cm
Lifespan: 11–15 years
Origin: United Kingdom

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Photo: Lilly M, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Yorkie is a terrier packed into a companion dog's body. The AKC gives it top ratings for affection with family, openness to people and watchdog alertness, and the FCI standard describes it as an alert, intelligent terrier with a lively but even temperament. In practice, that means a dog that loves its owner's lap but is the first to the door when the bell rings, barking for three. The Kennel Club notes that the breed has kept some of its terrier heritage, including a prey drive, so don't take chances with a hamster or gerbil. It can be scrappy with other dogs and ignores the size difference, which can be dangerous. It learns willingly if training is short and reward-based. A spoiled Yorkie quickly takes over the household, so despite its size, it's worth raising it like any other dog.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Yorkshire Terrier for?

The Yorkshire Terrier does well in an apartment with a single person, a couple, a senior or a family with older children who want a small, alert dog and enjoy caring for its coat. We don't recommend it for a home with small children who might drop it, for people who can't stand barking, or for those who want a dog for long outings in all weather.

Pros

very small and easy to take traveling
barely sheds
alert watchdog for an apartment
long-lived

Challenges

daily coat care or frequent groomer visits
prone to barking
fragile around small children
sensitive to cold

Size and looks

Size and looks: Yorkshire Terrier
Height at the withers	males 18–20 cm, females 18–20 cm
Weight	males 1.8–3.2 kg, females 1.8–3.2 kg
Lifespan	11–15 years
Coat	long
Colors	dark steel blue and tan
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Classification	Group III: Terriers
Also known as	Yorkie, York

Care and exercise

20–45minof exercise a day

5/5grooming needs

1/5shedding

A Yorkie needs 20–45 minutes of exercise a day, ideally split into two or three shorter walks and games of fetch. The Kennel Club recommends up to half an hour for the breed, but many Yorkies happily go longer once their stamina is built up. The coat is the demanding part: it resembles human hair, grows constantly and hardly sheds. A long coat must be combed every day, and the topknot tied up or trimmed so it doesn't irritate the eyes. Most owners opt for a short clip at the groomer every 6–8 weeks, which makes care much simpler. The AKC recommends a bath about once a week for a long coat. Brush the teeth daily or nearly so. Yorkies get cold in winter, so a sweater in freezing weather isn't a whim. Use a harness instead of a collar on walks.

How much should the Yorkshire Terrier eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Yorkie is a long-lived breed: the AKC gives 11–15 years, and in the British McMillan et al. (2024) study, which covered more than 14,000 dogs of the breed, the median lifespan was 13.3 years. The AKC lists luxating patella and congenital eye defects as the main problems. To reduce the risk of knee injuries, keep a puppy from jumping off the couch or bed. In such small dogs, periodontal disease develops very quickly and, without daily toothbrushing, leads to tooth loss. When buying a puppy, check that both parents had their kneecaps and eyes examined, and avoid “mini Yorkie” offers below standard weight.

luxating patellaThe AKC advises limiting jumps from heights, especially in puppies, to reduce the risk.
congenital eye defectsBreeders should have their dogs examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist before breeding.
periodontal diseaseIn such small dogs, tartar builds up quickly and leads to tooth loss.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

patella exam
eye exam (ECVO)

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Yorkie developed in the mid-19th century in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire in northern England. According to the Kennel Club, Scottish workers who came to work in the local mines and mills brought their terriers with them. Crosses between these and the old Black and Tan Terrier, with some Maltese and Skye Terrier mixed in, gave rise to the breed. Back then, the Yorkie was a ratter in factories and mines. A dog named Huddersfield Ben, born in 1865, is considered the father of the breed. After recognition by the English Kennel Club in 1886, the Yorkie became a fashionable pet of Victorian ladies. The FCI recognized the breed in 1954.

Fun facts

Yorkie puppies are born black and tan, and the steel blue color appears only with age.
A dog named Huddersfield Ben, born in 1865, is considered the father of the breed.
The FCI standard requires the tan hairs to be darker at the roots than in the middle and lightest at the tips.
Yorkies originally caught rats in the mills and mines of northern England.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Yorkie weigh?

The FCI standard and the Kennel Club allow up to 3.2 kg with no lower limit, and the AKC gives the same figure, 7 pounds. Dogs sold as “mini” or “teacup” Yorkies, weighing little more than a kilogram, are more prone to health problems.

Do Yorkies shed?

Hardly at all, because their coat resembles human hair and keeps growing. That's why the Yorkie is sometimes recommended for people with allergies, though no dog is fully hypoallergenic. No shedding does mean regular brushing and haircuts.

How long do Yorkshire Terriers live?

Usually 11–15 years according to the AKC. A large 2024 British study calculated a median of 13.3 years. Taking care of the teeth and keeping a healthy weight make a real difference to how long and how well a Yorkie lives.

Is a Yorkie good with kids?

With an older, calm child, yes, under adult supervision. Small children can easily drop or step on the dog, and a Yorkie will defend itself with its teeth. An adult should always be the dog's caretaker and the one responsible for it.