Yorkshire Terrier
Big personality in a small package. Coat and dental care are daily commitments. Hypoglycemia-prone in puppyhood.
Coat
long
Size
toy · 4-7 lbs
Life expectancy
13-16 yrs
Activity
moderate
The breed
Where the Yorkshire Terrier comes from, and what living with one actually asks of you.
About the Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is a tiny terrier developed in northern England, originally with working-terrier roots before becoming a glamorous companion breed. The silky coat and small size can make Yorkies look delicate, but the temperament is often bold, alert, and opinionated.
Living with a Yorkie requires small-dog safety plus terrier respect. Many are affectionate, lively, portable, and confident. They can fit apartments well, but they still need training, dental care, grooming, safe handling, and protection from rough play or large-dog accidents. Tiny size should not excuse constant barking or poor manners.
Health planning should include teeth, knees, airway, liver, hips, blood sugar in puppies, and eyes. Local data flags dental disease, patellar luxation, collapsing trachea, portosystemic shunt, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, hypoglycemia, and eye problems. Dental care is a major daily issue, and coughing or exercise intolerance should not be dismissed as normal.
Living with a Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terriers are usually alert, affectionate, brave, and busy. They can be good with gentle older children, but they are too small for rough handling. Many prefer being the center of attention and may challenge bigger dogs without understanding the risk. Training should include quiet cues, house-training routines, polite greetings, grooming cooperation, tooth brushing, and safe leash manners.
Daily care
Feeding, exercise, and coat — plus how the routine shifts from puppy to senior.
Feeding a Yorkshire Terrier
Tiny breed. Calorie needs vary with size, age, and activity; measure portions carefully. Fine silky coat demands frequent grooming and dietary support.
Key nutrients
- —omega-3 (for coat)
- —dental support
- —biotin
Portion notes: 3 small meals daily for puppies; 2 for adults. Watch weight.
Exercise & enrichment
Yorkies need short walks, play, and mental work. Feed measured meals to body condition, age, and activity; tiny puppies may need careful meal timing to avoid low blood sugar, while adults gain weight quickly on treats.
Grooming routine
A long silky coat needs frequent brushing and careful maintenance; many pets use a shorter trim. Brush teeth daily when possible, trim nails, clean ears, and use a harness to reduce neck pressure if tracheal collapse is a concern.
The Yorkshire Terrier through the years
Yorkie puppies need safe handling, regular meals as advised, dental handling, grooming practice, house-training, and protection from jumping, falls, and rough play.
Adult Yorkies need dental care, coat care, measured meals, and monitoring for coughing, knee skipping, eye changes, appetite shifts, vomiting, or odd behavior after meals.
Senior Yorkies benefit from dental planning, lower-impact activity, arthritis support, eye checks, and prompt evaluation of cough, weight loss, weakness, or mobility changes.
Health
What Yorkshire Terriers are prone to, the signs worth catching early, and what supports them.
Health concerns to watch
Dental disease is nearly universal — daily brushing from puppyhood.
Long silky coat requires daily brushing to prevent matting.
Hypoglycemia risk in puppies — multiple small meals daily.
Use harness (not collar) due to collapsing trachea risk.
Common symptoms in Yorkshire Terriers
What to watch for, what causes it, and when to worry.
Bad Breath (Halitosis) →
Strong or foul breath in dogs usually signals dental disease, sometimes GI or kidney issue…
Loose Stool & Diarrhea →
Soft or liquid stool — dietary indiscretion is most common; chronic cases point to food se…
Coughing →
Dry hacking, wet cough, or gagging — causes range from kennel cough to heart disease to co…
Vomiting →
Throwing up food, bile, foam, or fluid — often simple stomach upset, but repeated vomiting…
Loss of Appetite →
Skipping meals, refusing treats, or eating much less than normal — often a sign of pain, n…
Excessive Thirst & Urination →
Drinking more, asking to go out more, larger urine clumps, or new accidents — classic sign…
Weight Loss →
Losing weight without trying, visible ribs or spine, or muscle loss — especially concernin…
Shaking & Trembling →
Whole-body shaking, tremors, or trembling legs — can be cold or fear, but pain, toxin expo…
Gear & services
Food, gear, training, and what the first year with a Yorkshire Terrier actually costs.
Fresh food picks for Yorkshire Terriers
Our recommended fresh-food subscriptions for toy dogs.
The Farmer's Dog
Fresh, human-grade food portioned for your dog
- —Human-grade fresh food
- —Portioned per dog
- —Vet-developed recipes
- —50% off first box
Nom Nom
Restaurant-quality fresh food with microbiome testing
- —Pre-portioned pouches
- —Vet-formulated
- —Microbiome testing available
- —50% off first order
Spot & Tango
Fresh or UnKibble — whole-food nutrition, your choice
- —Fresh or UnKibble options
- —Human-grade ingredients
- —Shelf-stable storage option
- —50% off first order
What to budget for a Yorkshire Terrier in year one.
A practical range for routine care and first-year setup. It assumes a dry or mixed diet and mostly at-home care; purchase and adoption fees are excluded.
Practical first-year range
$1,050-$3,250
A typical ongoing year runs $875-$2,225before optional services and unexpected medical care.
Food (year one)
Dry or mixed diet; fresh food can cost more
$350-$750
Gear & supplies (year one)
Crate, bed, harness, bowls, toys
$150-$350
Routine vet + preventatives
Wellness, vaccines, flea/tick and heartworm; no emergencies
$400-$700
Grooming
high needs; DIY to periodic professional help
$50-$600
Training
At-home work to group classes
$0-$400
Optional supplements
Not included in the headline totals
$0-$180
Other first-year
Microchip, license, spay/neuter if needed
$100-$450
Optional pet insurance
Not included above; premiums vary by age, ZIP and coverage.
$450-$1,000/yr
Also not included: fresh-food-only diets, boarding or day care, emergencies, and condition-specific treatment. Breed health risks are planning flags—not guaranteed annual bills.
Size-adjusted U.S. planning ranges, updated July 2026 and benchmarked against Rover's 2026 cost report and Synchrony's 2025 study. Actual costs vary by region and lifestyle.
Gear for Yorkshire Terriers
Breed-size-appropriate picks. Links go to Amazon.
Training for Yorkshire Terriers
Matched to Yorkshire Terrier temperament (affectionate, sprightly, tomboyish).
BAXTER & Bella
Online puppy training program, lifetime access
- —Lifetime membership
- —Self-paced video lessons
- —Puppy + adult content
- —Behavior troubleshooting
GoodPup
1-on-1 virtual dog training with certified trainers
- —1-on-1 live video sessions
- —Certified trainers
- —Custom per-dog plan
- —Weekly structure
Dogo
App-based training with daily structure
- —App-based daily plans
- —AI-guided feedback
- —Affordable monthly cost
- —Trick training library
GPS trackers for Yorkshire Terriers
Size-appropriate picks for tracking, activity monitoring, and escape alerts.
Tractive
Affordable GPS tracker with unlimited range
- —Attaches to any collar
- —Worldwide GPS coverage
- —Activity monitoring
- —Budget-friendly
Curious about their DNA?
Confirm breed mix, check for genetic health risks, and get actionable insights.
Embark
The most comprehensive dog DNA test
- —350+ breeds identified
- —250+ health conditions screened
- —Cornell-partnered science
- —Relatives finder
Wisdom Panel
Breed identification + health screening
- —350+ breeds
- —Genetic health insights
- —Budget-friendly option
- —Fast results
More on the Yorkshire Terrier
Similar-size breeds
Yorkshire Terrier questions, answered.
Do Yorkies need daily brushing?+
Why is dental care so important?+
What is collapsing trachea?+
What is a portosystemic shunt?+
What health testing should I ask about?+
How long do Yorkshire Terriers live?+
How big do Yorkshire Terriers get?+
How much exercise does a Yorkshire Terrier need?+
What health problems do Yorkshire Terriers commonly have?+
Are Yorkshire Terriers hard to groom?+
What should I feed a Yorkshire Terrier?+
Are Yorkshire Terriers good for first-time owners?+
Ask Searchbreed about your Yorkshire Terrier
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