Overview
The Yorkshire Terrier started life as a ratter in the mills of Victorian Yorkshire, and under the show coat there is still a terrier: bold, nosy, quick and loud. Yorkies are affectionate with their people and suspicious of strangers, and they have no idea how small they are.
For a walker the breed is easy on the legs and demanding on the attention. At two or three kilos the dog is at risk from boisterous big dogs, from cold weather and from being stepped on, so the job is as much guardian as walker.
Exercise and walking needs
Two walks of fifteen minutes a day suit most adults, and they will happily do a little more in good weather. Yorkies enjoy sniffing, exploring and a short game, and they are more robust than the ribbon-in-the-hair image suggests.
Cold and wet get through the coat quickly, so a coat on the dog in winter is sensible, and walks should be shorter in bad weather. Keep an eye on the dog's energy; a Yorkie that stops is cold, tired or scared.
On the walk
- Recall: Fair, but the terrier nose and a tendency to chase mean an enclosed area is the place for off-lead time.
- Pulling: Negligible in force, but the trachea is fragile. Always use a harness and never let the lead snap tight on a collar.
- Other dogs: Yorkies will square up to anything. Keep the dog away from rough play and pick it up if a big dog gets too interested.
- Barking: Expect commentary on other dogs, strangers and noises. Stay calm and keep moving.
- Underfoot: Easily trodden on in a group or a busy street. Keep it on the outside of the pavement and close to you.
Tips for professional walkers
- Use a harness and a short, fixed lead; a retractable lead on a two-kilo dog is an accident waiting to happen.
- Dress the dog for the weather and keep winter walks short.
- Walk Yorkies with calm, small dogs or on their own; big groups are not their place.
- Check the coat and feet for mud and burrs after a walk; it tangles fast.
- Be ready to pick the dog up when something bigger and bouncier arrives.
What to ask the owner
- Any tracheal or knee problems, and is there a harness the dog is used to?
- Does the dog need a coat in cold or wet weather?
- How is the dog with other dogs, and does it bark or square up to bigger ones?
- Any dental or eye care to be aware of?