Yorkshire terrier

Patellar Luxation

Legg-Perthes Disease

Hip Dysplasia

Heart murmurs

Yorkies can live off with very little food. Because it is very easy to overfeed a Yorkshire Terrier, obesity is a common health problem for them and can lead to several nasty diseases, such as diabetes, joint problems, kidney failure, etc.

Recommended amount of food is 3 to 4 cups daily, divided into two meals. And since they are prone to being obese by overfeeding them, monitor their food content to ensure they maintain their shape and health. Their diet should be appropriate to the dog?s age. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Yorkies are known to have long, silky hair compared to the average dog. They tend to be very light shedders all year round. This makes them suitable for dog owners who have sensitivity to fur. They need to be brushed weekly to keep their fur healthy. Regular trimming of the nails is required.

Yorkies coat requires regular care to keep its beautiful glossy appearance. Clipping, combing or brushing may be required at least once a week. If the coat is kept long, it may require more extensive grooming to keep it maintained and may also need some professional trimming from time to time.

The coat needs to be brushed daily using a brush and comb to ensure all tangles are removed as a pet. Topknots especially should be taken down, brushed out and redone. Leaving an elastic band in for days will destroy the coat. Hair under and around the tail should be checked for feces. Once mastered, the daily grooming should take no longer than 15 minutes. Bathing should not be done more than once a month.

Because they are so small, Yorkshire terriers do not need a lot of room to exercise. To keep your Yorkie healthy, happy and fit, daily exercise of at least 30 minutes is a must. Yorkies love walking and will trot on for long distances if allowed. A short walk will please a Yorkie as long as he gets a good sniff around and get some mental stimulation. Remember that Yorkies aren?t just lap dogs; they too do like to run, fetch and play like any dog.

Yorkies need regular vet visits, 1-2 times a year, as they tend to develop bad teeth due to their tiny, overcrowded mouths. In addition, make sure that any retained deciduous (milk) teeth are removed by the vet if they do not fall out on their own by the time the dog is 7 - 8 months old. Obesity is common among Yorkshire Terriers, and it can be life-threatening. Keeping their weight down will help your Yorkie keep its stifles in place. Yorkies do have a tendency to have loose kneecaps and are also prone to be tracheal collapse. As with other breeds, making sure they see your vet once or twice a year is the key to ensure they get the care they need in all stages of life.

Yorkies are affectionate dogs but are not naturally good with kids. To help with this, expose your Yorkie as a puppy, and they tend to be better. However, you need to make sure your kids understand that Yorkies have small bones that break much easier than most toys. Yorkshire Terriers are typically not recommended for households with young children, as they can often mistake the dog for a toy and play too roughly or drop or step on them. If you have small kids, close supervision is highly recommended.

While Yorkies are not advised for homes with younger kids, they make ideal companions for families with children older than 10 years.

Yorkies are usually an easy breed to train. They have historically done well without human assistance. They are naturally smart and quick to learn with food and or praise to motivate them. Because they were developed as a working breed, they may need a lot of physical and mental stimulation with long walks/runs and indoor games and training to keep their minds busy.

They can also be barkers and can be stubborn with house training, but they can be addressed with proper training. They also can be paper trained and can make great apartment dogs.

Some Yorkies might be aggressive towards other small animals, but some can live peacefully with other dogs and even cats. To help them get along with other pets, it is best to expose them as a puppy.