Disclosure: Some of the links, pictures, and/or elements on this page may be affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase or take a qualified action.


The Yorkie dog attributes is one of the most popular dogs to have as a household pet. There’s no doubt that you have come across this dog breed many times whenever you’re strolling in parks, riding planes or trains, and even if you’re staying in hotels – they are everywhere! And that’s mainly because they are small and very convenient to carry around, so to speak. The Yorkie dog is a terrier and is known as the Yorkshire terrier in full. In this article, you’ll learn about the characteristics and origin story of the Yorkie dog.

Yorkie Dog: Physical Attributes

The Yorkie dog usually features a beautiful and flowing silky body coat with a golden tan – colored glimmer. It also sports a hair that splits in their spine and muzzle. Yorkie dog attributes come in two coat colors; sterling steel with a golden tan, and chocolate brown. They also have a lively; comically tuft of hair on their heads making on them all the more appealing to dog keepers. They weigh between four and six pounds and grow up to a height of around 8 to 9 inches. If these dogs are given the right care, Yorkie dog attributes can live up to fifteen years even if the average lifespan is just around 12 years.

Yorkie Dog: Origin

The Yorkie dog has been around since the early 1800s when it was first bred by English and Scottish workers who worked in coal mines and textile mills. Around the 1860s the workers experimented and bred the Clydesdale terrier with other local terriers breeds, and that’s when the Yorkie came to be.

The reason why the Yorkie dog was bred is that they are tasked to chase off mice, rats and other small creatures that were pestering the mines and mills. However, the story took a complete turn when the workers came with it to America. The upper – class ladies back then saw this adorable canine and were amazed by its beauty, personality, and cute size.

The Yorkie dog eventually became a first – class lap dog particularly for high – profile Americans. It quickly became a popular household pet as well. Since then, it has been a story of glory for the Yorkie breed as it continues to amaze people with its adorable quality making it one of the top bred toy breed dogs in the world.

Yorkie Dog: Temperament

The Yorkie dog is a curious, loyal and fun dog breed. Perhaps the best part is that it easily gets attached by its owners which also means that it highly rely on companionship, which is why you can’t leave it alone for long periods as it tends to develop separation anxiety. Yorkie dogs are very brave, smart, and confident but you might want to avoid turning them into spoiled brats otherwise it will be hard for you to train them, and they might become mischievous around strangers.

Yorkie Dog: Grooming

When it comes to grooming, the hygiene care for Yorkie dogs is almost the same with other terrier breeds. You have to make sure that the eyes and ears are well – groomed in order to prevent dirt build-ups. You also need to pay close attention to their hair, and regularly brush it to avoid hair tangling as it can be hurtful for your pet. When it comes to washing its coat, make sure to only use a mild shampoo to keep the dirt and dog fleas away. In addition to all these, make sure to clip your dog’s nails on a regular basis.

Perhaps the downside when it comes to keeping Yorkie dogs is that they usually have a bad breath. Bacteria is quite easy to build up in their teeth so make sure to frequently brush it using a dog toothpaste so that he/ she will have fresher breath and also prevent tooth decay or tooth loss.  

Yorkie Dog: Health Issues

Lots of Yorkie dogs suffer from various health issues such as glaucoma, tracheal collapse, reverse sneezing, hypoglycemia and heart disease among others. They also experience disorders like patella luxation and port systemic shunt. Most of these diseases and disorders are often inherited from their parent breed, which is why it is essential that you carry out background research on your Yorkie’s lineage in order to avoid these kinds of issues that are detrimental to your pet’s health. Also, ensure that you pay regular visits to your vet for checkups.

In addition to all these, your pet is also prone to progressive retinal atrophy though this is more rampant in young pups that are two years old and below. Most Yorkie dog attributes and other terrier breeds tend to also experience hypoglycemia at a young age; especially when they are stressed out, so make sure to talk to your vet about how you can prevent all these from happening.

If your pet is well – taken care of, they can live up to sixteen years! Keep in mind that Yorkie dogs are small fragile dogs, which means they need to be handled with care.

Yorkie Dogs vs. Morkies

Below is a comparison of the two breeds:

  • The Yorkie dog attributes is a pure breed while the Morkie is a mix of a Yorkie and the Maltese breed hence the latter will never be considered as pure even in it is a first generation offspring.
  • Morkies comes in various coat colors since it’s not a pure breed, while Yorkies only have a few variations in their coat colors.
  • Morkies are quite friendly pets but they are not welcoming to strangers and will often bark at anyone who they don’t recognize. This however, makes them great indoor watch dogs. On the other hand, the Yorkie breed doesn’t bark a lot but is somewhat mischievous around strangers.
  • The Yorkie has more dental – related problems while the Morkie has more eye – related problems.

At the end of the day, both breeds are adorable and it all comes down to your preference. If you love a smaller, cuddly and a dog that looks like a mass of fluff balls then the morkie suits you best, but if you like a slightly bigger dog that’s also incredibly adorable and clingy then a Yorkie dog attributes could suit you better.




Pin It on Pinterest

Share This