Today's Yorkshire Terrier is very different from the early Yorkshire Terriers of the North of England. These were primarily working dogs, much larger than today's Yorkies. These terriers were inevitably crossed with other types of terrier, probably the English Black and Tan Toy Terrier, and the Skye Terrier; it is also thought that at some stage the Maltese Terrier was crossed with these breeds to help produce long coats. As the outline of the Maltese resembles that of many of today's Yorkies, this is very likely. We can see in today's Yorkies how strongly the terrier temperament has been retained.
The Yorkshire Terrier, like any other dog breed, is prone to certain health issues. These may be inherited, congenital or acquired.
Even when a good & ethical breeder checks the pairing of dogs for genetic diseases which may be passed down from parent to puppy, genes may skip several generations.
What you feed your Yorkie is very important. There is much information floating around the internet which can be confusing. I prefer to stick to evidence based research for my decisions on such things. If you use a good quality commercial diet I don't see a problem with it. I stick with major companies with a long track record and research to back them up. If you choose a home made diet please consult with a veterinarian nutritionist like they have at Tufts to ensure you do it properly. I free feed all puppies and most adults unless or until I see a need to do otherwise. Weight control is important also so that can be a factor for some in deciding how to feed them. Consult with your veterinarian for sound advice
There are two schools of thought on the Yorkshire Terrier: (1) he is a vigorous terrier; (2) he is a delicate toy dog made for pampering. The owner's view of him has much to do with how an individual dog turns out.
Training any dog is very important and a Yorkie is no different. I would suggest you contact a good trainer to assist with this. There are often puppy classes offered in most areas. I would suggest using a positive based format. Science shows this is more effective as a training method. I always opt for the proven method with evidence to back it up.
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