Yorkshire Terriers are a high maintenance breed when it comes to grooming. Their hair grows long and straight and will need to be brushed and trimmed regularly to keep it in good condition and tangle free. 

Your dog will need a bath once a month. You can either give them a bath at home or take them to a groomer and do the lot in one go.

Yorkshire Terriers often suffer from dental problems. You can reduce the risk of this happening to your dog by brushing their teeth every day. Use a dog toothpaste as human toothpaste is toxic to them. Take care of your dog’s teeth with dental cover.

Yorkie puppies need to be fed three to four times a day, and an adult Yorkshire Terrier should be fed twice a day. How much you should feed your Yorkie will be printed on the dog food packaging based on the weight of the dog. Mini and teacup Yorkies will need less food than the standard size. 

If you’re unsure, speak to your vet and they’ll give you more information about dog food and a healthy dog diet.

Ask the breeder what they fed your Yorkie puppy as you should feed them the same food to start with to prevent an upset tummy. If you want to change their food, do it gradually. Mix the two foods, incrementally reducing the old and increasing the new.

Yorkshire Terrier puppies can be difficult to toilet train. You’ll need to have patience and determination when house training your dog. Reward their good behaviour with treats or toys. A tip for toilet training your Yorkshire Terrier puppy is to give them lots of chances to go to the toilet. Start by letting them out every 30 minutes, then increase the time as your puppy learns.

Training and socialisation are extremely important parts of a Yorkshire Terrier’s upbringing. They can suffer from small dog syndrome and be quite a pugnacious pup around other dogs. To stop this behaviour from presenting, Yorkshire Terriers need to be trained and socialised regularly with other dogs from a very young age.

Exercise plays an important part in your Yorkshire Terrier’s health. You should exercise your dog for at least 30 minutes a day. If your dog is a teacup or miniature Yorkshire Terrier, they will only need 20 minutes. Yorkshire Terriers are alert dogs, so using play as a means of exercise is a good way of keeping them occupied and entertained.

Unfortunately, Yorkies do have a reputation of having a yappy temperament and they are known for some negative behaviour. They like to be seen and heard, so will bark if being ignored. But with some training and some puppy party socialisation and you’ll find they make wonderfully loyal and protective companions. They are known for being a ‘lap dog’ so they do love a snuggle on the sofa.

Yorkshire Terriers can suffer from separation anxiety so shouldn’t be left on their own for long periods of time.

A standard Yorkshire Terrier has a life expectancy of 12-16 years. Mini and teacup Yorkies have a shorter lifespan of seven to nine years. To help your dog live a healthy life you’ll need to give them the right diet, exercise, grooming and training.

They’re not heavy shedders, but some shedding can be expected. Grooming your Yorkie regularly will remove any loose hair. You can learn how to groom a Yorkshire Terrier yourself, or you can take your dog to a professional groomer. Your dog will need brushing two to three times a week and trimming every four to six weeks.

Yorkshire Terriers have a surprising amount of energy for a small dog. You should exercise your dog for at least 30 minutes a day. A great way to exercise your dog is to play fetch. Yorkies love to chase after a ball and can run fast on those little legs. But, they’re not best suited for owners who like long hikes. While they’re energetic, their small stature means long hikes on difficult terrain will tire them out. Their bodies can also struggle to regulate their temperature if you’re walking them on hot days, so be careful.

Yorkies will be fully grown by the time they’re one year old. There are different sizes of Yorkies: the toy (standard), mini and teacup. They differ in height and life expectancy. A mini or teacup Yorkie will likely be fully grown within nine to-10 months.