Yorkies are no less of a dog just because they are tiny! They have huge personalities and can be just as mischievous as any large breed of dog. It’s a Yorkshire Terrier on the cover of my book, Adore Your Adolescent Dog. In a recent competition, Kerry Cadman, the owner of Adorable Yorkies of Devon (a five star licenced breeder) won a signed copy. It was a random selection, so it was a pleasant coincidence that she’s a Yorkie breeder and she was delighted to see that breed on the front of the book prize!
I took the opportunity to ask her to talk about Yorkies, and what she has learnt about them. She was too shy to speak on my podcast, so I recorded the words she gave me. Here are her thoughts on the breed she loves.
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog with a big personality. They are fearless bundles of fun and love. They have a feisty and energetic character and are confident and courageous. They imagine themselves to be of a greater stature than they look. They’re always willing to stand up for themselves, even against dogs double their eyes.
They have a very friendly temperament and make a great dedicated family member having a soft side to them. They need lots of attention and time with their family, but they can get anxious if left for longer than three hours. They can also tell if you are feeling down and pick up on how you are feeling very quickly, just like teenagers.
As they get older, you will find it hard to get them out of bed if it’s cold or raining, especially your bed. They are very clever and learn fast. Hence why I spend most of my time spelling out words I don’t want them to hear, but they’re learning how to spell now too.
It is imperative to properly socialize your Yorkie as a puppy, as they have the typical terrier attitude. If not trained early on it can lead to problems as a teenager, as they become afraid, nervous, and can be aggressive with people they don’t know.
They can be very protective over their owners, so it’s important to let other family members and friends of all ages interact with your pup as early as possible. As a breeder, I start this at the age of five weeks, and advise for this to continue for the first years, not just weeks.
The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most glamorous dogs of the world. They do have a high grooming requirement if you’re wanting to keep the coat long but they also suit a puppy cut. They can often be found rolling around in the mud or grass, as soon as you have bathed them. They make an excellent watchdog and will alert you if anyone approaches your home.
But without daily exercise and mental stimulation, they will make their own entertainment by barking at everyone that passes by your window. They don’t require a great deal of exercise and will happily adjust to their owner’s lifestyle.
I asked on my group for my puppy owners their thoughts, here is their list: unconditional love, devoted divas and princesses, comical, bold, loyal, beautiful inside and out, big personalities with big hearts, affectionate, helpful with detecting medical conditions, sensitive, easy to train, playful and empathetic.
As an additional note from me, they are small so you do need to be mindful of interactions with larger or heavier dogs. They Yorkie may think they are bigger, but you need to watch their fragile frames with others. That being said, they don’t appreciate being lifted up and missing out on the fun!
You can see more of Kerry’s yorkie pack on her instagram account – https://www.instagram.com/adorable_yorkies_of_devon_uk/?hl=en