Before buying a Yorkshire terrier their characteristics and temperament must be taken into account. There are various things that need to be looked at when you are considering buying a yorkie.
Here we have noted 6 different points which can affect your decision…
Barking – Yorkies tend to bark a lot! This makes them excellent guard dogs because they will sound the alarm when anyone gets near, be it day or night. If this does not sound like something you want to put up with do not buy a Yorkshire Terrier. This barking problem can be resolved by the proper training.
Housebreaking problems – They are one of the most difficult breeds to housebreak. Please read our housebreaking pages to learn how to correct these problems. Some owners never manage to get their yorkies fully housebroken. We were at that point with our Yorkie Harry, however we tried litter training and it worked! If you dont think you will have the time to housetrain a yorkie please think twice before buying a yorkie.
Grooming – Grooming a Yorkie can be very time consuming and needs to be done if you dont want it’s coat to matt and become a mess. If you can’t commit to the frequent brushing that is necessary to avoid this then you will have to at least commit to trimming your yorkies coat and keeping it neat and healthy.
Separation anxiety – This is something which they suffer a lot from. Yorkies need constant companionship and do not like being alone. If they are left alone for a long time they tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking! If you work all day please take this into consideration before buying a Yorkshire terrier.
Socialization – Yorkies need extensive exposure to people and also to other animals. If they are not properly socialized they can become very suspicious and shy which could lead to them snapping and biting. This is something which is common to most breeds of dogs not only Yorkshire terriers. If you are not prepared to socialize your dog please do not buy one as this could later become a big problem and could potentially be dangerous if you decide to buy something bigger than a yorkie.
Fragility – Many people buy this toy breed because of the cuteness of their small size. What people must also understand is how fragile they are. Yorkies can be seriously injured if stepped on or by sitting on them whilst they are curled up on a bed or sofa. If you have any other pets you must also realize that a larger dog can easily kill a Yorkie by grabbing it and giving it a shake. Everyone must take look around and tread carefully with a yorkie in the house.
Owning a toy breed means constant supervision on whats going on around your small dog. As you can see it is a big commitment and also very time consuming to care for a yorkie. Please read carefully through all of these points before buying a yorkshire terrier!
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