A possible best friend

Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier’s silky appearance covers a confident terrier descended from ratters. This small companion still benefits from activity, learning and involvement in daily life.

Puppy

Grown up

Illustrated puppy and adult examples.

Personality at a glance

Affection with family: 3 out of 3; Higher tendency
Playfulness: 3 out of 3; Higher tendency
Child-friendly tendency: 3 out of 3; Higher tendency
Comfort with other dogs: 2 out of 3; Moderate tendency
Welcoming new people: 3 out of 3; Higher tendency

Breed tendencies vary between dogs. Supervise children and dogs together. Cats and small pets need an individual compatibility assessment.

About these ratings

Our three levels group the AKC’s published five-point ratings: 1–2 becomes lower, 3 moderate, and 4–5 higher. The child rating describes young-child tendencies. These are general tendencies, not safety or compatibility guarantees.

AKC Yorkshire Terrier breed traits · Reviewed 8 October 2026

Meet connected mixes

Family connections

Chorkie

Yorkipoo

Shared backgrounds, individual dogs. A mix name does not predict traits.

The beginning

Puppy days

Introduce brushing, tooth care and gentle handling early using rewards. Protect positive social experiences, establish frequent toilet trips and provide quiet sleep between lessons.

Your everyday

Adult life

Keep the adult walking, playing and learning each day. Choose a coat length you can maintain, and continue rewarding calm greetings and relaxed time at home.

Everyday care

Brush the growing silky coat frequently and maintain trims, teeth and nails. Provide daily walks and brief games; a pet trim reduces complexity but still needs care.

Worth planning for: Silky hair can mat, especially as the puppy coat changes; grooming remains necessary with a short trim.

Sources & reading

Reviewed 8 October 2026. Breed tendencies and mixed-background possibilities describe a starting point, not a promise about an individual dog.