Yorkshire terrier is one of the smallest dogs, about 6 to 7 inches long, weighing between 2 to 7 pounds. They have a short head and a medium-length muzzle. The ears are v-shaped, high, and upright. The body is compact, and the back is flat. Are Yorkies good with other dogs? Yes, making them excellent family dogs.
The most remarkable feature of the Yorkshire Terrier is its long, beautiful, and straight coat. The hair is steel blue on the body and tail, and it’s tan elsewhere.
Usually, the tail is halved to its natural length. Long hair on the top of the head is another characteristic feature and is often attached to a belt that gives a bold look to the dog. Yorkshire Terriers live for twelve to fifteen years.
A Brief History
The Yorkshire terrier was developed during the Victorian era in Yorkshire, England. The creature is supposed to come from several other terriers, including the Maltese, the black & tan Manchester, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, and some of the now-extinct races such as the Clydesdale Terrier.
Other historical data on race are uncertain or contradictory. Some think the dogs were born by working men in northern England, who could not keep big dogs easily but wanted a feisty companion. Other reports state that the Yorkie is designed to catch rats which infested mine shafts and enter batons and fox burrows as a dog. Another hypothesis is that Scotsmen in Yorkshire have established the breed.
The original terriers in Yorkshire were more significant than today. The dogs were miniaturized through selective breeding and became a fashionable dog. In the USA, the race was first seen in the late 1800s. The Yorkie is now mostly a pampered friend and lapdog.
Personality
The small size of the Yorkshire Terrier shows its real, energetic, feisty — and dominant personality. Yorkies are loving, but they want a lot of attention, too; the breed is an excellent choice for anyone who would like to dowry a dog.
Yorkshire terriers make excellent watchdogs. But other children may be snappy if they are not treated kindly or gently. Some can be violent towards other small animals, but other Yorkies live with other dogs and even cats very peacefully.
Yorkshire terriers may be barkers, but they can not be conditioned to bark too much. Some may also be stubborn about training at home.
Living with a Yorkie
Because they’re so small, Yorkshire terriers don’t have much space to practice.
The terriers in Yorkshire do not shake much, but their coat needs regular care to keep it good and look beautiful. If cut, combing or brushing is required at least weekly. If the coat is maintained long, many more hours of care will be needed, and some trimming will be necessary from time to time.
The race is sensitive to cold and chills, so Yorkies must be protected from bad weather. If it’s cold outside, a dog coat is in order.
How Do You Socialize Yorkshire Terriers?
Are Yorkies good with other dogs? These little toy dogs of less than seven pounds are vigilant, enjoy playing and researching everything. As their names suggest, they are tiny terriers. No matter what gender you decide, note that a puppy will require a lot of time, training, and work in the home.
It would help to clarify the age of the other Yorkie and whether both dogs continue to stay in the same household or whether the pet of your son is exclusively visitable only.
Introducing a New Dog
The way you socialize your new animal applies to all dog breeds. If you have a new puppy in your home, you should have supervised introductions and let the youngest know who controlled the roost before they arrived. Yorkies can be good with other dogs if you introduce them properly.
Most puppies will follow the lead of the older, established dog. Be cautious not to pay too much attention to the pup to the detriment of the older dog or for long-term residents, such as chewing or “marking” the room.
If you have any, your human children will probably be glad that the new Yorkie is at last home. However, your other animal friends may be far less enthusiastic. Your job is to implement and ensure that the interactions are not out of control.
The presence of the puppy alone will cause stress for your other animals until they know what to deal with. To minimize stress, select a relatively quiet place to introduce your animals to each other.
Dog to Dog
Here’s a look at ordinary canine rituals of greeting. Besides sniffing, you can see lots of bluffing: showing their teeth, raising hackers, and paving your shoulder.
Don’t worry, while your old dog can look like the intelligent puppy around him is hardly tolerating. Your dogs do what dogs do when they meet first, measure up to decide who is superior. This is a first critical step if you ever hope for harmony in the relationship between your dogs.
If your other dog is much bigger than your Yorkie, shoulder pawing may be an issue just because of the bigger dog’s sheer weight and strength. Be extra careful to reduce the risk of your Yorkie getting hurt. If you have a much bigger dog – particularly someone who still has a puppy attitude is very exuberant or doesn’t learn very well – your family probably won’t have a Yorkie.
Essential Tips That Can Help
Here are some suggestions to keep your pets calm in their initial meetings and make sure that Yorkies are good with other dogs.
Keep near, but don’t intervene, unless you think the bluffing escalates. Your dogs must come to their conclusions, and they can’t do that by cooing “be nice” as a mantra or by tearing your hands back and forth.
Stop the introductions immediately if you find any signs of hostility. Signs of aggression include crouching and hugging the ground, pinned up ears in the head, glaring, threatened to groan, and generally tense silence.
If you’re not sure how your elderly dog will react, put the leashes on both dogs before introducing them, and have anyone who can help you separate the two dogs.
- Don’t push the dogs to communicate with each other. Some dogs try to sniff at the unfamiliar dog; others stand back and wait for a while. Likewise, let him when your older dog is ready to leave. Don’t push him to stay and to apply to more young antiquities. Hold the pup back if the puppy tries to follow him.
- Let the dogs establish and follow their hierarchy. Until the puppy gets a higher place, she is the low dog in the totem poles about your other dog. While she may later become the dominant dog, she’s not. Don’t even unwittingly weaken this hierarchy.
- After your dogs settle the dogs’ hierarchy and accept their status (as dominant or submissive), your home will be reasonably calm. But as your puppy grows and its personality becomes more evident, the dynamics between the two dogs are changing.
- Occasionally they get along well; they snap and argue with each other at other times. These upheavals usually occur in hot spots, places where dominant challenges are probably: meals, doors, favorite pillows, treat time, etc.
If you have a Yorkie, mainly when your other dog is larger, be mindful of where the hot spots are so that if it gets harder, you can avoid issues or interfere. For example, if necessary, you can feed the dogs separately.
What You Should Know Before Bringing Home a New Dog
The time to ask your well-established dog is before you finally get your second pet.
While you can’t predict a new puppy’s behavior, you can try to learn the tolerance level for your existing dog. This is done by introducing a range of other dogs to your established dog.
If you already know the dog’s size, try to have meetings and dates with other dogs of the same size and age.
Testing Things Out
To test if Yorkies are good with other dogs, look at neighbors, friends, family, and colleagues. Even spending some time in your local dog park might help give you an idea.
While the first meetings on the neutral territory will be outside, it’s best to see how your existing dog responds to another dog when you are inside the building. This is because behavior within what a dog considers to be its territory can be radically different.
If you have a senior dog, you may probably want to think things through quite a bit. Many older people, particularly those with health problems, do better with peace and silence. Having a new puppy bordering the house, knocking on the old one, making all kinds of noise, and usually revived, can be very stressful for an old dog who likes to stay for his days.
The Pros and Cons of Having Multiple Dogs
When you’re at the fence and don’t know if it’s a good idea to get a puppy, there are things to remember to make sure that your Yorkies will be good with other dogs.
Advantages
Expanding your home will bring you more joy if it’s a big part of what makes you happy to have animals in your life that give you unconditional love.
You are bringing home your first dog’s companionship. It’s a ‘pro’ but cautiously. With a well-established dog, who looks good by itself, and particularly for older senior dogs, a canine friend might not be needed.
On the other hand, if Yorkshire Terrier struggles with being alone at home while taking all viable steps to cure separation anxiety, your dog may work best for a companion.
Disadvantages
There is no guarantee that a Yorkie does well in the same household as a dog. Most of them do, but not all of them. That said, most quarrels work themselves out.
Make sure you look realistically at your budget. This includes expected costs (food and supplies such as beds, shampoo, sprays, brushes, dental chews, clothing, regular veterinary visits, etc.). And this includes unforeseen costs, including veterinary visits for injury or disease.
Making Sure That Everything Works Out
Perhaps you already have a Yorkshire Terrier and want a playmate and a friend for him, or you have a different breed but want to put a Yorkie on your household. In any case, you will want both dogs to become best friends.
While this is the ultimate aim, it also takes time to create. For this reason, it is best to plan the house so that each dog has its private area and does not feel overwhelmed.
You also want the right setup if you bring a new Yorkie puppy home into a house with an older, well-trained dog. Perhaps it’s been a while since you led a pup through housebreaking and teething. Here’s how you can make sure that your Yorkies will do good with other dogs.
1. The entire house should be fully puppy-proof, even if the new dog is an adult.
Your current dog may know what outside limits are and what is not, but a new dog can be in danger of certain things. Remove any small objects from floors, put high shoes and other things (new dogs can chew your objects before they know how to use the rules), cover or shift cords, etc.
2. Use a canine indoor playpen.
For so many reasons, playgrounds are fantastic. These are great to help with separation anxiety, contain a dog while in the house, and keep a Yorkie from problems when teething or chewing urges are present.
There could be a moment when both your dogs want to share a playground, and that’s awesome. But at the outset, it offers both its own areas to retreat when they feel the need. And if there’s too much roughhousing, it will keep a new puppy safe.
3. Have separate bowls and separate food areas planned.
Most dogs prefer to have their own spaces when it comes to food. Eating side by side can make dogs feel threatened by food. Both dogs can eat together in the kitchen; however, these are different corners or areas at least six feet apart.
4. Have different sleeping quarters.
There are plenty of Yorkies that cuddle up together, and they may sleep next to each other, even though you have a Yorkshire Terrier and a much bigger dog. But if you bring a new puppy or dog home first, and especially a puppy that may wake up a lot at night, it is best to have separate beds. This may be placed in the playpen for both or at least for the puppy.
Instead of investing in a pricier memory foam mattress, you might want to restrict what you spend on the bed because it can be used only temporarily.
Final Words
As someone can tell you with a puppy, they can often be a handful. But don’t worry, Yorkies can be good with other dogs! Also, since puppies still learn, adult dogs are usually bothered without end. Women have trouble understanding that their behavior affects adult dogs.
However, for the protection of all dogs, a puppy and an adult dog should never be left alone. Give your adult dog a lot of time away from the puppy and try to keep you and your family alone as long as time allows.
Hello, can you recommend a dog breed that you think would get along well with a Yorkshire Terrier dog? I want to make a good choice but I cant have any large dogs. I don’t necessarily need a terrier breed but I may want a small size breed. There’s no children in our house. Thanks for the great article.
Richard
Hi Richard, great question. So you would like to know what dogs get along best with Yorkies? One idea could be to get another Yorkie. In my house I already had another toy dog breed called a Maltipoo. He has a great personality, hasn’t had any major health issues, was easy to train. Then we got our Yorkshire terrier. They get along fine like brothers. They share the same beds too.
