Beneath the long, steel-blue silk lies a terrier. The FCI standard says it plainly: hunting instinct is among its terrier traits, whether chasing a toy indoors or a rodent in the garden. It weighs no more than 3,2 kilos, yet carries itself so upright that the standard describes an air of importance.
| FCI | Group 3 (Terriers), Section 4 Toy Terriers, Standard No. 86, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Great Britain |
| Height at the withers | Not specified in the FCI standard |
| Weight | Up to 3,2 kg |
| Life expectancy | Median 13,3 years in a British analysis of 584.734 dogs (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | Moderately long on the body, perfectly straight, glossy, fine and silky, not woolly |
| Colours according to the standard | Dark steel blue from occiput to tail root, rich golden tan on head, chest and legs; other colours not permitted |
Origins
According to the standard, the Yorkshire Terrier comes from the same area as the Airedale Terrier and first appeared around 1850. Behind it stands the old Black and Tan Terrier, alongside breeds such as the Maltese and Skye Terrier. It has borne its present name since 1870. The FCI lists it in the Toy Terriers section; the standard gives companion dog as its use.
Temperament
The standard describes an alert, intelligent toy terrier, spirited yet balanced. In everyday life, that means plenty of self-confidence in a lightweight body. It wants training like any other dog, rather than being carried around as an accessory.
Exercise and activities
Walks, sniffing outings and short training sessions are beneficial; its hunting instinct enjoys search games with toys. Several shorter walks often suit it better than one very long outing.
Grooming
The long, silky hair needs daily brushing if kept long. The standard says it must never impede movement. Anyone wanting simpler everyday care can have it cut shorter.
Health
Two areas matter to owners. First, kneecaps: in a Royal Veterinary College analysis of 210.824 dogs from English veterinary practices, the Yorkshire Terrier had 5,5 times the odds of patellar luxation compared with crossbreeds (O'Neill et al. 2016). Second, windpipe and liver: among 11.061 Yorkshire Terriers at a New York veterinary hospital, 6,7 per cent had severe tracheal collapse, diagnosed at a median age of ten years, and 0,8 per cent had a congenital liver shunt, at a median of 2,7 years (Weisse et al. 2026). Persistent coughing in old age or a puppy failing to thrive therefore needs veterinary attention.
Who does the Yorkshire Terrier suit?
People seeking a small, alert companion with terrier character, offering kind, consistent training and enjoying grooming, including in a city flat.
Who should consider another breed?
Families with toddlers not yet able to handle a three-kilo dog gently, and anyone expecting a lap dog without a mind of its own.
Read more about training and everyday life with this little terrier in our in-depth Yorkshire Terrier breed portrait. Our breed quiz can show whether it suits you; our book offers more detail: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the first weeks, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Find a wall picture of your Yorkie among our dog portraits or as a poster in a wooden frame.
Further reading
- Yorkshire Terrier: three kilos of terrier, no accessory
- Chihuahua: why the barking starts at home
- The first 30 days with a puppy: a plan for weeks 1 to 4
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 86 Yorkshire Terrier (fci.be, English version dated 06.10.2026); O'Neill DG et al., The epidemiology of patellar luxation in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 2016; Weisse C et al., Prevalence of tracheal collapse syndrome, congenital portosystemic shunts, or both in Yorkshire Terriers at one veterinary hospital, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2026; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024.
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