About Yorkshire Terriers

Size:

There is a lot of discussion between breeders on Yorkie size. The AKC standard says 4 to 7 lbs for an adult and does not recognize a Teacup as a separate breed. A Teacup, micro, mini, itty bitty, micro mini etc are just made up terms people use to describe a dog of smaller size with no written standard describing said size. Every breeder and dog lover has their own idea what a Teacup size is.
I personally consider a standard toy size yorkie to be 6 to 7 lbs and a Teacup 4 to 5 lbs and a Micro Teacup anything under 4 lbs. In my breeding program we often get toy sizes in the same litter as Micro teacup sizes. We have gotten 3 lb and 7 lb dogs out of the same litter. The parents will have a lot to do with size but so do grandparents and other dogs in the pedigree.  I personally have not found that one size has more health issues than another in well breed dogs.

Personality:

Although tiny and pretty, the Yorkshire terrier is still a terrier at heart. They are very much big dogs in tiny packages. The Yorkshire Terrier makes a feisty, but loving, companion. Yorkies are bold, active, and surprisingly brave for being such a small breed. They can be stubborn and they can be bossy with other animals and unfamiliar dogs. It is a good idea to introduce a Yorkie to another animal they do not know with caution. Because Yorkies do not look in a mirror, they are not aware of their tiny size.

Yorkies are extremely people oriented and are very loyal to their families. They have a great sense of hearing and will bark when they sense danger. This makes Yorkies great watch dogs.

Toy or standard size (5 to 7 lb) Yorkies are fine when raised with children, although it is extremely important to teach children in the family to not tease or mistreat the dog. I usually advise against bringing a teacup under 4 lbs into a house with very young kids for the safety of the tiny dog. NEVER leave a young child unattended with a dog, no matter the breed. This is for the safety of both the child and dog.

Care:

Well-bred Yorkies are generally healthy and have a nice long life span of 12 to 14 years. However, they do require a bit more care than larger breed puppies. Due to their delicate nature and small size, teacup Yorkies are similar to new born babies in that they have not fully developed their immune systems. Care should be taken the first few months until vaccines have been completed.

Tiny Teacup Yorkies are also prone to Hypoglycemia and need to eat several small meals a day until at least 4 or 5 months of age.

Yorkies should never be allowed outside without being closely watched by an adult. Due to their small size, they could be easy pray for large birds or other predators.

Yorkies have a long, soft silky coat with little or no shedding and are great for families with allergies.

Overall, the Yorkie is a great family companion that will live a long and happy life with proper care and training.