Little known qualities of Yorkshire Terriers

Yorkshire Terriers are best known for their long hair, small size, and big enthusiasm. The Yorkie breed is becoming more and more popular, especially with families. According to the 2008 American Kennel Club Registration Statistics, Yorkshire Terriers, or 揧orkies?for short, are the second most popular dog in the U.S. behind Labrador Retrievers. There are several facts that many people, including many Yorkie owners don抰 know:

Yorkie puppies sell for an average of $700 a piece. A reputable Yorkie breeder with quality dogs can command prices much higher than that however. Even into the thousands of dollars. A quality female with a well documented and pure line can more than pay for itself through breeding however.

The average life span for a Yorkie can be up to 15 years old. Many popular larger dogs max out around 12 years. This means that you will have the smallest member of your family around much longer to enjoy.

Yorkies can make excellent therapy dogs. The people-friendly nature of Yorkies makes them well-suited for lifting patient抯 spirits in hospitals and institutions. In fact, during World War II there was a Yorkie named Smokey who was found abandoned on a battlefield and found a career when she helped her owner through a sickness in a military hospital and continued to work as a therapy dog for 12 years.

Yorkies are said to make good pets for people with allergies. This is attributed to the type of hair Yorkies have that sheds less, making them less likely to irritate allergies.

Yorkies travel very well. This may seem obvious due to their small size but in addition, Yorkies are very loyal and enjoy being close to their owners. Their small size does allow them to be carried in small carriers that are easily held on your lap.

The endearing qualities of Yorkies continue to bring their owners great joy and will continue make them extremely popular dogs well into the future.