Are Yorkies very smart dogs

Are Yorkies Smart? A Look at Their Intelligence Levels

Last Updated on June 27, 2023 by Denise Leo. Post first published on June 26, 2023.

Yorkshire Terriers, also known as Yorkies, are a popular toy dog breed that has captured the hearts of many pet lovers worldwide. One of the most commonly asked questions about Yorkies is whether they are smart dogs. The answer is yes. Yorkies are intelligent dogs that are quick learners and have great memory skills.

Yorkies are known for their high level of intelligence, which is why they excel in learning new tricks and obedience training. Despite their small size, they have a big personality and a lot of energy, which makes them great companions for families with children. However, like any other dog breed, each Yorkshireterrier has a personality and temperament that can affect intelligence and trainability.

Key Takeaways

• Yorkies are intelligent dogs that excel in obedience training and learning new tricks.
• Yorkshire Terriers have great memory and are quick learners, making them great companions for families with children.
• Each Yorkie has a personality and temperament that can affect intelligence and trainability.

How Smart Are Yorkies?

Yorkshire Terriers are widely recognized for their intelligence and quick learning abilities. They are considered to be highly intelligent dogs by almost every measurable metric and even by a few metrics that are harder to quantify.

Yorkies are known for their above-average intelligence and quick learning abilities. They are curious, alert, and eager to please their owners, all signs of canine intelligence. They are highly trainable and fast learners making them great pets for families with children.

In terms of Yorkshire Terrier intelligence, they score above average in obedience and working intelligence and have exceptional instinctive intelligence. They can easily recognize their owners emotions and are highly attuned to their needs. However, they may only sometimes adapt well to changes in their routines.

Overall, Yorkshire Terriers are smart dogs that are quick learners and highly trainable. They are alert, curious, and eager to please their owners, all signs of intelligence.

They score above average in obedience and working intelligence and have exceptional instinctive intelligence. They are great companions and make wonderful family pets.

Are Yorkies Smart and Easy to Train?

Yorkshire Terriers, are popular small dogs known for their energetic and affectionate personalities. But are they smart and easy to train? Lets explore their intelligence and learning process.

Obedience Training

Yorkies are highly trainable dogs with a good success rate in obedience training. Their trainable intelligence enables them to learn new commands quickly, especially when trained from puppyhood. Repetitions and consistency are key to their learning process, and positive reinforcement effectively encourages good behavior.

Learning Process

Yorkies have a combination of adaptive, intuitive, and working intelligence. Their adaptive intelligence allows them to quickly learn and adjust to new situations, while their intuitive intelligence makes them good at problem-solving and decision-making. Their operational intelligence makes them eager to please their owners and trainable in various activities.

To make your Yorkie smarter, mental stimulation is crucial. They must be exposed to various experiences and activities to stimulate and engage their minds. Interactive toys, puzzles, and games can help provide mental stimulation and prevent boredom.

Yorkies are smart and easy-to-train dogs with a success rate in obedience training. Their intelligence and learning process makes them adaptable and trainable in various activities. Mental stimulation is crucial to keep their minds engaged and prevent boredom.

How Smart Are Yorkies Compared to Other Dogs

Yorkshire Terriers are considered to be intelligent dogs by almost every measurable metric.

According to Corens dog intelligence criteria, Stanley Corens book The Intelligence of Dogs, Yorkies are ranked 27th out of 138 breeds regarding intelligence. They are known for their quick learning and obedience.

However, they are not considered the most intelligent dogs, as other breeds rank higher on the intelligence scale. For example, Poodles, Golden Retrievers, Dobermans, Labrador Retrievers, Shelties, and Rottweilers are more intelligent than Yorkies. Border Collies and Schnauzers are also known to be among the most intelligent dogs. However, it is important to note that Yorkie intelligence is not the only factor determining a breeds suitability as a pet.

Breed Standard and Registration

Yorkshire Terriers are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and have a breed standard that outlines their characteristics and temperament.

The American Kennel Club describes Yorkies as:

Tenacious, feisty, brave, and sometimes bossy, the Yorkie exhibits all the traits of a true terrier.

They are known for their small size, silky coat, and lively personality. The AKC also outlines the breeds ideal weight, height, and physical characteristics.

According to AKC registration statistics, Yorkies are popular, ranking 7th out of 197 dog breeds in popularity. This popularity may be due to their small size, adorable appearance, and lively personality.

While Yorkies may not be the most intelligent dogs, they are still considered above average in intelligence. They are fast learners and excel in obedience training.

The AKC recognizes Yorkies and has a breed standard outlining their characteristics and temperament. They are popular due to their small size, adorable appearance, and lively personality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the intelligence ranking of a Yorkie?

According to Smart Canine, Yorkies rank #27 out of 138 on the list of smartest dog breeds. This means that only 33 other breeds are considered smarter than a Yorkie. However, intelligence can vary from dog to dog, and its important to note that intelligence is not the only factor determining a dogs behavior.

How many words can a Yorkshire Terrier learn?

Yorkies are intelligent dogs and can learn a variety of words and commands. While there is no set number of words that a Yorkie can learn, some owners have reported that their Yorkies can understand up to 100 words or more. Its important to note that training and repetition are key factors in a dogs ability to learn and understand commands.

Do Yorkies like to be held?

Yorkies are known for their affectionate and loving nature, and many enjoy being held and cuddled. However, its important to note that every dog is different, and some Yorkies may not enjoy being held or may only tolerate it for short periods. It is important to respect a dogs boundaries and ask for permission before picking them up or holding them.

Are Yorkies protective of their owners?

Yorkies may be small, but they can be fiercely protective of their owners. They are known for their loyalty and devotion and often bark or growl to warn their owners of potential danger. However, its important to note that not all Yorkies will exhibit this behavior, and socialization and training are important factors in a dogs behavior.

Do Yorkies like to Cuddle?

Yes, many Yorkies enjoy cuddling and being close to their owners. They are affectionate dogs and thrive on attention and affection. However, its important to note that every dog is different, and some Yorkies may not enjoy cuddling or may only tolerate it for short periods.

Are Teacup Yorkies Smart?

Teacup Yorkies are considered a small version of the standard Yorkie breed, and while they may be smaller, they are still intelligent dogs. However, its important to note that teacup Yorkies may have health issues due to their smaller size, and its important to research and understand the potential health risks before adopting a teacup Yorkie.

Are Yorkies Smart Dogs Conclusion

In conclusion, Yorkies are considered to be intelligent dogs. They are ranked 27th on a list of 135 dog breeds ranked by intelligence. This breed is known for its friendly and cheerful personality, making them great family companions.

While small, Yorkies still require daily exercise and socialization to stay healthy and happy. This includes going on walks and interacting with other dogs and people.

Yorkies who are not properly socialized may become anxious or aggressive around strangers.

If an owner notices any concerning behavior in their Yorkshire Terrier, consulting with a canine psychologist to address any underlying issues may be helpful. With proper care and training, Yorkies can make wonderful pets for those looking for a small, intelligent companion.

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References and Further Reading:

[1] American Kennel Club, Yorkshire Terrier Information.

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  My name is Denise Leo, and I hail from Australia. My journey with dogs, especially with the delightful Pomeranian breed, has been a lifelong passion extending over 50 years. I have had the honor of breeding and exhibiting close to 100 Pomeranian Champions, dedicating many years to the intricate art of dog training across various disciplines.Beyond the show ring, my experience stretches to the pastoral fields as both a Dairy Farmer and Beef Cattle Breeder, where working with dogs of all breeds has been an integral part of my daily life. This diverse exposure has deepened my understanding and appreciation for these incredible animals.I firmly believe that dogs are the most extraordinary beings in our universe, capable of offering us unconditional love that surpasses even their own self-interest. The countless wonderful dogs that have shared my life over the years have not only brought immense joy and companionship but have also profoundly enriched my existence in ways I could never have imagined. About us page

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Yorkshire Terrier | Dog Breed Info: Pictures, Traits & Facts

Often, when you see a dolled-up dog with a luxuriously kept coat being carried around by a hifalutin urbanite in expensive designer clothes, that dog is a Yorkshire Terrier. More commonly called Yorkies, these dogs are the royalty of the canine world, a status symbol of aristocrats in the Victorian era and a top contender in dog shows today. According to the AKC, theyre one of the fifteen most popular breeds in America¹, and its not hard to see why.

Aside from their elegant, adorable looks, these dogs have giant personalities stuffed into their tiny, toy bodies, and thats the real reason why everyone loves them. These are bold dogs, brave and courageous, self-assured to the end, with a spunky fire that makes them just as entertaining as they are lovable.

Yorkshire Terrier Puppies

These are some tiny dogs, never cresting 7 pounds according to the breed standard. They stand a mere seven to eight inches in height, but their personalities make it clear that they are completely unaware of their small stature. But this small size carries some benefits for Yorkie owners. These dogs are extremely adaptable and can be happy in many living arrangements, including small apartments and homes with no yards.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Yorkshire Terrier

1. Their coats are similar to human hair.

If youve ever seen a Yorkie done up for a dog show, its pretty hard to miss those long, luscious locks of hair that cascade down to the floor. Look close enough and youll begin to notice that their hair looks pretty similar to our own. Thats because their coat is actually closer to human hair than animal fur. This makes it very low-allergen, great for people who are usually susceptible to dog-related allergies. It also means they dont shed much, though they will need regular trimming and grooming to keep their coats from becoming unruly.

2. They were bred for hunting rats in underground tunnels.

Though most Yorkies today are living pampered lives in the homes of wealthy city dwellers, the breeds beginnings are much humbler. Remember, Terriers are hunting dogs, and the Yorkshire Terrier is no exception. Originally, these tenacious little canines were used in underground tunnels to catch rats and other vermin. Youll still notice the prey drive in these dogs today. Just pull out a stuffed mouse and watch your Yorkie go crazy tearing it apart. Today, these dogs can perform AKC Earthdog tests, allowing them to try their hand at hunting underground rodents.

3. A Yorkie saved soldiers lives in WWII.

In WWII, an unlikely hero saved the lives of many soldiers. That hero was a tiny Yorkie named Smoky. This dog dragged a communications cable through a drainage culvert that was a total of 60 feet in length and just eight inches wide. After the incident, Smoky went around the hospitals visiting wounded soldiers, quite possibly making Smoky the very first therapy dog. Smokys tale has been immortalized in the book Yorkie Doodle Dandy, and through seven memorials honoring his legacy, including one in Australia and one in the AKCs Museum of the Dog.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terriers are dogs that epitomize the big dog trapped in a small body syndrome. They seem to have no idea of their small size, and they make this clear with their big, bold personalities. These dogs are courageous and tenacious, rarely afraid of anything. This is part of what makes them great city dogs. All of the sounds and unexpected bustle of the city doesnt faze them.

On the other hand, this trait can also get these little dogs into a lot of trouble. Given the opportunity, Yorkies will pick fights with dogs that are many times their size! Youll need to keep an eye on your Yorkie to ensure this doesnt happen. They have a tendency to be assertive and sometimes even aggressive towards other pets.

These are spunky dogs that love to play around. Theyre also incredibly loving, and many of them are happy to spend the day curled up in your lap. But they can also be very curious, looking for ways to keep their mind engaged and alleviate boredom.

Because of this, many Yorkies are quite mischievous. Its not uncommon for these dogs to get themselves into trouble. They also dont always like to listen because of the stubborn, independent streak theyre known to have.

Yorkies are very smart dogs and can pick up on things easily. Because of this, youll have to be careful of how your Yorkie perceives your actions. If youre too overprotective of your Yorkie, they might lose that natural courageousness and become neurotic instead.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Yorkies are generally considered to be great family pets. They can form close bonds with each family member, and they love the attention of multiple people. These dogs want lots of attention and affection, so the more the merrier is generally the rule with these little terriers.

Yorkies do also get along very well with kids, though they generally do better with children that are a bit older instead of young kids. Younger kids will often be loud or somewhat aggressive with a tiny dog like a Yorkie, and this can be more than the dog can handle.

However, these dogs do great with older kids who understand how to behave with a dog. As long as the kids arent too rough and theyre not overly-excitable, they should do well with a Yorkie.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

If you want your Yorkie to get along well with other pets, socialization will be key. Keep in mind, these dogs were originally bred and used as hunting dogs. That strong prey drive that made them great rodent hunters still exists in the breed today. Because of this, youll have to be careful when introducing your Yorkie to other small pets.

With larger pets, Yorkies can often display their too-big personalities and act assertively or aggressively. This can get them into trouble, but it can also be cured with regular socialization starting when the puppy is young.

As long as you introduce your Yorkie to lots of different people and pets frequently, they should learn to get along with everyone.

Things to Know When Owning a Yorkshire Terrier:

Food & Diet Requirements

Yorkshire Terriers are tiny dogs that weigh a mere seven pounds or less. As such, they dont need much food. Youll need to pay close attention to how much you feed your Yorkie to avoid overfeeding them, which is much easier to do than you may imagine.

Because of their small size, its easy for Yorkies to overeat, which will lead to weight gain pretty quickly. Once this starts, its a difficult cycle to stop and your Yorkie could end up overweight and even obese pretty quickly.

These dogs do best on a small-breed-specific dog food blend. Youll want to find one thats high quality and made with healthy, whole-food ingredients that will offer your Yorkie the nutrients it needs to live a long, healthy life.

See also:Best Dog Foods for Yorkie Puppies

Exercise

Yorkies are quite high maintenance when it comes to their appearance, but they dont need much in regards to physical activity. In fact, you might not need to offer your Yorkie much at all in the way of exercise. Taking your Yorkshire Terrier on one or two short walks a day is plenty of exercise for this breed. Most of them can even get sufficient exercise from a simple play session inside.

Training

For Yorkies, training is essential. They might be stubborn about training though, so youll need to be calm, confident, and firm when training a Yorkie. Luckily, they do want to please their owner, so with the right touch and some positive reinforcement, getting your Yorkie to follow your commands shouldnt be too hard.

Thankfully, Yorkies are smart dogs, so they can easily understand what youre asking and how to perform the requested action. They even excel at dog sports and shows, where following commands perfectly is a requisite.

Grooming

This is where Yorkies are going to require some time and attention. Their coats are closer to human hair than animal fur, and theyre constantly growing. Youll need to regularly trim their coat to ensure it doesnt just continue to grow until it impedes their ability to move.

But trimming isnt all this coat requires. Youll also need to brush it daily. The longer the hair, the more brushing that will be required. Those long locks will tangle and mat very easily, so youll need to remove the loose and dead hairs daily while ensuring that the hair stays tangle-free.

Even if you keep your Yorkies coat cut short, youll still need to brush it daily or it will get dirty and matted.

Yorkies are also prone to dental problems like many other small breeds. They form a lot of tartar and can even lose their teeth at a young age. To avoid this, make sure you brush your Yorkies teeth regularly and keep them clean. Also, get a professional cleaning of your Yorkies teeth by the vet at least once each year.

Health Conditions

One of the biggest problems with purebred dogs is that theyre susceptible to a wide variety of health concerns. Unfortunately, the Yorkshire Terrier is no exception. If youre going to raise one of these dogs, youll want to keep an eye out for the following conditions.

Minor Conditions

• Obesity: Obesity is a major problem for people, but its affecting our pets more and more as well. Dogs are considered obese once theyre 20% or more above their ideal body weight. Once obese, a dogs lifespan is shortened by at least 6-12 months, maybe even as much as two years. Obese dogs are also more susceptible to diseases like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, bladder stones, osteoarthritis, heart disease, and more.
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Called PRA for short, this disease is a wasting of the photoreceptor cells in your dogs eye. The condition doesnt cause pain, which is why it often goes unnoticed. The first symptom youre likely to see in your dog is blindness at night, making them nervous or causing them to bump into things in the dark. As the photoreceptor cells continue to atrophy, your dogs vision will continue to get worse until theyre totally blind.
• Hypoglycemia: This is the medical term for having dangerously low levels of blood sugar. Low blood sugar often goes hand in hand with diabetes, though other issues can cause hypoglycemia as well. The symptoms to look out for include increased hunger, decreased hunger, disorientation, restlessness, shivering, heart palpitations, weakness, loss of energy.
• Reverse Sneezing: Known scientifically as paroxysmal respiration, reverse sneezing in when a dog essentially sneezes backward by pulling air in through the nose, causing a strange snorting sound that seems like the dog is trying to sneeze and breathe in at the same time. Its an interesting sight to behold, but not cause for alarm since there are no negative effects from it and its not a dangerous condition.

Serious Conditions

• Patellar Luxation: This is when the kneecap is dislocated and able to move out of place. Its one of the most common causes of lameness in dogs. The first sign youll likely see of a luxating patella is your dog skipping steps or running on three legs momentarily before switching back to all four.
• Portosystemic Shunt: A portosystemic shunt is when blood bypasses the liver because of an abnormal connection between the portal vein and another vein. The most common signs of this are poor muscular development, stunted growth, strange behaviors, seizures, and staring off into space. You might also see your dog using the bathroom more than normal or they might have diarrhea or vomit.
• Collapsed Trachea: This is a blockage of your dogs windpipe that occurs when the rings of cartilage that make up the trachea start to collapse. Its rather common and youll be able to diagnose it by the hard, honking cough your dog will have. You might also notice that your dog is breathing harder than normal and has a hard time exercising. Blue gums can also be an indicator.

Male vs Female

Many people believe that female Yorkies are sweeter and more affectionate than males, but thats far from the truth. In reality, males are just as loving, attentive, and affectionate as their female counterparts. However, males may wait for you to give your attention to them while females are more likely to demand your attention when they want it.

Males may attempt to make themselves leader of the pack more often than females. However, females are often more territorial than males. Females are often more independent as well.

Final Thoughts

Though they may have started out hunting vermin in underground tunnels, most Yorkies today live pampered lives as beloved companion pets. These dogs are lovable, affectionate, bold, and make excellent partners. Completely unaware of their small size, these courageous dogs are likely to pick fights with larger dogs given the chance.

Not surprisingly, Yorkies have a bit of an independent streak that youll need to train out. Luckily, theyre smart dogs that can learn quickly, so with a little persistence and positive reinforcement, you should be able to train your Yorkie to be a well-behaved canine that can accompany you everywhere; one advantage to their tiny stature.

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Featured Image Credit to Mr. SUTTIPON YAKHAM, Shutterstock