The Yorkie, also referred to as Yorkshire terrier, is one of the glossiest fur coat dogs with an average lifespan of 13 to 15 years. As the name suggests, this breed originated in Yorkshire, England. With a silky, smooth and long coat the Yorkie is loved and admired by many.
While this breed was commonly kept for hunting small vermin, it evolved to become a lapdog for Victorian ladies because of its beautiful silky fur. Today, the Yorkie is a toy breed.
Terriers are known for their tenacious, brave and spirited nature and the Yorkie is a true personality breed. Happy or sad, a Yorkie’s cuddles will leave you exuberant.
Average Lifespan of a Yorkie
- On average, Yorkies can live for 13 to 15 years or longer when well cared for
- Teacup Yorkies have a lower life expectancy than that of the regular Yorkie. They can live for 7 to 9 years
- The Yorkie Poo is a mix-breed of the Yorkshire terrier and Poodle. Yorkie Poos can live for 10 to 15 years with proper care
Yorkies are the current favorite urbanite dogs worldwide. Most city dwellers prefer this breed as their pet. This may sound astounding owing to their history as farm and hunting dogs.
Despite the small size of a Yorkie, their ability to bark so loud and great personality makes them good watchdogs.
They tend to sometimes bark excessively and are suspicious of and aggressive towards strangers and other dogs if not socialized properly which is why it is important that a pet parent trains their Yorkie.
Yorkies are adventurous and always on the go. They love to run and have an entertaining personality.
This makes this breed perfect for those looking for laughs, love and close companionship because with a Yorkie it is never a dull day.
How Long do Teacup Yorkies Live?
The average lifespan of a Teacup Yorkie is 7 to 9 years.
Teacup Yorkies, as the name suggests, are quite tiny and fall below the average toy breed size which ordinary Yorkshire terriers belong. They weigh five pounds or less and are fairly delicate.
This breed has a lower life expectancy than that of the regular Yorkie and this is attributed to additional health risks that the Teacup Yorkie is prone to. Also, they are at a higher risk of trauma because of their small size. [1]
Average Lifespan of a Yorkie Poo
Yorkie Poos can live for up to 10 to 15 years but with proper care, they can live longer.
The Yorkie Poo is a mix-breed of the Yorkshire terrier and Poodle thus the name Yorkie Poo, which is also called Yorkadoodle or Yorkapoo. This breed is considered a ‘designer dog’.
It is not an ordinary mix and was purposefully crossed so as to give rise to a new breed with the best characteristics from both parent breeds.
This breed is much smaller with an elfin body and expressive face. It has soft curly fur which tempts you to run your hands through its fluffy coat.
Related: Average lifespan of a Chihuahua
How Long do Silky Yorkies Live?
When well cared for, Silky Yorkies can live for up to 11 to 14 years.
Silky Yorkies originate from Australia where they were first bred by combining the native Australian terrier with the imported Yorkshire terrier.
They are toy breeds and are slightly larger than the Yorkie and weigh about 8 to 10 pounds. They have gorgeous silky coats ranging from tan to blue but the puppies initially have black coats.
Beyond the exquisite silky fur of this breed, they have sweet almond-shaped eyes and a little wedge-shaped head.
Silky Yorkies are generally friendly, high-energy and affectionate dogs. It should be noted though that this dog is prone to minor health problems such as patellar luxation and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. [2]
Related: Average Lifespan of a Pit Bull
How to Extend your Yorkie’s Lifespan
1. Stick to the vaccination and deworming schedule
The most important thing any Yorkie parent or dog parent in general must do is to regularly visit the vet and stick to the vaccination and deworming schedules.
This is vital more so because most puppies tend to die from canine parvovirus and distemper among others as a result of late or no vaccinations. Properly vaccinated puppies rarely die from such diseases. [3]
2. Protect Your Yorkie from physical trauma
Moreover, to ensure a long and good life for your Yorkie, one must minimize the chance of trauma from dropping and accidents within the household. Where in a Yorkie home there are young children, they should be monitored when playing with their fur friend.
3. Neuter your Yorkie
Spayed and neutered dogs generally live longer. It was found that surgically spayed or neutered Yorkies have a longer lifespan by 14% for the males and 25% for the females. [4]
Nevertheless, it is advisable to carry out this procedure after the dog turns a year old and for females, after their first heat cycle to avoid the risk of parvo-viral enteritis that occurs in dogs when spayed or neutered at a tender age.
Conclusion
The Yorkie is a loyal, affectionate, gorgeous and true personality breed. This is a breed that can love you and lift your spirits when you are dull just like Smoky, the famous tiniest war hero.
An interesting fact about the Yorkie is that the first therapy dog was a Yorkshire terrier named Smoky who was found in the trenches during the World War II. She later went on to tour hospitals and nursing homes where she offered comfort and companionship to patients.
This dog is famously known as the tiniest war hero who was cared for by Bill Wynne who adopted her while serving in the US Army Air Force. To appreciate how much dogs are loved, there is a monument of Smoky in Cleveland, Ohio.
Now that you know the average lifespan of a Yorkie, would you consider having one to keep you company?
Yorkies – Lifespan, Temperament & More
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