Yorkshire Terrier: Everything You Need to Know

Veterinary and insurance guide · Petplan Spain Team · Updated 2026

The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular toy breeds in the world: a tiny, glamorous terrier with a long, silky steel-blue and tan coat, a confident “big dog” attitude and fierce devotion to its owner. Portable, long-lived and full of personality, the “Yorkie” is a wonderful companion for flat and city living — but behind that elegant coat is a true terrier, and its tiny size brings a very specific set of veterinary predispositions. In this guide we cover its origin, its temperament, the conditions we most often see in the clinic, the care it needs, and the real veterinary costs worth planning for in Spain, and we explain why Petplan pet insurance is the best choice for your Yorkshire Terrier.

Origin and history of the Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier was developed in the north of England during the 19th century, in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, where Scottish weavers and workers bred small terriers to catch rats in mills and mines. From those working ratters, selective breeding produced the refined, glamorous toy dog we know today — but the bold, tenacious terrier character remains underneath.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognises the Yorkshire Terrier under standard number 86, in group 3 (terriers). Its hallmarks are its tiny size, its long, fine, glossy steel-blue and tan coat of human-hair-like texture, its small head with neat erect ears and a self-assured, spirited expression.

Physical characteristics

Temperament and character

The Yorkshire Terrier is bold, lively, affectionate and intensely devoted to its owner. Despite its tiny size it is every inch a terrier: confident, alert and quick to sound the alarm, which makes it a surprisingly effective little watchdog. It bonds closely with its family and loves to be involved in everything they do.

Two traits are worth knowing before you adopt. First, the Yorkie’s big-dog confidence in a tiny body means it needs early, consistent socialisation; without it, it can become yappy, possessive or willing to challenge much larger dogs. Second, because it is so small and delicate it is better suited to adults and considerate older children than to very young ones, who can injure it accidentally. Treated with respect and trained gently, it is a devoted, entertaining and long-lived companion.

Common health problems in the Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is generally long-lived, but its extreme small size brings several characteristic predispositions worth knowing.

Dental disease

This is the breed’s most common problem. So many teeth in such a tiny mouth leads to crowding, tartar and periodontal disease, often with early tooth loss. Regular dental care — brushing and professional cleaning — is essential throughout life.

Joints, trachea and skull

The Yorkie is predisposed to patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps), to tracheal collapse (a narrowing of the windpipe causing a honking cough) and to Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (degeneration of the femoral head). Walking on a harness rather than a collar is important to protect the delicate trachea.

Liver shunts and hypoglycaemia

The breed is notably predisposed to portosystemic (liver) shunts, a congenital blood-vessel abnormality that can need specialist surgery, and — especially as puppies — to hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), which needs prompt attention. Eye conditions and a delicate digestion are also seen.

Coat care and feeding

The Yorkie’s long, silky coat is its trademark and its biggest commitment. Because the hair is fine and human-hair-like and grows continuously, a full-length coat needs daily brushing to prevent matting, plus regular bathing and trimming. Many owners sensibly keep a short, practical “puppy clip”. Routine dental care and eye and ear cleaning are equally important.

Feeding should be based on a quality small-breed food in carefully measured portions — the Yorkie needs very little and gains weight easily, and the breed can have a delicate appetite and digestion. Puppies should be fed little and often to prevent hypoglycaemia. Fresh water should always be available.

Exercise and stimulation

The Yorkshire Terrier needs only modest exercise: a couple of short daily walks plus indoor play and games are plenty, and it adapts beautifully to flat living. Despite its size it is energetic and curious, and it enjoys a proper walk and the chance to explore rather than only being carried.

Because it is intelligent and terrier-bright, mental stimulation and gentle, positive training matter as much as physical exercise. Early socialisation is the key to a confident, well-mannered Yorkie rather than a yappy or nervy one. Company matters too — it is devoted and does not like being left alone for long.

How much does pet insurance for a Yorkshire Terrier cost?

The price of pet insurance for a Yorkshire Terrier in Spain depends on the age at sign-up, the type of cover (third-party liability, accidents, full health), the capital limit and the geographic area. For a Yorkie insured before its third birthday, the average Petplan premium is around EUR 290 per year on intermediate cover.

To put the value in perspective: dental treatment is frequent and recurring; patellar luxation or tracheal surgery can run to EUR 1,200-2,500; a liver shunt can need specialist surgery exceeding EUR 3,000; and hypoglycaemia in puppies needs emergency care. Given how long the breed lives, insurance turns years of unpredictable cost into a stable monthly payment.

Why Petplan is the best choice for your Yorkshire Terrier

Petplan has been Europe’s leading pet insurer since 1976 and operates in Spain as Petplan Ibérica. Our cover is designed specifically for the particularities of the Yorkshire Terrier: dental disease, patellar luxation, tracheal collapse, liver shunts and other small-breed conditions all fall within the scope of the policy, provided the animal is insured before they show clinically.

We work with free choice of vet across Spain: you can keep going to your trusted vet or your referral specialist, not a closed network. Reimbursement is quick, and the policy covers your Yorkie for its whole life as long as you renew, with no exclusions for conditions that arise with age — which matters enormously for such a long-lived breed.

If you want to know exactly what it costs to insure your Yorkshire Terrier, with its date of birth, postcode and level of cover, you can calculate your personalised price in under a minute with no obligation.