Why Yorkies Might Not Be The Best Choice For A Household With Kids

There's no denying that Yorkshire terriers make for an adorable pet. Slight in stature, Yorkies are beloved by small dog lovers everywhere, even cracking the 13th spot on the AKC's most popular breeds of 2023 list. However, while these cute little pups might make a great pet for some, this dog breed might not be the best type of dog for kids. And their high energy and feisty behavior are to blame. 

Yorkies may be small, but they definitely have big personalities. They are spunky pups who can sometimes have a bit of an attitude. Leslie Stolfi, president of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, told Daily Paws that "in comparison with other small breeds, Yorkies are smart, clever, always aware of their surroundings, and curious." Yorkies have many qualities that make them a wonderful pet, but they also have some traits that might not make them the best choice for a house with kids.

You might think that due to their size, a Yorkie is a safe bet for a kid-friendly dog. However, this isn't actually the case, and oftentimes small children can actually be the ones to hurt a pet Yorkie. Yorkies are feisty little pups, and while they might be a good fit for some families, they have some traits that may not go along well with kids.

Yorkies are very high-energy dogs who need a lot of exercise. This can be a plus if you're an active family; however, Yorkies may not always play nicely with kids. Many Yorkies are known to nip when they play, and while this behavior isn't out of aggression, there's a chance this behavior could hurt a kid if they aren't careful. If kids aren't gentle, there's also a chance they could hurt a Yorkie. Due to their small size, if a kid plays too rough with a Yorkie, they can be easily injured. If a kid isn't old enough to understand how to carefully and respectfully interact with a dog, a Yorkie is not going to be a good fit.

If you are insistent on having a family pet Yorkie, there are some steps you can take to make sure all bodes well. Yorkies are probably a better fit with older children rather than young as they are more likely to be more careful and respectful with them. A key to getting your Yorkie and kid to get along is proper socialization starting when your Yorkie is a puppy so it can grow up to be comfortable around children.

Along with making sure your Yorkie gets properly socialized to kids, you also want to teach your kids how to interact with the pup. Giving your children rules to follow when they're around the dog and teaching them how to read your dog's body language can help them learn how to appropriately behave and keep both them and your pet Yorkie safe. Never leave a young child unsupervised with a Yorkie, and be sure to separate the pair if playtime ever gets too rough.