1. All Yorkie Terriers (a.k.a. Yorkshire Terriers) are sold from breeders who do __not__ need to pass a qualifying exam or earn a certification to sell animals as pets. In addition, the environments from which Yorkies are raised and sold are not inspected. And Yorkie terrier caretakers do __not__ need a license to breed. These little tidbits alone should stress the importance of researching where and who you get your Yorkie Terrier from. Quite often, the health and temperance of a Yorkie depends upon the environment from where it came.

2. Yorkie Terriers generally cost the same whether they're sold from a reputable breeder, a 'backyard' breeder, or a pet store. But there's a huge difference in the quality of all three environments. Professional breeders take their jobs much more seriously than the backyard breeder or the pet store, making their Yorkies much more healthier, happier, and truer to the breed.

3. A Yorkie that doesn't fall under AKC standards can still participate in dog shows that focus on other things rather than just being a purebred. An all blond Yorkie for example, can participate in a "cutest dog" contest, or "the best dancer" contest. If there were a "steal your heart" contest, we're sure that every Yorkie would bring home a 1st prize trophy every time.

4. Even though a 12-week old Yorkie can go home with its new owner, it must still eat puppy food until it's about one year old.

5. A Yorkie puppy doesn't come home with its paperwork (or family history). Otherwise known as its "pedigree," a puppy's paperwork will arrive after your pup is registered with the AKC or some other Yorkshire Terrier organization.

6. Yorkies puppies that don't meet AKC standards may come with a spay/neuter contract agreement. Example reasons why a puppy may not meet AKC standards are an unusual size, weight, color, or some other non-Yorkie characteristic. Spaying or neutering these pups prevents them from reproducing similar deformities in the future. That may sound harsh, but you have to remember that the integrity of the Yorkie breed depends on how well the class is preserved. If variations within the breed are left to continue on in generations to come, the Yorkie could very well evolve into an entirely different breed altogether!

7. The most important things on a pedigree are the titles. Gender and name takes second place to the specific achievements of each dog listed. So when looking at the pedigree of your pup's mum and dad, look for things that comment on agility, companionship, obedience, and championship.

8. A Yorkie that lives with another dog will continue to participate in occasional canine challenges (a natural and normal form of animal behavior). At various times, the Yorkie may be comfortable in a submissive role, but at other times, she may want to establish herself as the most aggressive. You'll see this behavior when it's time for the dogs to eat, to get a grooming, or when it's time to go for a walk. As the master of both dogs, try to discourage these challenges before they get out of hand and one of the pups get hurt. Separate eating times, grooming sessions, and anything else that seems to set off the competitive nature in your pups.

9. Yorkies flourish in environments that follow a routine. The more repetition a Yorkie recognizes, the quicker it's able to predict, and thus learn. This is because routine creates rules that when repeated often enough, become easy and enjoyable to follow.

10. Yorkies that aren't spayed or neutered needlessly suffer each time that they go into heat and don't reproduce. They can also suffer from uterine or testicular cancer, or prostate disease.

11. A Yorkie's skin pH levels aren't the same as humans, and therefore can't handle the harsh chemicals found in our shampoo and conditioner. Only use doggie shampoo and conditioner on your Yorkie's delicate skin and hair.

12. The small size of the Yorkie contributes to the severity of a seemingly minor illness or treatable disease. With such a small body size, this kind of dog will dehydrate quicker and suffer from high or low blood-sugar levels faster than a larger sized dog.

13. Because Yorkies are so valuable, they're common items of theft. If you want to keep your Yorkie outside, you're cautioned to keep him within a protected area like inside a gated fence that surrounds the back yard.

14. Yorkies interpret ammonia's aroma as invitations to urinate. If you clean your house with ammonia based products, you're creating an environment that encourages a free-for-all pee pen. Use bleach-based cleaning products instead and you'll help potty-train your Yorkie at the same time.

15. A Yorkie that feels threatened, or that is about to attack, will crouch low and flatten its ears against its head. It will additionally emit a low growl and turn stone still right before it decides to leap and bite!

16. Yorkie hearing (like most dog's hearing) is much finer than our own. If you notice that your dog suddenly reacts to "nothing" out of the ordinary, it's probably reacting to a sound that we can't hear. High pitches emitted from cell phones are the most recent cause of bizarre animal behavior, so if you use such a device, turn it off when you don't need to use it for long periods of time.

17. A potty-trained Yorkie will let you know that it needs to urinate by pawing at the door and whining. An untrained Yorkie however, will squat or hunch its back whether it's near a door or not.

18. Yorkies can eat fruit -- and they like it! You can treat your Yorkie to apples, bananas, cherries, peaches, pears, and strawberries. Just remember to remove the seeds or pits of these fruits because they're poisonous.

19. Yorkie puppies must be immunized before they're exposed to other unvaccinated dogs. Until your pup has received all of its shots, avoid taking him to a dog park or social event, and refrain from visiting pet stores that sell live animals. You might inadvertently bring something home and pass it on to her.

20. A Yorkie in pain may act aggressive and try to bite you. That's why you must muzzle him when he's suffering from an illness or recovering from a treatment.

21. Yorkies that come from puppy mills or pet stores may never learn to potty outside. This is because the cages that they once lived in didn't provide adequate means to separate their waste from their living areas. Despite your training efforts, a Yorkie that was constantly caged for the first 12 weeks of its life has already established an unsanitary lifestyle.

22. Yorkies that relieve themselves everywhere except outside aren't necessarily rebelling against you, as old wives tales would have you believe. In almost every case, accidental urination indicates poor training or a health problem that should be treated immediately.