Temperament
Though a toy breed, the Yorkie still retains much of its terrier ancestry in terms of personality. Individual dogs sometimes differ, but they are generally intelligent, independent and gutsy. Yorkshire Terriers are quick to determine where they fit in a household's "pack." Their behavior towards outsiders will vary - they often will be inclined to bark at strangers, but some Yorkies are outgoing and friendly towards new people while others are aloof. The differences in behavior in this regard are largely based on how the owner trains or conditions (and socializes) the Yorkie. A few individual Yorkshire Terriers may be timid, rather than bold, but the vast majority do seem to meet the breed standard for a confident, vigorous and self-important personality. The following distinctive qualities are likely to be present in a Yorkshire Terrier:
Tenacity
Yorkies have great drive and stick-to-it-ive-ness, which are important hunting attributes. By the same token, they can be willful and stubborn. Perseverence can be a positive or negative trait, depending on the task at hand. Tenacity appears most clearly when a Yorkie goes into "hunting mode." Even an old, sedentary lap dog may eagerly hunt rodents (or his favorite toy!). In pursuit of a mouse, the dog may take up a day-long vigil of waiting for the prey to re-emerge from its hole. This behavior will appear even when the target is merely a stuffed animal or a knotted sock. A Yorkie will strech with his paw and, that failing, whimper in frustration when a favorite ball has rolled out of reach under a piece of furniture. A treat can set the Yorkie off on a two-hour search for the perfect place to hide the tasty biscuit.
Boldness
In a multi-breed home, the Yorkie will usually be the top dog. However, bold does not equal aggressive. Yorkies typically get along well with other dogs and love to play together with them. Rather, bold character comes from the Yorkie's mix of great inquisitiveness, or an instinct to protect, and self-confidence. Some Yorkies are unaware of their small size and may even challenge larger, tougher dogs. In one case a 12-pound Yorkie pushed open a screen door (to investigate a commotion outside) and rushed to the aid of an elderly woman who was being attacked by an 80-pound Akita. When the Yorkie snapped and growled, the Akita turned his attention on the small dog long enough for the woman to escape. Unfortunately, this boldness can get Yorkies into trouble, as small dogs can be seriously injured.
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