What activities do Yorkies like?
Yorkshire Terriers, often known simply as Yorkies, are a popular breed of small dog that make fantastic pets for many homes. One of the best things about owning a Yorkie is that we are incredibly active and love to take part in a variety of activities. Whether you are looking for a new toy to keep your pup entertained or an activity to bond over, here are the ones Yorkies tend to love most.
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Fetch
Playing fetch is a classic game that all dogs love, regardless of size, and it suits Yorkies particularly well. Our small size makes it easy to carry a ball or soft toy back to you, and most of us are so eager to play that we will keep going until you are both exhausted.
Use a toy scaled to a small mouth — a standard tennis ball is genuinely too big for a Yorkie to carry comfortably. Throw along the ground rather than high in the air, and keep the surface soft where you can, since repeated hard landings and sharp turns are not kind to small knees. There is more on technique, toy sizing and when to stop in playing fetch in the park.
Walks
Going for walks is a great way to keep your pup healthy and active, and an excellent way to bond. Yorkies have high energy levels relative to our size, and even a short daily walk makes a real difference to both fitness and behaviour.
A harness rather than a neck collar is strongly preferable for this breed, because pressure on the throat is a risk factor for tracheal problems. And do let us sniff — a slow, sniff-heavy twenty minutes is more satisfying for a dog than a brisk march of the same length. How much exercise does a Yorkie need covers appropriate amounts by age.
Agility
Yorkies love agility courses. We are intelligent, trainable dogs with a strong work ethic and a real eagerness to please, which makes us well suited to the sport. Running, jumping and weaving through obstacles suits a fast, nimble dog, and plenty of Yorkies compete successfully at it.
If you want to try it, keep the jumps low — toy-breed height classes exist for good reason, and a dog prone to luxating patella should not be landing from height. A set of cushions, a broom handle on two books and a blanket tunnel makes a perfectly good starter course in a living room.
Tug-of-War
Playing tug with a piece of rope is a great way to bond with your Yorkshire Terrier, and it provides both physical and mental stimulation. If your pup loves to chew, a soft tug toy works just as well as a rope.
Keep it gentle. Pull horizontally and let the dog do the work, rather than lifting or shaking, because a Yorkie's neck and jaw are small and the teeth are already crowded. Give plenty of verbal praise, teach a "drop it" cue as part of the game, and end the session before your pup gets tired or over-aroused.
Hide and Seek and Scent Games
Yorkies are playful and love to be entertained, and nose work is one of the most underrated ways to do it. Hide and seek works beautifully — have someone hold your dog while you hide, then call them.
Better still, scatter a few treats around a room, or hide them under upturned cups, and let your Yorkie find them. Sniffing is mentally demanding work, and ten minutes of it will settle a dog more thoroughly than a much longer walk. This is especially useful on days when going out is not an option.
Puzzle Toys
Terriers were bred to solve problems independently, and that instinct still needs an outlet. Food puzzles, snuffle mats and treat-dispensing balls all give a Yorkie something to work at.
A bored Yorkie is a noisy, destructive Yorkie, so this is less of a luxury than it sounds. Rotating two or three toys rather than leaving everything out keeps them interesting for far longer.
The Dog Park and Meeting Other Dogs
Taking your Yorkie somewhere new to explore fresh sights and smells, and to meet other dogs, is genuinely enriching — a slow wander somewhere scenic counts too, as with this walk through sakura petals after rain. Socialisation keeps us confident, and confident small dogs are much easier to live with than nervous ones.
Do be sensible about size, though. A friendly, boisterous large dog can injure a seven-pound Yorkie without any aggression involved at all. Small-dog areas, or playdates with similarly sized friends, are the safer bet.
Cuddling
Yorkshire Terriers love to cuddle. We are affectionate dogs who enjoy time with our family and thrive on attention, and our size makes us well suited to a lap. Hugs, belly rubs and scratches will generally be repaid in kisses and tail wags.
Yorkies are also alert and intuitive, and tend to pick up on our owners' moods, which is part of what makes us good company on a quiet evening. That said, we have a lot of energy, so we will not always want to sit still for long — when we do settle, it is usually because the day's work has been done.
How Much Is Enough?
A good day for most adult Yorkies looks like two short walks, ten to fifteen minutes of active play, one bit of mental work such as a puzzle or scent game, and a reasonable amount of sofa time. That is it.
Watch for limping, heavy panting, lagging behind or lying down mid-play, and stop there — small dogs tire and overheat faster than their enthusiasm suggests. Puppies in particular should get short, frequent bursts rather than long sessions, since growing joints do not benefit from endurance work.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Check with your vet before starting a new exercise programme, especially if your Yorkie is a puppy, a senior, or has known joint, heart or airway problems.