The Yorkshire Terrier didn't begin as the fashionable and glamorous breed that they are today. They are a combination of so-called terrier breeds evolving from various terrier breeds. It is widely thought that the Yorkshire was a crossbreed forming for the Waterside Terrier, Manchester Terrier, and Paisley Terrier. It got this name from Yorkshire, a county in England where breeding took place. In 1873, the kennel Club of England was formed. The Yorkshire Terrier joined the 40 selected Non-Sporting breeds under the name of Broken-Haired Scotch and Yorkshire Terriers. In the late 19th century the Yorkie made its popularity to the United States. Since then is has remained one of the most desired breeds.

The Yorkshire Terrier does not shed but because their long coat is prone to mats and tangles, daily brushing is recommended. For a small dog, this can be very time consuming so both the dog and the owner need to display patience.

Yorkshire Terriers are adventurous little dogs. They do not require a lot of exercise but do enjoy going on walks. The need plenty of attention and playtime is a great way to exercise these small dogs. They love room to run but might need to stay in a restrained area, what with there being so many hazards existing to such a tiny animal. It is always a good idea to keep various toys around for them to play with. They will mostly enjoy any game that interacts with their owners. They are a fearless watchdog and have a great sense of hearing and can usually hear someone coming long before they get to the door. Typically, they are unaware of their small stature, often taking on dogs 5 times their size and rarely backing down. Most will prefer to share your bed if you allow. Full of energy they can keep up with kids. Because of their small size they might need more supervision with smaller children. Yorkshire Terriers are very intelligent, but they can also be a little stubborn. Keeping the training happy and fun is a great way to get through to this breed. They may tend to get bored and it is important to make it a fun, positive experience for them. One way of teaching your Yorkie new tricks is by holding a small treat in your hand. Treats and lots of praise tend to work well with these little dogs.

There are a few health issues associated with this breed that owners should be made aware of and they include portosystemic shunt, collapsing tracheas, Legg Perthes disease and patellar luxation.

The life expectancy of the Yorkshire Terrier is between 12-15 years of age and is average for a dog of similar breed and size