In my personal experience Yorkies are healthy when they are well-kept and looked after.  I have not had any problems as my dogs are very healthy.  The most common mistake people make is to change the puppy's food or feed them snacks from the table - a change in food can cause diarhoea and vomiting, which in turn results in dehydration which could be detrimental to your puppy's life. Like with most Toy breeds, there are some instances of serious diseases like liver shunt, patella luxation and a tendency to collapsed trachea (because they pull on their collar and leash - therefore use a harness). It is also said that health is linked to size.  Internationally, Yorkie breeders are moving toward breeding dogs that are minimum 2kg in order to breed healthy dogs.  

Yorkies are �terriers� and can be aggressive � Yorkies can be taught to live alongside cats and other animals but proper socialization is required from puppy stage.  Yorkshire Terriers are intelligent, clever and can therefore be trained as long as the training and expectations are consistent and regular.  As with all small dogs, house training your Yorkie can be a challenge.

Because of the Yorkshire Terrier�s small size and active nature, Yorkies tend to keep themselves exercised by running and playing around a small garden and in the house.  Yorkies love being taken for walks (use a harness as opposed to a collar and leash) as this entails exploring new areas. Exercising your Yorkshire Terrier should be moderate.

Healthy Yorkie puppies should have a shiny, soft, silky coat; dark nose, lips and eye-rims; bright sparkly Yorkie puppy eyes. Check for any discharge from the Yorkie puppies� noses, ears and eyes (a bit of tearing is natural). Healthy Yorkie puppies are playful, curios, alert, confident and coordinated � check that the Yorkie puppy is not staggering or struggling to stay up right. While observing the Yorkie puppy litter, look out for any loose stool or vomit. Check that the Yorkie puppy does not have an under-bite or an overbite!

The hot trend is to own a Yorkshire Terrier that tips the scale at under 1.5kg when fully grown � this leads to serious concerns about the health of the Yorkshire Terrier breed.

Many prospective Yorkie owners believe that there are several �types or breeds� of Yorkshire Terriers: Tea-cup Yorkies, Pocket Yorkies, Miniature Yorkies and Standard Yorkies � this is not so.  Many irresponsible Yorkshire Terrier breeders use these advertising terms to try and get the highest price (often up to R10000 per puppy) for their Yorkie puppies � and be warned � many times they sell a �pocket Yorkie� or �tea-cup Yorkie� which turns out to be a normal sized Yorkshire Terrier at adult age.

It is important to know that there is only one Yorkshire Terrier breed � the Yorkshire Terrier. Like many other living creatures in life some Yorkie puppies simply grow up to be small and others grow up to be larger.

The size of the Yorkshire Terrier does not in any way affect the Yorkie�s suitability as a pet.  The larger Yorkies (lets quantify �large� at 2 � 3.2kg adult weight!) are often more suitable as pets as they are sturdier, healthier and do not need such close and constant supervision as these tiny so-called �Tea-cup Yorkies and Pocket Yorkies�.

It is important to inform you as a prospective Yorkshire Terrier owner that registering bodies world-wide, The Kennel Union of Southern Africa (in South Africa) and the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America (in America) does not allow or distinguish between Tea-cup Yorkies, Pocket Yorkies, Miniature Yorkies or Standard Yorkies.

As a future Yorkie owner you need to know that these very small Yorkshire Terriers pose serious health risks.  Consider this: their mouths are not big enough to accommodate all their teeth, so these �tea-cup and pocket� Yorkies often end up with a double row of teeth that has to be surgically removed by your Vet when they are older.  Also consider that all the normal organs (heart, lungs, liver, stomach etc) has to fit into that little �tea-cup or pocket� Yorkie body � which means that these organs are often weak and can fail suddenly. These extra small �tea-cup and pocket� Yorkshire Terriers often have problems with their blood sugar levels which means that they can suffer from hypoglycemia. Extra small Yorkie puppies are more susceptible to hereditary and non-hereditary health problems and birth defects. Extra small Yorkies are also more prone to diarrhea, vomiting and extra care and concerns are high on the radar prior to teeth cleanings and surgeries due to their poor reaction to anesthetic. These small Yorkies are also more easily injured by falls, being stepped on and being attacked or injured by other dogs. As a responsible Yorkshire Terrier breeder we do not aim to breed these extra small Yorkshire Terrier puppies.  Even though we have such small puppies available from time to time they pose a high-risk and we will try and find it a very suitable home as any home is unfortunately just not suitable for these little Yorkies.

The long, straight, silky Yorkie coat needs to be groomed and brushed every other day to avoid matting and tangling.  It is very important to groom Yorkshire Terriers regularly to avoid ending up pulling (when trying to brush out tangles and matting) on their sensitive skins.   If groomed regularly the Yorkie coat is not as time consuming as you may think.

Many Yorkie owners prefer to keep their Yorkie�s coat trimmed or shaved � it is referred to as the �Yorkie summer cut or the Yorkie puppy cut� and can be done by most grooming parlors.  Yorkshire Terriers look absolutely cute in this cut � but don�t do it in the winter as it is too cold!

Always keep the hair around your Yorkie�s bum and groin clipped short � this way they will always be clean when going to the toilet and you won�t have the unpleasant job of having to wash a matted poo out!  

Many Yorkies owners like to keep the top 3rd part of your Yorkie�s ear trimmed short for a neater look.

To prevent long hair from falling into your Yorkie�s eyes tie it back with a latex free elastic band or trim the little fringe.

Never leave your small Yorkie puppy unattended on a bed or couch as they can fall down and break their legs.

Ensure your yard/garden is secure � make sure your Yorkshire Terrier can not get out (or stolen!). 

If you have a swimming pool � please take extra care to secure it and be very, very cautious � I cannot emphasize this enough!

Your Yorkshire Terrier puppy needs to get certain vaccinations from your Vet to protect him or her against infectious diseases. When purchasing a Yorkie puppy from Aziza Yorkshire Terriers you will receive a Vet Card, signed by a Vet, confirming that your Yorkie puppy has received its first inoculation.  Please discuss vaccinations and the future vaccination schedule with your Vet and strictly follow the schedule.

Yorkie puppies need to be vaccinated from between 6 and 8 weeks of age, until they are around 12 weeks old. The Rabies vaccination is usually given when pup is around 16 weeks old.

The puppy vaccination given is called DHPP + Corona. This is a combination vaccination that gives protection against several diseases.

D = Distemper is a highly contagious virus, and at one time was the leading cause of death in puppies. Young puppies are more susceptible to the virus then adult dogs. Symptoms include an upper respiratory infection with a high fever. The dog may also have neurological signs. This disease is often fatal.

H = Hepatitis is a disease spread by contact with the urine and feces of infected animals. This virus causes liver and kidney damage. Dogs that survive may develop chronic illness. Symptoms include but are not limited to: fever, lethargy, anorexia, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea.

P = Parainfluenza is a virus that causes upper respiratory infection. Dogs usually contract the disease through contact with nasal secretions of infected dogs, e.g. through sneezing.

P = Parvovirus attacks the intestinal tract and causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. Parvo is highly contagious. Infection occurs through contact with an infected animal�s feces. Without treatment dogs become dehydrated and weak. Death often results. This virus is very common and puppies who are not properly vaccinated are at an above average risk of becoming infected.

C = Corona virus attacks the intestinal system. Infected dogs suffer from vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. Keep your pet vaccinated and your yard clean to protect against corona virus. 

Yorkshire Terriers is meesal onbewus van hul klein grootte. Hulle is baie gretig vir avontuur. Hierdie klein hondjie is baie energiek, dapper, getrou en slim. Met eienaars wat die tyd neem om te verstaan ​​hoe om 'n klein Yorkie te behandel,  is die Yorkie is 'n wonderlike metgesel! Liefdevol met hulle baas, maar hulle kan kwaai wees met vreemdelinge � daarom maak Yorkies ook uitstekende waghonde en ware terriërs! Hulle word dikwels aanbeveel vir ouer, bedagsame kinders, bloot omdat hulle so klein is. Yorkies is maklik om te lei, maar hulle kan soms hardkoppig wees as eienaars nie behoorlik die reels voorle nie, maar indien hulle verstaan waar hulle in die huishouding inpas is hulle is baie soet en liefdevol.

Yorkies are alert, vigilant and therefore excellent guard dogs that will bark vigorously to warn you of a stranger's presence on your property.

Parvo virus is 'n hoogs aansteeklike virus, ook bekend as kat griep (nie afkomstig van katte nie). Parvo virus kan ook nie mense aantas nie. Babahondjies wat die virus het hou dikwels op met eet, braak en het diarree (die diarree kan bloederig wees). Parvovirus kan gevind word in die grond, in krake, klere en komberse en kan oorgedra word deur mense wat in kontak was met siek honde. Meeste hondjies toon tekens van die siekte binne 3 tot 7 dae na kontak met dit en 91% van die gevalle sal eindig in die dood van die hondjies as dit nie onmiddelike behandel word deur 'n veearts nie. Skoonmaak van die omgewing, komberse, speelgoed, selfs klere en skoene met 'n produk soos F10 super konsentraat (8ml F10 op 1 liter water) sal Parvo doodmaak.

Parvo word behandel deur vogterapie want babahondjies dehidreer baie vinnig. Parvo kan nie genees word deur slegs antibiotika toe te dien nie � dit help alleenlik met die vorming van sekondêre infeksies en maak nie die virus dood nie. Parvo affekteer die vinnig verdelende selle in die liggaam, bv die villi van die dermkanaal. Hondjies word ook met elektroliete, glukose en 'n ​​aantal ander ondersteunende medikasie behandel.

Die enigste voorkoming is om jou honde in te ent!

Wanneer jy jou Yorkie hondjie by ons kry, het hy/sy haar eerste 6 weke inenting reeds gehad. Die aanbevole inentingsprogram is:

Op 6 weke oud - Nobivac 7in1
Op 10 weke oud - Nobivac 7in1
Op 14 weke oud - Nobivac 5in1 + Hondsdolheid
Uit en dan op jaarlikse - Nobivac 5in1 + Hondsdolheid

Om jou Yorkie hondjie so veilig as moontlik te hou, beveel ons aan dat jy hom / haar weghou van openbare plekke soos skole en velde (waar siek honde moontlik kon wees) en hom/haar buite kontak met onbekende honde hou tot 3 weke na die 3de inenting.

The shampoos that I believe are the best options for Yorkshire Terrier, Yorkie puppies are:

1. Biogroom, Tearless

2. Johnsons and Johnsons baby shampoo tearless

3. Wampum

4. Ultrum Plus - which is effective against ticks and fleas should you have this problem. do not use this in their eyes

All of these brands are available from your VET or VETSHOPS and off couse J&J is available at Clicks or Pick and Pay.

Kry jou Yorkie hondjie so gou as moontlik weer by die veearts. Enige slym en bloed in die stoelgang is 'n gevaarteken, abnormaal en moet onmiddelik behandel word. Gebruik jy Protexin? Dit is 'n wit poeier, vekrygbaar by jou veerarts - soos interflora - wat daagliks gebruik kan word om 'n gesonde magie en derms by jou Yorkshire Terrier te bevorder.

Ek sou ook voorstel dat jy haar na 'n tweede veearts toe vat vir 'n tweede opinie - of 'n spesialis in Johannesburg of Pretoria as julle nie tot die kern van die probleem kan kom in Upington nie. 

Dit is baie ongesond vir Yorkies om oorgewig te wees. 'n Ekstra 500gram op 'n Yorkshire Terrier hondjie is die ekwivalent van 'n ekstra 20 kg op 'n gemiddelde mens.  Praat met jou veearts oor jou Yorkie se gewig � maar ek stel voor jy sit hom op n �light� kos � verkrygbaar in die Royal Canine and Hills Science Diet reeks kosse.  Moenie vir jou Yorkie gemors kos, sweets, chocolates, chips en biltong voer nie - behalwe vir die gewig issue is dit ook baie sleg vir Yorkies se tande en algemene gesondheid.