Yorkshire terriers are adorable small dogs with a big personality. Their size makes them ideal for smaller living spaces such as apartments and city-dwellers. Because they are small, many people wonder if they are also good dogs for children.
A Yorkie’s personality is fun-loving, so if they are accustomed to children (children who have treated them kindly and with respect) from the time they were a puppy, they can make a great companion for children. I know! I have 6 kids and 3 Yorkies!
Because small Yorkies can be hurt more easily by children, I do not recommend a small Yorkie in a home with young kids. A large or oversize Yorkie is better in such a home.
When it comes to interactions between children and dogs, the behavior of the children and the temperament of the dog is the most important factor. Children need to be taught how to interact with a small dog. While our Yorkies are good with kids, we met some children once that did not treat them with respect , whenever our Yorkies meet them again – they do not trust those children.
In this article we will discuss how a Yorkie’s personality and size influence his interactions with kids. We will also offer tips for how to prepare children to have a successful play time with a Yorkie and if you should consider waiting before introducing your Yorkie to a young child.
How Does a Yorkie’s Personality Impact Its Interaction with Children?
Yorkies are very friendly, energetic dogs. However, they can be feisty and respond defensively. Every Yorkie is different, but there are certain characteristics that are common to most Yorkies. Because they were originally bred as ratters, they are energetic and instinctively jump into the middle of a situation. This means that they are not just lumps on a couch. They love to be active and play. They will love to engage a child in play and follow a child around a house to participate in their adventures.
Their energy and love to be in the middle of the fun can come out in the form of jumping and barking that can startle or even scare small children. Yorkies are also feisty and may play nip or bite as they play. You must train them not to nip.
The more frequently a Yorkie puppy is able to interact with people, especially children, the more they can be trained to be gentle and not aggressive. Begin to train your puppy early. As you are petting them and playing with them, pay attention to their mouth. Even a small nip that does not hurt should be addressed. Firmly say “No!” and move your hand away for several seconds every time your Yorkie puts his teeth on you. Consistent training, from everyone in the home, will pay off. Yorkies are intelligent dogs and eager to please their family. They will quickly learn what is acceptable play behavior and what is not.
Yorkies tend to mellow with age. A full-grown Yorkie, while still small, will be more apt to interact gently with small children while a puppy may get overwhelmed easily. The more opportunity a Yorkie has to interact with multiple different people, the more he will learn how to behave around them. If you are bringing a Yorkie into your home for the first time, find out how much socialization he has had since birth.
Isn’t a Smaller Dog Safer than a Big Dog around Kids?
Small dogs are not always safer around kids. Small dogs are more fragile than large dogs. If a small dog is accidentally stepped on, pushed, hit, or sat upon by a small child the dog will respond in pain and fear. For a larger dog, being accidentally sat on by a small child does not affect them physically. Larger breed dogs often take on a sense of responsibility to protect and even gently teach the child how to be kind to them.
Small dogs can also exhibit “small dog syndrome” – a result of not being trained properly. It is often easier to pick up a small dog and remove the temptation rather than train him to act appropriately. At the moment this seems like the easiest solution, but it leads to a dog that is spoiled. Spoiled dogs will continue to act destructively until they are once again moved, rather than responding immediately to a verbal command (“No!”) or knowing through training what is acceptable and what is not.
How Should I Prepare My Child to Interact with a Yorkie?
If your child is going to meet a dog for the first time, especially if they don’t have a lot of experience with small animals, make sure you talk to them about what to expect.
Tell them that the dog will probably jump and bark. This may scare young children, so consider holding your child during the first introduction to help them feel more secure and protected.
Talk to your child about how to interact.
Remind your child that a dog is not a toy – it is a living creature with its own desires and feelings. Dogs need to be treated with care and respect. Dogs should not be forced by children to do something they don’t feel comfortable doing.
When it’s time to meet, have the child sit so if the child becomes scared or excited he wont accidently step on the dog.
Teach them how to let the dog approach them rather than they approach the dog. Have them hold out their hand and let the dog sniff (or even lick) it.
Have them practice petting a stuffed animal gently and teach them not to play roughly. Remind them that if they feel scared or upset, they should immediately walk away and not try to get the dog to submit to them.
Never leave a small child alone with any dog. Monitor their interactions closely, especially the first couple of times. Gently correct both the dog and the child if their playing is getting out of hand. Protect and care for both of them, separating them if necessary. Sometimes small children and small dogs need a break to calm down before socializing again.
Puppies and children each have a unique personality. If the child has not learned how to play gently or is not aware of his own strength, it may be best to wait before leaving them to play out of reach of an adult.
Should I Wait to Introduce my Yorkie to Children until He is Older?
At this point you may be wondering if it would just be better to wait and let your puppy grow up a bit before he meets children. Actually, proper training and consistent interactions with children can go a long way in helping a Yorkie learn how to play appropriately with people of all ages. The more opportunity that your dog has to interact with people and be taught how to do so safely, the greater chances he has to develop a sweet personality and respond obediently and quickly to your commands. Having children in the house interacting with a Yorkie as early as possible has been shown to positively influence the Yorkie’s personality for the rest of his life.
Encourage your children to invite their friends to play with your Yorkie too. Positive interaction with grandkids, neighborhood children, and anyone that can play gently, gives your Yorkie the opportunity to learn, to have fun, and to get out energy. Just be sure to monitor the situation, and teach the children how to behave and what to expect.
Yorkies can make fun and endearing playmates for children. Be careful to prepare both the child and the dog to have a successful time together and monitor their interactions. But be prepared: they will surely love each other and be so excited for their next play date!
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Go to Yorkie Puppy Life Home Page from Are Yorkies Good with Kids?