The average life expectancy for a Yorkshire Terrier is longer than the average life expectancy for a dog.
Life Expectancy of a Yorkie
So just how long do Yorkies live?
The average life expectancy of a Yorkshire Terrier is about 14 years.
As a Yorkie owner, if your dog is in good health, you can expect your dog to live to a few years less or more than this average. When in good health and provided with a safe environment, Yorkies can even live to their mid-teens and beyond.
The average life expectancy of all dogs in general is just 10-13 years. The smaller breeds tend to live longer compared to the larger breeds. Because of this, the Yorkie has a longer life expectancy than the average dog.
How Old was the Oldest Yorkie Ever to Live?
Bonny is thought to be the oldest yorkie. She reached a whopping 28 years before she died.
Runner-up Jack, who lived with his family in Great Britain, was thought to be 26 years old when he died in 2016.
Provide your Yorkie with a healthy and safe lifestyle and maybe your little munchkin will be the next record holder 🙂
What Factors Influence a Yorkshire Terrier’s Lifespan?
Safe Environment
One of the leading causes of death for both Yorkie puppies and Yorkie adults is trauma of some kind from an injury or accident.
The small size of the Yorkshire Terrier is one of its qualities that endears us to this breed. However, their small size makes them more prone to injuries and accidents. In addition, when they do experience trauma their bodies are more easily damaged than that of a larger dog.
Yorkies can be hurt by accident. They can be injured by an unwitting adult or a well-meaning child. They can be hurt through falls. This includes being dropped or falling from a high ledge such as a deck or down stairs.
Yorkies can also be easily hurt by being stepped on or knocked over. They can also be roughed up by a large dog.
Health
The health of your dog obviously plays a role on how long your yorkie will live.
Puppies and unvaccinated adults are susceptible to parvovirus, leptospirosis, and distemper.
Adult yorkies can die from respiratory disease. In fact, the yorkshire terrier is more prone to respiratory disease than almost every other dog breed.
Cancer can also claim a yorkie’s life. As with cancer in humans, the cancer in a yorkie is more curable and has a better outcome when the cancer is caught sooner. Some of the cancers a yorkie is susceptible to include: lymphoma, mammary gland tumors, and bone cancer.
Gender
Gender is a factor that plays a very small role in the life expectancy question. On average, females live about a year and a half longer than male Yorkies.
How to Encourage the Health & Longevity of Your Yorkshire Terrier
How long do Yorkies live? There are ways to help your Yorkie enjoy a long and healthy life.
Vaccinations and Visits to the Vet
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are key to protecting your pup against preventable diseases.
The leading cause of death for Yorkie puppies is parvovirus, leptospirosis, and distemper. Puppies are susceptible to these deadly diseases because they often have not been fully vacinated against them.
Be prompt on getting your puppy vaccinated. Keep your puppy at home or in areas that are not frequented by other animals if your puppy is not fully vaccinated.
Vaccinations will help prevent your dog from getting these diseases.
Parvovirus
Caused by the canine parvovirus, parvo, as it is sometimes referred to, is very contagious. It can not only be transmitted directly dog to dog, but also indirectly when your dog comes into contact with an object that has been contaminated by an infected dog.
Because parvo affects the stomach and small intestines, symptoms of parvo include bloody diarehhea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss. The condition is serious and the puppy will need a vet’s care.
There is no cure for this virus and the vet will only be able to offer care to help the puppy fight through the virus as it runs its course.
The best way to prevent parvovirus is to get your dog vaccinated and limit with who and where he socializes until he is fully vaccinated.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis, also called Lepto, is different from parvo in that it is not a virus, but a bacteria. It is most commonly found in standing water (think puddles…just what a dog loves to drink from). Dogs can also become infected when they have contact with urine from an infected animal.
Symptoms of this illness include fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, and tiredness.
A vet will treat this disease with an antibiotic to kill the bacteria.
Distemper
Distemper is very contagious. It can be passed on directly by an infected animal, indirectly through an object contaminated by an infected animal, and also through the air.
Vet Visits
Vet visits are important to maintain the health of your dog. Vets can pick up on problems that may be lying under the surface unbeknownst to you. A vet could pick up on a cancer or a respiratory problem that you had not noticed. With earlier detection, care will be able to be administered sooner.
Provide a Safe Environment
Death by trauma is leading cause of death for Yorkshire Terriers, both young and old. Providing a safe environment for you dog is key to keeping them injury free.
Provide a Safe Place to Sleep or Rest
When a dog is either very young or very old, their ability to move or respond quickly is much slower. It is important for your dog to have a safe place they can rest without fear of being trampled on. When we have had puppies in our home, we have set up a moveable pen in our living area. This enables the dog to feel like they are part of the family, but it contains them in a safe location where running, jumping kids cannot accidently harm them. It also provides them with a safe place to sleep and rest. They won’t be accidently stepped or sat up while they are sleeping. These little dogs can be easily camouflaged in your flooring or furniture.
Use a Dog Harness Rather Than a Collar
Yorkies have a small little neck and trachea. If you are attaching a leash to your Yorkie’s collar, you increase the risk of trauma to the neck. It is not helpful for your Yorkie’s health to have the pressure from his pulling or an extra hard yank from the leash getting caught on something while you are walking.
With the Yorkie’s little body it makes a lot more sense to distribute the pressure from the leash over the entire forefront or your dogs body. The harness is designed to keep their little bodies safe from excessive pulling.
If your Yorkie pulls and you are wanting to train your Yorkie not to pull, you can use a no-pull harness. I’ve tried one of these harnesses and they work amazing.
Beware of Stairs and Decks
An unsuspecting dog can easily fall off the edge of a deck or landing and seriously hurt themselves. A dog that is not agile (either because he is a young puppy or a senior dog that has limited mobility) can easily fall down the stairs and hurt themselves. Block off areas that pose as a fall risk for your Yorkie.
Teach Young Children How to Interact
Yorkies can be harmed when they are dropped. Often a wriggling, squirming puppy can be too much for a young child to handle and they are dropped. Teach young children that the best way to hold a Yorkie is while they are seated on the floor. Children should also be taught that a Yorkie is not a toy. They need to be handled gently and respect.
Wear a Bell
Have your Yorkie wear a bell. This is what we do and I absolutely love it. I can always tell where our Yorkie is in the house and which way she is headed by the sound of the bell. This is helpful for Yorkie safety because it keeps you aware (even subconsciously aware) where your Yorkie is and if she is moving about. This will help you not to trip on her or kick her accidently.
Diet and Exercise
Diet
A healthy lifestyle for us humans includes a healthy diet and exercise. The same thing applies for our canine friends. Yorkies should eat a balanced diet with real food. You should avoid overly processed foods. You should also avoid grain-free diets as the grain-free diet has been linked to heart problems in dogs. Yorkies are big eaters so providing them with quality food doesn’t have to break the bank.
Human food does not make good food for Yorkies. Avoid allowing your Yorkie to feed on your table scraps. With their little bodies, they can easily gain too much weight. The calories they eat should be calories specifically designed for dogs with the proper ratio of protein and fat.
Exercise
Although Yorkies don’t need to have a ton of exercise. They still do need exercise. Going on a walk is a great way for the two of you to get exercise and bond (and with those little legs working overtime to keep up with every one of your steps it won’t take long for your little dog to get tired). Playing games and fetch even just inside the house is another great way to give a Yorkie exercise and the health benefits that come from it.
So, Just How Long Do Yorkies Live?
How long do Yorkies live, you ask? Given that they are in good health and a safe environment, they will live about 14 years. This is longer than the average lifespan of dogs as a whole.
Because of the longer life span of the Yorkshire Terrier, your little dog will make worm his way into your hearts and make himself part of your family. Many memories shared and enjoyed.
There is a sobering side, however. Because a Yorkshire Terrier can enjoy a fairly long life, potential owners should understand the long-term commitment they are beginning when they invite a Yorkie puppy into their home.
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