Are Yorkies Good With Kids: 8 Guidelines For Parents

Are Yorkies good with kids is a popular question among dog lovers and owners, I will be discussing this question so keep reading.

I will be highlighting some common ways to help both a Yorkie and your kids to stay together happily.

I will also highlight some common pros and drawbacks of getting a Yorkie if you have kids. So keep reading…

Are Yorkies Good With Kids

Yorkies are not the best breed for kids this is because Yorkies are sensitive dogs that can be injured by rough play from children.

Yorkie have been known to snap at children under the age of five when mistreated, thus they must be monitored and taught around children.

While they may not be the ideal option for families expecting a child, Yorkies may still be great with children if proper training and socialization are implemented.

Yorkies are recommended for households with children over the age of eight who can participate in the training and grooming process.

How to help kids get along with Yorkie

Here are a few tried-and-true strategies for helping kids get along with Yorkie or deal with Yorkie:

1. Set clear rules limitations and boundaries

Establishing a clear home rules for both your kids and Yorkie makes life a lot easier for everyone.

Make sure you have clear home rules in place and follow them.

For example, allowing your Yorkie to eat from your child’s plate is not a smart idea.

Make sure that children under the age of eight are not allowed to play with the Yorkies toys while you are away.

Pet toys are not subject to the same safety regulations as children’s toys, which means they might be harmful in the hands of kids.

Whatever your home rules are, be sure you strictly adhere to them as that will install discipline in your Yorkie and your kids. 

2. Teach kids how to pick up Yorkies

Until your children are confident, teach them how to pick up a Yorkie puppy the right way to avoid unnecessary bite.

Squat down and gently but firmly cradle the puppy from the side, one hand on the rump and the other on the tummy/chest area.

Make it a point to practice with your children at the same time.

Teach your children not to run, spin, leap, or swing your Yorkie when they are carrying it.

3. Teach kids how to pet Yorkies

Start by gently caressing the dog’s chin or chest. Scratching is OK as long as your hands do not come into contact with the dog’s face or head.

Demonstrate to the youngster that gentle touching or scratching of the neck and back is appropriate in exchange for moderate petting or scratching of the chin/chest. Make a 180-degree turn in the fur’s direction.

Stop handling the Yorkie if he backs away, snaps, growls, or makes appeasement gestures or fearful body language.

These are things you should make sure your kids understand before leaving them with Yorkie.

4. Teach kids not to share human foods

Garlic and onions are two of the most poisonous foods for dogs, and they may be found in a variety of human dishes.

In Yorkies, a tiny quantity can induce gastrointestinal discomfort, but in humans, it has no impact.

Allowing your Yorkie to nibble on your child’s food might lead to begging, which can be difficult to avoid even with extensive training.

As a result, your children should be taught not to feed the Yorkies their own food.

5. Teach kids to respect Yorkies space

When your Yorkie is eating, sleeping, or needs to be alone, teach your children to leave it alone.

Teach your kids how to tell when it’s time to let go. Your Yorkie will need room to eat and rest, and your puppy will need room to grow.

If your kids are continually racing to get near your Yorkie, this can be a good rule to follow. It will allow your dog to take some natural breaks and relax.

Dogs need to be left alone from time to time, and you should educate your children when to do so.

6. Teach kids how to handle Yorkies

Because Yorkies are little and soft, your children will want to squeeze them, but they are not toys.

Teach your children how to care for and treat their Yorkies correctly, as well as how to appreciate them as living creatures.

Your children should be aware that Yorkies, like people, have desires, feelings, and suffering.

Without being pushed or restrained, your children should be able to play with dogs.

7. Teach kids not to yell at Yorkies

While Yorkies are normally amiable dogs, they might be distressed by loud sounds and yelling.

As a result, tell your youngsters that they should never yell or scream at your Yorkie.

Make sure your children understand that yelling at Yorkies can result in unwanted behaviors including biting, barking, and hostility.

8. Allow kids to join grooming

You should educate your children the basics of brushing depending on their age and your lifestyle or daily routine.

There’s no reason your kids can’t help you groom your dog, especially when it comes to combing and washing his coat.

Because you’ll have a helper who can take up these chores once your child is older, grooming is a great time to develop connection.

Reasons to get Yorkies for kids

Some of the most convincing reasons to consider having a Yorkie for your children are as follows:

• Yorkies can help kids become more active and have a healthier lifestyle.
• Children’s tension and despair can be reduced with the help of Yorkies.
• The Yorkies could be able to help kids learn responsibility.
• Yorkies can keep your youngsters entertained while you are away.
• The Yorkies may help children become more gregarious and self-assured.
• The development of trust and patience in kids can be aided by Yorkies.
• Yorkies are naturally social dogs who require company and kids can keep them busy.

Drawbacks of getting Yorkies for kids

Before buying a Yorkie for your kids, there are a few things to think about:

• Yorkies are prone to heat exhaustion, and kids may overplay with them, resulting in future respiratory issues.
• Yorkies are too little to engage in rough play with children.
• For a number of causes, including a lack of socialization, Yorkies can become aggressive and attack kids.
• Yorkies are sometimes misconstrued by kids as being strong due to their little stature.
• Yorkies are known for their tenacity, which can make training difficult for children.
• Loud noises terrify Yorkies, and your children may like yelling or making loud noises.
• Yorkies are fast to become hooked on the ball, and if they don’t get it, they’ll nip or bite your children.

Finally…

Signs you shouldn’t ignore include:

• When your kids repeatedly punches, kicks, grabs, and pulls on the Yorkies because he or she doesn’t know what to do with them.
• Despite the fact that the child is not bothering the dog in any way, the dog always growls at him with bared teeth.
• When your Yorkie refuses to enter the room or area where your child is.
• The Yorkies are still snapping at your kids for no apparent reason.
• For no apparent reason, your Yorkie will always run away from your children.