Is It Better To Have One Yorkie Or Two?

Two Yorkies is better than one!

Obviously!

Well, not so fast. Of course our first instinct is to say that two of these wonderful, adorable little pups is better than one.

And in many ways, it is.

But you also have to consider your dogs’ feelings.

Do Yorkies do better in pairs, or is it better for them to be the only dog in the household?

Keep reading for the answer to that question and any others you need to know to help you decide if one Yorkie or two is better for you. Or two dogs, if you prefer to pair your Yorkie with another breed.

 

Is It Better To Have One Yorkie Or Two?

Yorkies love other dogs. If you want to add another Yorkie to the family, your pup will absolutely accept the new dog. But it might take some time and be a struggle for a while.

Yorkies love being the center of attention and receiving lots of undivided love from their owners, which could cause a problem if you bought another dog. It really depends on your particular dog.

Whether you decide to purchase another Yorkie should depend on your current Yorkie’s personality and whether you think it would easily accept a new dog, or if it would be a struggle.

 

A Friendly Personality Helps

Yorkies are well known for having friendly and energetic personalities. They’re confident dogs that love receiving attention.

But this personality can lead them to become attached to their owners, which may cause a problem if you get another Yorkie.

They may start to fight for your attention or try to assert dominance over each other. You should know that your Yorkie would only be doing this to show you how much it loves you, which is very flattering towards you, right!

On the other hand, their energetic personalities can also result in the opposite effect and they may actually make friends with another Yorkie quickly and easily.

Your Yorkies may become the best of friends, but each one will still want you to give it lots of attention individually.

In the end, which way it goes depends on the unique personality of your Yorkie. If you don’t think it would like having another Yorkie around, then it may best to just stick with the one.

But if you are dead set on having two, know that they will almost certainly get along eventually. It will just be much harder and take a lot of time, if your pup is not happy about its new sibling.

 

One At A Time Is Better

Most people advise not getting two new Yorkie puppies at the same time. Two puppies can be a lot to handle and both would need lots of attention.

If you get two Yorkies at the same time, you may start to wear yourself thin between the two of them. It may also start to become difficult for your Yorkies to determine that you’re their owner and that what you say goes.

This is because you won’t be spending as much time with each puppy, so they won’t see you as being so dominant. This can cause issues when it comes to training or showing obedience when you take them for walks.

If you want two Yorkies, the best option is to wait before you purchase the second one. If you wait until your first Yorkie puppy has grown up, you can give all of your love and affection to this first puppy, then get the next and do the same with that one.

It allows them to grow up feeling loved and a part of the family.

The minimum recommended amount of time you should wait before getting the second Yorkie is five months. This gives your original Yorkie time to grow up and get to know you as an owner before the next one comes along.

All that said, there are also people that recommend getting two puppies at the same time, so that they grow up as siblings and form a closer bond. It is clear that their are advantages to both strategies, but on the whole, it is generally better to get them one at a time.

 

Two Dogs Of The Opposite Sex Get Along Better

It is generally easier to get a second Yorkie that is the opposite sex of the first one. This means you won’t have to face any dominance issues, which is a common cause of fights between Yorkies of the same sex. And if you plan to breed, you will need Yorkies of the opposite sex anyway.

 

Other Good Companion Dogs For Yorkies

Maybe you don’t want a second Yorkshire terrier, but a second dog of a different breed instead. What breeds mix well with Yorkies?

Yorkies have such huge personalities, so you’re going to want the companion dog to be a little quieter, to avoid any clashing. Breeds that work well with Yorkies include Collies, Mastiffs, Great Danes, Labradors and Golden Retrievers.

However, Labradors and Golden Retrievers can be quite naughty as puppies, so they usually only make good companion dogs when they are adults and have calmed down a little.

Another option is a different type of animal altogether. Cats come to mind, of course. Can a Yorkie have a kitten as a friend? Most Yorkies get along fine with cats, as long as you introduce them slowly and correctly.

 

Do Yorkies Do Better In Pairs: Related Questions

Below, we will answer some common questions related to pairing up Yorkies. If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to leave a comment below.

 

Do Male And Female Yorkies Get Along?

Male and female Yorkies generally get along nicely with each other. Female Yorkies do not generally get along with other females, but when it comes to males, they become friendly and playful.

Female Yorkies like to have some form of superiority over another female, and male Yorkies feel the need to show dominance over other males. But when you put a member of each sex together, those tendencies don’t come into play.

 

Do Yorkies Do Better Alone Or In Pairs?

Yorkies don’t enjoy being alone. They love attention and are fun, highly energetic dogs. If you spend a lot of time away from your home, for example if you work long shifts, then you might want to consider getting your Yorkie a partner in crime.

This doesn’t necessarily have to be another Yorkie. Your dog may get along with another breed, or even a cat. If you think you can handle having two dogs, then it may be something to consider.

It would mean that your Yorkie wouldn’t become lonely when you are out and can stop conditions, like separation anxiety from forming.

Your Yorkie may also become better behaved if you have another dog around. It will be less likely to become bored, which means less likely to trash your house while you’re out, or become extra curious about its surroundings while no one is around.

 

Are Yorkies Territorial?

Yorkies are territorial dogs, both with their own breed and with other breeds dogs. If they believe another is going after their possessions, or even you as the owner, they will fight to save their possessions.

This can especially be the case when it comes to their owners, because they are highly affectionate and loving dogs. If they see that someone may be trying to hurt you or steal your affections, they can get very territorial.

Do Yorkies get jealous? Yes, it’s a common characteristic of all Yorkies and they are also more likely to bark to state their territory than most other breeds. And if another dog does not pick up the message, things could become violent.

This temperament can also mean that Yorkies may not be the ideal pet to have around small children, because young kids can become rather annoying, especially if your Yorkie wants to be left alone.

That said, they do make excellent pets for families with older children who can learn how to comport themselves around the dog. And they have many other positive traits that make them an excellent pet!

 

Two Yorkies Better Than One: Conclusion

Overall, Yorkies are great dogs for beginning and advanced pet owners. They are easy to take care of and they do not require a lot of space, because they are small.

Even two do not take up much space, and a second one takes some of the burden off you, since the dogs can keep each other company and do not need you to constantly pay attention to them.

This is great if you’re away working all day, since you really can’t leave Yorkies alone all day long. That said, there are also some disadvantages to having two Yorkies.

In the end, the decision is up to you. You have to weight the pros and cons and also take into consideration the personality of your Yorkie. And even if you make the ‘wrong’ decision, it will still turn out well in the end. It will just be a bit more work to get there.