Their small size makes them perfect for apartment dwellers or anyone else with limited space.
As long as they get enough exercise, you do not need to have a yard for your Yorkshire terrier.
But what if you want to leave your pup outdoors?
Can Yorkies stay outside 24/7, like many other breeds of dogs?
The Yorkshire terrier is a unique breed, with very different hair from most other breeds.
That hair affects how they deal with hot or cold weather.
Keep reading to learn what that means for a Yorkie that is left outside. We will cover everything you need to know.
Contents
Can Yorkies Stay Outside?
Yorkies should not stay outside. While they love to play outside and go for fun walks, you should never leave them outside on their own for long periods at a time.
There are a number of reasons for that. We will go over the reasons Yorkshire terriers can’t stay outdoors next. After that, we will cover a few additional things you need to know.
Why Your Yorkie Should Not Live Outside
It isn’t healthy for your Yorkie to stay outside all day. The biggest problem is the weather, because Yorkies are very sensitive to the cold. And the heat as well. We’ll begin with that problem and then go over a few other potential issues that can arise from leaving a Yorkie outdoors.
The Weather
First, the weather could be an issue for your pup. If it is a cold day, then your Yorkie’s temperature may start to drop, which can lead to a number of different health concerns such as hypothermia
Because a Yorkie is so small and doesn’t have an undercoat like other dogs, it is more likely to suffer from the cold. The same goes if it is too hot. Your Yorkie can quickly overheat and get sunstroke.
Escape
Leaving your Yorkie outside for too long could also result in your pet escaping. If your Yorkie gets bored, it may start digging. And if you don’t keep your eye on it, it may start digging underneath your fence.
Barking
If your Yorkie likes to bark (and most of them do), your dog being outside could have a negative effect on your neighbors. And, consequently, on your relationship with your neighbors.
A big reason for barking is boredom. If your pup gets bored outside, it may start barking for no real reason or it as a way of seeking attention.
The last thing you want is to have a bad relationship with your neighbors, or have them constantly file noise complaints against you. Another great reason to keep your Yorkie inside, though the fact that it would likely freeze outdoors should be reason enough on its own.
Why Some Owners Leave Their Dogs Outside
Every owner has their own personal reasons for choosing to leave their dog outside. But some reasons are much more common than others. Some of the most common reasons include if the dog is destructive within the home or if it sheds a lot.
If your Yorkie is a young dog, it may be more prone to being destructive, especially if it is teething. Your Yorkie may look for everything and anything to chew and this will leave you with a lot of damaged possessions (I still remember our dog chewing up one of my prized Lego sets when I was 10 or so).
Keeping your Yorkie outside definitely helps reduce the damage to your home. But it also increases the risk of damage to your Yorkie. It’s just not worth it. You don’t want the weather affecting its health or your Yorkie running out of food and water.
Other owners may not have a destructive Yorkie, but a Yorkie who sheds a lot. Yorkies have a different type of coat from most other dogs. They do not have an undercoat and the hair they have is just that: hair similar to our hair, instead of fur like most other breeds.
As a result, Yorkshire terriers actually shed less than other breeds. But the hair they do shed tends to be longer (depending on the hairstyle you give our Yorkshire terrier), which can be just as annoying. But this is still not a good reason to leave your Yorkie outside all of the time.
Keep Your Yorkie Safe
You should never make your Yorkie live outside. They are indoor dogs. But there may still be the odd time when you do have to keep your Yorkie outside for longer than usual.
This could be if there’s an emergency in your home, or maybe you have visitors who don’t like dogs. If this is the case, there are things you can do to ensure your Yorkie stays safe.
The most important thing you should do is ensure your Yorkie has plenty of fresh water. You do not want your pup to become dehydrated. You should also make sure you feed your Yorkie just as you would when it is indoors, and that it has plenty of shade on hot days or a warm shelter on cold and miserable days.
You should also make sure you regularly check up on your Yorkie, even if it is just a quick glance. You want to make sure it is safe and comfortable.
Can Yorkies Be Outside Dogs: Final Thoughts
Yorkshire terriers can not live outside. Their unique hair and small size make them susceptible to the cold. Even in the summer, nighttime temperatures can be too cold for these tiny pups. They can quickly succumb to the cold and get seriously ill and die.
If you want a dog that can live outdoors, this is not the breed for you. There are other breeds that can handle staying outside and you should get one of those. Yorkies need to live indoors.
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