Do Yorkies Bond With Only One Person? (Conflicting Accounts)

You may have heard that Yorkshire terriers get attached to one person.

That they form a strong bond with that person, and that person only.

And you may have heard the opposite. There are plenty of anecdotes proving both.

The truth is that some Yorkies do bond with a single person, while others bond with the entire household.

It depends on the individual dog. But there is a trend based on the sexes.

Male Yorkies are more likely to form a bond with a single person, while female Yorkies tend to bond with several people equally.

Our comparison of male vs female Yorkie terriers has more.

But overall, Yorkshire terriers are more likely than most other breeds to form an attachment to a single person. Keep reading to learn why, plus a few other things you’ll want to know.

 

Do Yorkies Bond With Only One Person?

Yorkies are known to get attached to (or clingy with) one person. They often reject other people and might even ignore other family members from time to time.

They usually bond with the one person who spends the most time training and feeding them. This individual may be more in-sync with the Yorkie’s personality.

Let’s take a closer look at all of the possible reasons Yorkshire terriers tend to become attached to one individual.

 

Why Yorkies Get Attached To One Person

Many Yorkie parents find their little dogs overly clingy with one member in the household. Here are the common reasons Yorkies love one owner more than others.

 

Their Personalities Are In Sync

One of the main reasons a Yorkie might prefer one person’s company more than the others is simply that it feels a strong bond with that person.

We will never know exactly what is going on in a little Yorkie’s head, but it might feel that its personality and energy levels match those of the individual.

They probably even have the same sleeping schedules, which further cause them to be in sync. As a result, the little Yorkie wants to spend more time with that person.

 

They Consider Them Their Alpha

All dogs, including Yorkies, are descendants of wolves. And wolves hunt and live in packs. A pack offers companionship, safety, comfort, and security to each pack member.

Yorkies consider their humans as their pack members. And just as wolves establish an alpha, your Yorkie might accept one individual as its alpha.

It does so because it gets all the support, protection, security, comfort, and assurance it needs from that person. It is likely that this is the individual who trains your Yorkie.

As a result, the Yorkshire terrier is more likely to bond with that person and closely follow her or him around everywhere.

 

They Spend The Most Time With That Individual

When you first bring your Yorkie puppy home, chances are that one person takes up the responsibility of training and feeding it.

Naturally, the more time a Yorkie pup spends with one individual, the more attached it gets to them. Add to this the fact that there are tasty training treats involved, which is always a great incentive for your little pup!

 

They Get More Attention And Affection From That Person

All Yorkies thrive on attention. If one person allows the Yorkie to sleep in their bed, takes it for walks, feeds, and cuddles it at every chance they get, then it is but natural for the Yorkie to get attached to that person. It gets positive vibes from that person, so it showers them with love in return!

 

Are Yorkies One Person Dogs: Personal Anecdotes

One Yorkie owner says that she doesn’t consider her Yorkie to be a one-person dog. She recounts the times where Laci, her Yorkie, sits by the window and waits for her daughter to come home from school. Laci also jumps in bed with her middle daughter when she is sleeping.

Another Yorkie owner of three says that while her dogs do have a favorite person (herself), they also love everyone else that lives in their house. It shows that the Yorkies’ attachments are not limited to one person only, though they may be stronger to one person.

Those stories are just a few of the many about Yorkies. With numerous anecdotes of Yorkie owners saying that their Yorkies are also attached to other people, it is likely that Yorkies are not, for the most part, strict one-person dogs. But they can be.

When a person becomes the source of good things for the Yorkie, such as food, attention, treats, and playtime, the Yorkie will get attached to that person.

If another person is also the source, then the Yorkie will also get attached to that provider, but will favor the owner who gives them more. While they can get attached to other people, Yorkies do still tend to have their favorites.

 

Do Yorkies Bond With Only One Person: Related Questions

Below, we will answer some common related questions. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments below.

 

How Clingy Are Yorkies?

Many Yorkies are clingy to the extent of being termed Velcro dogs. As I’m sure you can guess, the term comes from Velcro®, known for its sticky texture that helps attach stuff to it.

However, clinginess is not an inherent trait in Yorkies. Well-trained and socialized Yorkies are inherently bold, sassy, smart, confident, and independent dogs who love to explore on their own.

In the end, it all boils down to how you have raised your Yorkie. Here are some reasons why a Yorkie might be clingy.

 

You Accidentally Trained It To Be Clingy

If you are in the habit of picking your Yorkie up at every chance you get, cuddling with it, or giving it a treat every time it follows you into the kitchen, then your pet thinks that “being clingy” is an acceptable behavior, since it gets rewarded.

 

Anxiety Or Stress

Some Yorkies get clingy because of separation anxiety. Have you ever wondered: why do Yorkies cry so much?

If so, separation anxiety is the most likely culprit. If your pet knows you are about to leave for work, it might follow you around, whine, and try to get you to pick it up and take it with you.

Often Yorkies can get stressed due to a major change in their (or your) routine. If you suddenly start going to work after spending months (or years) working from home, or a change of residence, or the arrival of a new pet or baby can all stress your Yorkie, making it clingy.

 

A Lack Of Socialization

A well-trained, socialized Yorkie is less likely to be clingy. It will be confident and bold, because it has been exposed to different situations. It won’t be insecure or timid, which often results in dogs being clingy.

 

Are Yorkies Possessive Of Their Owners?

There is no definite answer to this question. Some Yorkies are extremely possessive of their owners, while others aren’t. After all, no two dogs are the same, even if they are from the same breed.

A Yorkie that is possessive of its owner might growl, snap, attack, or whine at another pet or person. It is the Yorkie’s way of indicating that it is feeling insecure, jealous, or confused.

A shy or timid Yorkie that has no confidence might also show over-possessiveness toward its owner. Such Yorkies are usually not socialized and have not been exposed to different circumstances in puppyhood and early adulthood.

Owners must understand the difference between possessiveness and protectiveness. Protectiveness is a natural instinct in most dog breeds.

A protective Yorkie will only act when it feels its owner or property is in danger. A protective Yorkie is not jealous or insecure. A possessive Yorkie, on the other hand, tends to always be on guard.

It is also likely to be stressed out all the time. Many overly-possessive Yorkies turn aggressive. Aggression is never a good sign and needs to be nipped in the bud.

 

Are Yorkies Jealous?

Are Yorkies jealous dogs overall? Unsocialized Yorkies can be quite jealous.

A jealous Yorkie will whine or growl, if you hug or cuddle another dog, or even a human. It might try to push that pet or child out of the way if you give them your attention.

If you ever find yourself wondering “Why is my yorkie growling at me?” jealousy could be one reason. Fear or discomfort are two other big ones.

If a Yorkie suddenly starts showing extreme signs of jealousy, it may be due to a major change, a new schedule, or the arrival of a new pet or baby. Here are some ways to deal with a jealous Yorkie.

• Train it: basic obedience training can go a long way in curbing some of the jealousy and possessiveness; you can give a command such as ‘Go to Your Crate!’ when your little fur baby displays jealousy.
• Do not reward the behavior: sometimes, owners accidentally reward possessiveness and jealousy in their pets; do not give your Yorkie any attention (even negative attention) when it acts up.
• Involve the object of jealousy in the training: take them along on walks and for training sessions.

If your Yorkie is jealous of a new baby, please avoid leaving the two alone.

 

How Do You Know Your Yorkie Loves You?

According to Dr. Ryan Llera, BSc, DVM, there are many signs that indicate your little Yorkie loves you deeply:

• It is very happy to see you and will wag its tail.
• Your Yorkie might bring you presents!
• It will ask to be cuddled and will want to sleep in your bed if you allow it.
• Your Yorkie will stare at you all the time; you can see the love shining in its eyes!
• It will also follow you around everywhere you go; it will want to spend every moment with you.

 

Why Does My Yorkie Prefer My Friend/Sibling/Parent/Husband/Wife To Me?

It could be because the other person provides more attention to your dog than you. Food is also a significant factor. If the other person gives your pup more attention and you are the one feeding it, then your Yorkie will go to them for attention, and to you for food.

 

Why Is My Yorkie Aggressive To Other People?

While being aggressive toward other people is not a common trait for Yorkies, there are multiple reasons why your Yorkie might be exhibiting this behavior. It could be because it is protecting its territory from other people, it is scared of them, or it received poor treatment from them.

 

Are Yorkies Loyal To One Person: Conclusion

While Yorkshire terriers tend to form a strong attachment to a single person more than other breeds, this is not true of all Yorkies. It depends on the individual dog.

That said, male Yorkies tend to form a bond with a single person, while females are more likely to bond with the entire household equally.