As I was passing by the dog park, I couldn’t help but be in awe of the cute Yorkies that I saw there. And just like me, other people too wanted to hold these cute, hairy creatures. But, while one didn’t mind being held, the other Yorkie did resist a bit, which led me to think, Do Yorkies Like To Be Held?
After all, I didn’t want to upset this cute-looking Yorkie. So, me being the inquisitive self that I am, started looking out for possible answers about Do Yorkies Like To Be Held? And, I was glad to know that my neighbor had one. So, she shared a tonne of her experiences with me.
Check out what my friendly neighbor had to say about Do Yorkies like to be held or not.
Do Yorkies Like to Be Held? Top 10 Reasons
Though dogs are often vouched as tough pets, these soft and silky Yorkies are a tad bit different. They just love to be held. So, don’t be surprised if your Yorkie puppy, right in the middle of the walk, demands you to hold him up!
And as a small dog lover, it is really difficult to say no to those cute little eyes.
Your Yorkie likes being held for the below-mentioned reasons:
1. It Helps Them to Stay Calm and Collected
Yorkies are undoubtedly highly energetic breeds of dogs. They are up for some exercise or walk, mostly any given time. However, if your Yorkie tends to go a bit overboard with all the playfulness, holding him up can help him calm down and relax a bit.
2. Your Yorkie Loves The Warmth
Who doesn’t like the feel of a nice warm blanket? In a similar manner, your Yorkie loves the warmth that he gets when he is close to you, while you hold him.
3. They Love Getting Your Attention
Yorkies love attention, and demand loads of it. So, imagine how delighted they might feel, being held by probably their favorite person, you, that is the Yorkie owner.
4. Your Yorkie Feels Loved
Who doesn’t love cuddles and hugs? And your Yorkie is not different. Your four-legged friend gets a feeling of being loved when you hold him and spend some time with him.
5. Your Yorkie Will Not Suffer From Separation Anxiety
Yorkies are famous for getting too attached to their owners. As they become adult dogs, they tend to get more affectionate with their owners, which only increases as they age.
So, your Yorkie is not a fan of being away from you or staying alone for a long time. This can lead to separation anxiety, and sometimes excessive barking from your Yorkie.
Hence, it is best to closely hold and snuggle your pet friend before you leave for your daily routine, to avoid separation anxiety.
6. Your Yorkie Feels a Sense of Security
Being close to you, and being held by you gives your Yorkie a sense of security. Your Yorkie will get a feeling that you are being protective of him, just the way he tries to protect you.
7. Holding Your Yorkie Will Relive Him of Any Stress
Holding your pet close to you will act as a stress buster for him. Reason? When being held and loved, your Yorkie releases a hormone called oxytocin, which is also known as the love hormone.
A simple gesture like holding your Yorkie or caressing your Yorkie’s coat will release endorphins, which act as a stress buster hormone.
8. Your Yorkie’s is a Lap Dog
Since Yorkies are alp dogs, they like being close to their owners. So, your Yorkie will be all smiles when you hold him.
9. It Gives Yorkie a Sense of Comfort
Holding your Yorkie will give him a sense of comfort, and convey to him that you love him, and care for him. Expect lots of kisses from your pet friend, and cuddles too, as this will be his way to show his love for you.
10. Your Yorkie is Territorial in Nature
Since your Yorkie is territorial in nature, he loves it when you hold him. It gives him a sense of belonging and reassures him that you belong to him, and care for him.
How Do I Know if My Yorkie Likes to Be Held?
If you are a Yorkie owner, you must be aware that Yorkies are very expressive, and their body language and the way they react and behave tend to convey a lot about their comfort, liking, and disliking.
Below are the top 5 behaviors that your Yorkie will show if he likes being held.
1. Happy and Relaxed Eyes
While holding your dog, just one glance into his eyes, and you can determine whether your Yorkie pup is relaxed or not. Your little friend is bound to look at you softly and lovingly if he is enjoying being held.
However, if your Yorkie displays a hard and narrow gaze, it indicates aggression or irritation. This should be your cue of keeping your Yorkie down, as he clearly doesn’t enjoy being held up.
2. A Relaxed Body
Truly, body language is the key to understanding your Yorkie. If your Yorkie likes being held, he will keep his body loose and soft, and more often than not, the body will be wiggly.
But, if your little dog appears stiff and tense, this is a clear indication that he is uncomfortable. You should refrain from holding your Yorkie in this case.
3. Relaxed Ears
If your Yorkie’s ears are relaxed when you hold him, it shows that he is loving your gesture. But, pinned back ears mean they are not really liking being held.
So, you get the cue, right? You just need to stop holding up your Yorkie, no matter how adorable he is!
4. A Free Tail Movement
While tail wagging is a common thing in dogs, a Yorkie tail movement can indicate its liking or restlessness.
If your puppy wags its tail in a manner that involves shaking of its entire body, this indicates that your Yorkie is happy, and you can continue holding him.
But, if the tail movement is stiff, without shaking the body, that indicates a restless Yorkie, and it is not a good idea to keep him held up.
5. Smiling Yorkie
If your Yorkie keeps smiling while you are holding him, it is undoubtedly a sign that he likes being held. You might also see your puppy opening his mouth wide open and showing his teeth, indicating his happiness while being held.
However, beware! If your Yorkie produces a low growling sound while keeping his mouth open, it is best to put him down, and let him play on his own.
Do Yorkies Like to Be Held by Everyone?
While Yorkies usually do not refuse a cuddle party, they might get irritated when a stranger holds them up.
Yorkies are famous for loving one person and giving all their affection to him. So, while Yorkies do not mind being held up by the owner, or family members, you can expect barking if a stranger tries to hold up your Yorkie.
But again, this is entirely dependent on your Yorkie’s personality, and you might be surprised to find your Yorkie relaxing on a stranger’s lap, or someone whom they met just for the first time.
After all, Yorkies are known as lap dogs for a reason, right?
How Often Will My Yorkie Want to Be Held?
The answer to the above question depends entirely on your Yorkie personality. While some are highly energetic and would love to play outdoors, or engage in some fun activity with you, like a frisbee or stand pole, some would just want to cuddle and be held to get your attention.
If your Yorkie is aging, maybe 7 years and above, you can expect that he would want to be held up more, to spend time with you, as opposed to playing with you.
Closely monitor your Yorkie, and do what he loves the most! But, always keep in mind that your Yorkie needs to go out in the open and play or engage in physical activity for some time, to exhaust his internal energy.
A note of caution: While you would be having a ball of time cuddling and holding your toy dog, excessive holding can lead to low self-esteem and a sense of fear in your Yorkshire terrier. It can lead to your tiny dog being a velcro dog.
Does Holding My Yorkie Strengthen Our Bond?
Yorkies are any dog lover’s delight! So much is their need for attention and love, that the dog owner is bound to be flattered and feel loved having these toy dogs around.
Holding your Yorkie will definitely strengthen your bond with him. Your pet friend is going to love your warmth, cuddle, and the most important thing, your undivided attention!
So, go ahead, and hold your Yorkie now and then, if he doesn’t seem to resist being held.
Is It Okay for Kids to Hold Yorkies?
It is totally okay for kids to hold Yorkies. If your young child holds a Yorkie, it will help make a close bonding between the kids and your Yorkie.
But, when we talk about kids and pets, it is better to be safe than sorry. So, always bear in mind that these two shouldn’t be left alone without any adult supervision.
Children are temperamental and most of the time, unpredictable. So, it might be possible that your otherwise calm kid, out of nowhere, becomes rash with your Yorkie.
This might be dangerous for both your kid, as well as the puppy. After all, Yorkies can also retaliate back, scaring your kid. And, the last thing you would want is the lack of harmony between the kids and your pet friend.
It is always a good idea to teach your kid how to hold a Yorkie. If your kid is small, it is best to make him sit on the chair and then let him hold the Yorkie.
As your kid grows, it is okay for him or her to hold the Yorkie and carry him.
And you know what the best part is? Since Yorkies love attention, they will seldom have an issue with kids being around them. So, you can expect the kids and Yorkie to play and run around together.
Check out this funny compilation of videos of Yorkies and babies.
How Should You Hold Your Yorkie Properly?
While it is pretty simple holding a bigger dog breed, it might take some time for new Yorkie owners to understand how to hold these little dogs properly.
Improper handling of your Yorkie can also lead to luxating patella. Check out our extensive guide for various supplements to prevent this condition in your Yorkie.
Below are a few tips from our end, and a useful video, that will make you a pro at handling your Yorkie!
- While bending down towards your Yorkie, place your stronger hand under your pet’s chest area. Your fingers should protrude in the front of the chest area, and the palm should support the rear part of Yorkie’s chest, behind the front legs.
- Gently lift your Yorkie.
- Support your Yorkie’s back end with your forearm, under the dog’s tail, and your hand that holds the back legs.
- Hold your Yorkie close to your chest. Ensure that he is in an upright position.
Check out this really awesome video on how to hold toy breeds I found online that will be of great help to you.
How Can You Strengthen Your Bond With Your Yorkie?
You might already be aware of how great a company Yorkshire terrier puppy is. The feeling of a Yorkie’s coat on your lap is a soothing feeling which would make you want to keep him in your lap all day long!
After all, who can ignore their cute expressions, those love-filled eyes, and the warmth that they provide? So, if you are looking out for more ways to strengthen your bond with your Yorkie, you can follow the below-mentioned points:
1. Train Your Yorkshire Terrier
Even though your Yorkie is a toy dog, it does need its share of training and physical activity to keep his mind sound and improve his mental stimulation.
You can utilize this need as an opportunity to strengthen your bond with your four-legged friend. Training together with your Yorkie will help you establish a bond with him, and you can also understand what he tries to convey by spending some productive time with him.
This is a great petting activity.
2. Go on New Adventures Together
The Yorkie breeds are quite adventurous and active. So, what is a better way than exploring new things together and going out on some impromptu adventure?
The next time if you are planning a hiking trip, do consider taking your furry friend with you, to strengthen your bond with him.
FAQs on Do Yorkies Like to Be Held?
1. How Do Yorkies Show Affection?
The below actions indicate that your Yorkie is showing his affection towards you:
- Sharing his toys with you
- Running away with your belongings
- Grinning at you
- Cuddling with you after a meal
- Kissing or licking you
- Leaning towards you
- Wagging his tail
Be happy if your Yorkie shows the above signs.
2. Do Yorkies Get Attached to One Person?
Yorkies do get attached to one person. As they grow old, all their love and affection might be reserved just for one person. However, this doesn’t mean they are not friendly. They will love to bond and make friends with other people too.
Looking for more explanation regarding this? Feel free to check out our detailed research here.
3. Are Yorkies Clingy?
The Yorkie dog breed in general is quite independent, and they are not at all clingy. They can do many things without human intervention. However, they do like to be loved and showered with affection and attention.
Conclusion
So, the answer to Do Yorkies Like To Be Held is a BIG YES. So, don’t hesitate to hold your Yorkie puppy up and shower him with your affection.
However, exceptions are always there, and your Yorkie might just be an exception. So, keep a close watch on his behavior while you lift him. If he resists it or seems uncomfortable, you should avoid holding him up.
Also, never keep your Yorkie and kids alone!
