Yorkshire Terrier care on Cape Ann

A Yorkie was a working ratter before it was a lap dog, and the drive is still there: it chases, digs, barks at the unexpected and rarely backs down from a bigger dog. The AKC recommends early socialization to strange situations, people and other dogs, introduced slowly and kept positive, and says effusive praise and treats work far better with a Yorkie than harsh corrections. A Yorkie that has learned calm greetings is a much easier small dog to live with.

Exercise needs are modest. The AKC suggests moderate walks at a steady pace plus short bursts, such as chasing a ball, and says a short walk twice a day will likely be enough. Dog sports like agility and rally suit the breed's quick mind. On a Dogtown Academy half day, $69, a Yorkie gets a training session with our trainer, scent and puzzle games and a report card, which channels the terrier into something useful.

VCA lists Yorkshire terriers among the small breeds often affected by tracheal collapse, in which the rings of the windpipe flatten as the dog breathes in. The main sign is a persistent, dry, harsh cough often called a goose honk, which can get worse at night, with excitement, in hot or humid weather, or with pressure on the trachea from a collar. VCA's advice is to use a harness rather than a collar, and it notes that weight management helps reduce the severity.

The AKC names eye anomalies and luxating patella, a slipping kneecap, as the conditions responsible breeders screen for, and recommends patella and eye evaluations; ask the breeder for both results before a puppy comes home. A Yorkie that skips a step on a back leg, coughs on the leash or squints after a windy beach walk is showing you something for your vet. At the groom, teeth brushing adds $10.

A seven-pound dog in a short trim has little to keep it warm, and the AVMA notes that short-haired and short-legged pets feel the cold faster. In winter, put on a sweater before you open the door, keep potty trips short, and shovel a patch so the dog is not wading in snow deeper than its chest. Road salt and de-icers cling to the legs and belly of a dog this low; wipe and dry them at the door.

The beaches are a cool-season outing. At the time of writing, dogs may use Good Harbor on even-numbered days from October 1 to March 31 and Wingaersheek on odd-numbered days from October 1 to April 30, and Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea admits licensed, vaccinated dogs from October 15 to April 14. Keep a Yorkie on a harness and leash near the water, where a wave or a gull can send a small dog the wrong way.