How long does a Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) live?

The listed lifespan for a Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) is 11–15 years.

How tall is a Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie)?

The listed height for a Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) is 7–8 in.

Is a Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) is 5 out of 5.

When is a Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) full grown?

The growth size band for a Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) is 8–12 months.

Toy Group

Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie)

Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) is a toy dog in the Toy Group. Adult weight is 7 lb, height is 7–8 in, and the listed lifespan is 11–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Affectionate, Sprightly, Tomboyish.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) dog — Photo: Liza · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan11–15 years

Weight7 lb

SizeToy GroupToy Group

Height

7–8 in

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

1 / 5

Grooming

5 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 21 single-size toy breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13 years is about 1.1 years shorter than the 14.1-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 7 lb is about the same as the 8.4 lb average for those toy breeds.

The listed origin is England. The coat is described as silky, long. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.7 points above the group average of 3.3 for the Toy Group. Shedding scores 1 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 5 out of 5, so a professional schedule is realistic. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 13 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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