Unveiling the Adorable World of Yorkie Puppies: 13+ Fascinating Facts

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Table of Contents

• How Much Do Yorkie Puppies Weigh at Birth?
• How Long Before Yorkie Puppies Open Their Eyes?
• When Can You Tell a Puppy’s Eye Color?
• At What Age Does a Yorkie Puppy Change Colors?
• When Do Yorkie Puppy Ears Stand Up?
• How Often Should I Feed My Yorkie Puppy?
• How Much Should I Feed My Yorkie Puppy?
• How Long Does a Yorkie Puppy Sleep?
• When Will My Yorkie Puppy Sleep Through the Night?
• When Do Yorkies Stop Growing?
• Is It Normal for My Puppy to Have a Soft Spot on His Head?
• When Should I Start Potty Training My Puppy?
• When Can a Puppy Be Around Other Dogs?
• More Interesting Facts to Know
• Time to Get a Yorkie Puppy?

Hey there! Thinking about getting a Yorkie puppy, huh? Or maybe you just love learning about these cute little dogs. Either way, you’ve come to the right place.

These little bundles of joy are more than just adorable lap dogs; they’re filled with surprises. From their long silky hair to their sprightly personalities, Yorkies are full of charm. Let’s dig into some cool facts about them.

How Much Do Yorkie Puppies Weigh at Birth?

A Yorkie puppy weighs 2.5 to 5 ounces at birth.

They look somewhat like small rats at birth. Luckily, they grow up fast, and by the time they’re ten days old, they’ll be 10 times their birth weight! 

It’s important to note that some puppies may weigh more or less than the stated weight at birth due to genetics or health status. For example, a so-called “teacup” Yorkie is going to be smaller. 

Knowing your Yorkie puppy’s weight helps you decide what to feed them and monitor their growth. 

How Long Before Yorkie Puppies Open Their Eyes?

2-4 weeks and reaches optimum at 8 weeks. 

A Yorkie puppy starts opening their eyes at 2 weeks, but they can’t really see then. Since the puppy can’t see, they rely on the mom to move around their nest for feeding. As days go by, they learn to use their smell and reflexes to find their food and their sleeping spot.

At 4 weeks, their sight is more improved, but they only see clearly at 6 to 8 weeks. You’ll know when your puppy starts seeing because they’ll begin to explore their surroundings.

When Can You Tell a Puppy’s Eye Color?

9-12 weeks. 

I know that sounds like a long time to wait, but that’s how long you have to wait to determine what your permanent puppy eye color will be. This is because, for the first 2-3 weeks of a puppy’s life, their eyes are closed.

When they finally open up their eyes, their eyes are blue or brown, depending on their genetics and their environment. At this early age, the puppy’s eyes are still hazy, so it’s hard to tell their eye color. 

Once they’re one month old, their eye color might change a little from blue to grey or blue to grey to brown.

At What Age Does a Yorkie Puppy Change Colors?

6 months – 2 years. 

Yorkie puppies start changing color at 6 months. This is a gradual process so you won’t wake up to a completely different puppy one day.

I must mention that the Yorkie coat color is one of the most interesting facts about this breed.

Yorkies now come in a variety of colors but traditional Yorkies are born as mostly black with a little tan. As they get older, they will change to blue (diluted black), or silver-grey and tan or gold.

These are the expected colors of a Yorkie such that when a Yorkie was born with three different colors in 1984, they were classified as a different Yorkshire breed. Today, this breed is known as the Biewer Terrier. 

The Yorkshire terrier has a unique gene that facilitates the color change from black and blue. This is the same breed that grows its silky coat. 

When Do Yorkie Puppy Ears Stand Up?

 6 weeks-6 months. 

All Yorkie puppies are born with floppy ears. At the early stage of their lives, they still don’t have enough muscle strength to support the base of their ears to stand erect. In some cases, one ear will become upright before the other one. This is entirely normal, (and quite adorable!), and the other ear will catch up soon. 

Also, during the teething process, some puppies’ ears fall back because they use most of their calcium to grow their permanent teeth. This is only temporary; their ears will straighten up after the teething process. 

While some Yorkies are late bloomers and eventually develop enough muscles to support their upright ears at 9 months, it never happens to some. If you’ve been waiting for too long and your puppy still has floppy ears past 10 months, chances are they’ll always have floppy ears. Some people call this “Yorkie floppy ear syndrome.” 

This sometimes happens when a puppy’s ears have too much hair, making them too heavy to support. I noticed my Ziggy’s ears were still not going up when he was a 5-month-old puppy, but once he had a good grooming and had all the excess hair shaved from his ears, his ears popped up within a few days.

The “Yorkie floppy ear syndrome” isn’t a health threat. It is, however, a disadvantage during dog shows because it is a requirement of the breed for dog shows. 

Luckily, if dog shows are something you consider doing with your puppy, there is something you can do about it. You can shave their ears to reduce the weight, tape the ears (I don’t endorse taping them), and massage them. That being said, you don’t need to go through all the trouble; Yorkies with floppy ears are still adorable. 

How Often Should I Feed My Yorkie Puppy?

2-3 times a day. You can also free-feed your Yorkie puppy. 

How often you feed your puppy depends on many factors—the type of food you choose to feed your puppy, their age, feeding habits, etc. 

For example, if your puppy is a slow feeder, it’s best to free-feed them for the first weeks.

However, if your puppy eats up everything in a few seconds, it’s best to schedule their feedings to avoid unnecessary weight gain or upset tummies from eating too fast and too much. 

How Much Should I Feed My Yorkie Puppy?

On average, Yorkie puppies require 150-200 calories a day.

The food can be spread 2-4 times a day or free-fed, depending on the type of eater your puppy is. 

That said, so many factors go into deciding how much you should feed your Yorkie puppy. Some of them include your puppy’s age and the type of food you feed them ( if you’re feeding them kibble, they’ll only need a small amount, but if they’re eating wet food, they’ll need a larger amount to get the same calories), etc.

It’s also important to note that you should only feed your Yorkie puppy with puppy food as it has all the nutrients they need. 

ALSO READ:

How to Feed a Yorkie Puppy

How Long Does a Yorkie Puppy Sleep?

16-22 hours. 

A Yorkie puppy will sleep an average of 19 hours in a day. This includes their nighttime sleep and the naps they take during the day. 

Your Yorkie’s naps can range anywhere between 10 minutes and 1 hour. They might wake up in between to eat, potty or play. During the few hours, they’re awake; they’re jumpy and playful. The first thing you should do when they wake up is direct them to their potty area, especially if they’re still in their training stage. 

As your Yorkie puppy grows, you’ll realize they reduce the hours they need for sleep. Eventually, they’ll adjust to the family’s sleeping schedule. 

For the first few weeks, your puppy may have a problem falling asleep, and they may even whine. This may be caused by separation anxiety or loneliness, especially if they’re not allowed in their human’s bedroom. 

When Will My Yorkie Puppy Sleep Through the Night?

4-6 months

Once your puppy has adjusted to their sleep routine, they’ll be able to sleep through the night. That being said, like tiny babies, they may have disturbed sleep for awhile. You can do some things to fasten their adjustment and help them sleep through the night. 

They include. 

• Exercising them enough. 
• Ask the breeder to give you a small item like a toy with the litter scent to carry with you for comfort and familiarity.
• Buy them a comfortable blanket or bed and place them on their crate. 
• Have a consistent bed routine.

When Do Yorkies Stop Growing?

6-12 months

Your Yorkie may still look like a puppy after a few months but that doesn’t mean they’re very far from their final size. They might not look like your neighbor’s Great Dane, but small mature quickly. By the time they’re 6 months, they’ll have developed all their permanent features, except for a few puppies who take up to one year to mature physically.

They still may fill out some and gain a little more weight but should be at their full size by 1 year of age.

If your pup is still gaining weight after their first year, it might be time to check with your vet about putting them on a diet or changing their food or portions to avoid unnecessary weight gain.

When it comes to mental maturity, Yorkie puppies are brilliant and easier to train after 6 months compared to large dog breeds. 

Sadly, this means that your Yorkie snaps out of their “puppymoon” faster than other puppies, but they will always be your baby.

Is It Normal for My Puppy to Have a Soft Spot on His Head?

Yes, a soft spot on your puppy’s head isn’t a red flag. Like human babies, many puppies are born with a soft spot on their heads (also known as molera or fontanel). The soft spot disappears after 4 months, so many pet parents never get to see them. 

While some puppy’s soft spots may last longer than 4 months and it’s completely normal, this might be an overlying severe health condition if it takes longer. In this case, consider talking to your vet as it might be a case of water in the brain or hydrocephalus. 

When Should I Start Potty Training My Puppy?

8-16 weeks. 

The earlier, the better, and you don’t want to start later than 16 weeks (if that’s possible). House training is probably the most challenging part of owning a dog because the consequences are disgusting: the wet rug, the wet couch, stepping in poop, etc. 

This part will require a lot of patience and consistency. Keep in mind that scolding and hitting your puppy when they have accidents will only make them anxious and harder to train. 

Read more here about housetraining your Yorkie.

If you don’t like dealing with messes, you can start by training your pup to use puppy pads. Puppy pads are a huge save for those who spend long hours at work or don’t want to take their pup in the middle of the night. 

See our guide on how to make puppy pads your friend.

When Can a Puppy Be Around Other Dogs?

16 weeks.

This is the sweet spot to socialize your puppy because they’re young enough to train to behave around other animals and they’re vaccinated too. At this stage, they’re cleared for dog parks, and it’s safe for them to go for walks. 

With training and consistency, all Yorkie puppies eventually learn to be around other pets.

More Interesting Facts to Know

Sensitive Tummies Yorkies can have sensitive stomachs. High-quality food is a must, and if you need to switch food, do it gradually to avoid an upset tummy.

Chewing Phase Yorkies love to chew, especially when they’re teething. Make sure they have safe chew toys to keep their gums healthy and save your shoes from destruction.

Lifespan Yorkies are in it for the long haul, typically living between 13-16 years. Some can even reach 20.

Regular Grooming Those luscious locks need attention. Regular grooming and baths can keep your Yorkie’s fur clean, shiny, and tangle-free.

Health Issues Yorkies are prone to some health issues like dental problems, hypoglycemia, luxating patellas, and collapsed tracheas. Regular vet check-ups can catch these early.

Territorial Behavior Despite their size, Yorkies can be protective and territorial. Proper training can help manage this behavior.

Big Confidence Yorkies may be small, but their confidence is huge. They tend to think they’re bigger than they are, which is just part of their irresistible charm.

Time to Get a Yorkie Puppy?

Getting a puppy, especially the first one, can cause excitement and anxiety. You want to understand exactly how your puppy will turn out and if they’ll get along with your other pets and kids.

If you are thinking of getting a Yorkie puppy, I hope our Yorkie puppy facts help you with your decision.

Here are some more articles you may want to check out:

Are Yorkies good dogs for a family

Interesting Yorkie facts

Yorkshire Terrier history

There you have it! Yorkie puppies are a whole lot of fun packed into a small package. Remember, each one has its own personality and quirks. Enjoy the ride!