Right along with the toy Maltese, toy Boston Terrier, toy Poodle, and a host of others, you'll find the toy Yorkshire Terrier. Toy Yorkshire Terriers in fact, are the most popular of the entire bunch! Just be careful not to confuse toy Yorkies with miniature Yorkies or teacup Yorkies. Toy Yorkies adhere to AKC standards, and their miniature or teacup counterparts don't. The health problems of miniature or teacup Yorkies are more severe than the health problems of toy Yorkies as well.

Size and Function Determine a Toy

A dog's size is the most common factor used to determine a toy. Toy dogs usually don't grow any longer than the human arm. But the way that a dog functions may also qualify it as a toy. Since toy dogs don't function as work dogs, they're seen as companion dogs instead that love to play. And the toy Yorkshire Terrier's playful nature is part of what makes it so enjoyable.

Toys for Toys

You can take advantage of this playful nature with a few games and playthings, like chew toys, balls, and (believe it or not) stuffed animals. Chew toys will serve as appropriate alternatives for your couch legs, books, pillows, and anything else that you don't want your Yorkie sinking its teeth into. Tennis balls will satisfy your Yorkie's innate desire to chase things, while small stuffed animals give your Yorkie something to tote around and sleep with.
Of course none of these toys are very much to play with alone, so use them as part of a game. Toy Yorkshire Terriers will enjoy playing with a rolling ball much more if he can chase it and then bring it back to you for more. But no matter how tempting it may be, don't use a toy as a tug-of-war instrument. This will encourage your dog to bite and pull things apart when you're not looking!

Toy Hybrids Like To Play Too

Another toy breed that shares in the fun is related to the Yorkie. It's known as the hybrid Yorkie and it's crossbred with other dogs in an effort to spread the Yorkie's non-shedding characteristic. Crossbreeding the Yorkie with a poodle for example creates the Yorkie-Poo, while crossbreeding the Yorkie with the Maltese creates the Morkie. All four creatures (the Yorkie, Poodle, Yorkie-Poo, and Morkie) are toy-dogs.
These "cross-toys" won't qualify for any purebred showings, but they'll retain that playful nature that toy dogs are known for. And they can be registered with The American Canine Hybrid Club.

Toy Dog Fans

Whether your toy terrier is a playful purebred or mix, you can relish in the fact that some of our biggest stars share the same affection for toy dogs. Joan Rivers, Bruce Willis, Paris Hilton (of course), and Hilary Duff represent just a small portion of the growing (celebrity) fascination with toy dogs.