How Long Should You Walk Your Yorkie?
Dogs need to exercise just like their owners and daily walks are highly recommended to maintain the best possible health. Yorkies are a little different in that, while walks are good for them, most can get plenty of exercise in the house with some vigorous play.
However, there are some Yorkies that require even more exercise than what indoor play can provide. For those dogs, how much can or should you walk them? As a veterinarian with over 20 years experience (and the owner of a Yorkie), let me give you my recommendation.
For younger healthy Yorkies, any walk up to about 30 minutes is a good workout. Some may want to go further and, if they aren’t breathing hard and are otherwise happy and alert, are okay to do that.
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How Can I Tell If I Walked My Yorkie Too Much?
If you’re in the middle of a walk and your Yorkie begins to pant so hard that bubbles and saliva are gathering around its mouth, it’s time to stop the walk.
If your Yorkie gets 20-30 minutes into a walk and refuses to go any further, you’ve walked too much.
If you find that your Yorkie comes back from a walk and is overly lethargic (sleeps the rest of the day) or can’t stop drinking water, then you’ve walked too much.
How Little Walking Does A Yorkie Need?
Some Yorkies don’t need to be walked at all. My 12 year old is like that. She is pretty frail (was a puppy mill rescue and in very poor health when I first got her) and tends to get tired when just dashing around the bedroom for a while. She also gets very anxious when she goes outside as I doubt her feet ever touched grass before she was rescued.
In many other cases, a Yorkie could get enough exercise with just a 10 minute walk. Their little legs have to work really hard to keep up with longer human strides.
When Not To Walk Your Yorkie?
There are times when I would recommend not taking your Yorkie outside for a walk if at all possible:
- Temperatures higher than 85 degrees
- Temperatures lower than 40 degrees
The coat of a Yorkie is so fine that they have little to no insulation from the cold and can easily get overheated in the summer. If you have to take them outside to go potty, have them wear some sort of clothing in the winter. Make the trip brief and bring them back inside right away.
If you are needing to take them outside to go to the bathroom, you might consider training your dog to use a litter box like a cat. Much easier cleanup and less risk to taking a Yorkie outside in a city environment.
Should I Use A Harness Or A Collar To Walk My Yorkie?
The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed that is predisposed to a condition called collapsing trachea. This is a condition where the normal cartilage that makes up the trachea (windpipe) gets weaker and is prone to collapsing on itself during periods of stress (think of it like what happens to a straw when you suck too hard on one end).
So when your Yorkie is breathing really hard (think of sucking hard through a straw), they are more prone to collapsing their trachea. They are also easily injured if they are wearing a neck and you stop suddenly.
The force that may be exerted on their neck when this happens could cause not just collapsing trachea, but an actual neck strain or disc herniation.
Harnesses are just so much safer for dogs that can be as delicate as Yorkies. They’re easy to use to hold onto your dog in your arms, and they’re safer if you have to suddenly pull on a leash to get your Yorkie out of harm’s way.
Can I Jog With My Yorkie?
I would not recommend jogging with a Yorkie other than little runs around the yard. While they are terriers and have been used as “ratting dogs” in the past, they are not built for endurance or the kind of speed that a human can get up to when “jogging.”
Think of this – your Yorkie is so small that it likely takes 3-4 times as many steps to cover the same distance as you do when jogging. The faster you go, the more steps it takes. There’s a reason why you don’t see Yorkies in the Iditarod (among many others).
It’s also really easy to injure your Yorkie on a run if you’re holding the leash and your dog stops for any reason. You’re likely to pull them so hard they fly off the ground. Not to mention that you may not be as alert and aware of potential dangers (such as other dogs or animals approaching from the rear) when you are out for a run.
Can Yorkies Do Other Forms Of Exercise?
Absolutely! Yorkies are capable of competing in dog sports like agility, barn hunt, obedience, and flyball. Again, these are more sprinting-type activities at which athletic Yorkies can excel.
In Conclusion
Yorkies can be active dogs but their bodies were built for short bursts of energy. Longer, endurance-type exercise can be fine for some very hyper Yorkies, but most Yorkies (especially as they age) may find this too strenuous. A short, vigorous walk with some indoor play should be enough for your Yorkie to live healthy and happy.
