Should I Get Another Yorkie? (Solved & Explained!)

That is up to you, but Yorkies are very social dogs and the odds are good that they will become fast friends with the new dog. This doesn’t mean that it is guaranteed, however, so you want to make sure to stage a very careful introduction and to be patient with the process.

Introduce the two dogs on neutral ground, such as the backyard or a room that your current dog doesn’t use much. Make sure that both dogs have their OWN toys and food bowls and don’t allow them to be together when you can’t be there to supervise it.

If the older dog bullies the new dog, but doesn’t hurt them, then don’t panic. Dogs are pack animals and this behavior is completely normal for canines. With a little time (and possibly a tussle or two) most Yorkies will eventually become the best of friends.

In this article, we’re going to answer your questions about bringing a second dog into your home. We’ll talk about whether they should be the same gender, if an older dog will accept a puppy, and other questions that can help make introducing a new Yorkie just a little bit easier.

Let’s take a look at what you need to know about bring home a second Yorkie!

Do Yorkies do better in pairs?

Yorkies don’t like spending much alone time, so a pair of Yorkies is usually much happier than a Yorkie on their own. That’s not to say that they wouldn’t be happy just living with their owner, but having a play companion available at all hours certainly has it’s perk where a Yorkie is concerned.

Introduction can take awhile, so just be patient with the process if you are seeing a little discord for the time being. Once your Yorkie gets used to the other dog, they usually become fast friends!

Do male Yorkies get along with female Yorkies?

Males actually get along better with females than they do other males. While the males are the more social gender (usually), when introduced to other males it can take awhile before they start getting along.

With a female, the process is much faster – just make sure that your dogs are spayed and neutered, unless you are intending to breed them!

Do Yorkies do well alone?

Not so much. An adult Yorkie, aged about a year and a half, may be left alone for 4 to 6 hours at a time, but anything more than that and you might want to hire a dogsitter to come in and take them for a walk or have one of your friends drop in to check up on them.

Yorkies are very social dogs, to the point that they can easily get a little codependent if you don’t socialize them. As such, you want to make sure that your dog doesn’t spend too much time on their own or they might become depressed.

Are two Yorkies twice the work?

Actually, no, and once they are friends, you might even find that it’s a little less work. Your chores are the same, basically. You’ll want to feed them on a schedule and continue the daily walks, but the only time it’s any more work than usual is when they are still getting used to each other.

Once they’ve adjusted, the two Yorkies become inseparable, and you won’t notice a whole lot of difference beyond the entertainment value of your two little dogs at play!

Are there any rules for bringing a second Yorkie home?

If you’ve decided to go ahead and bring home a second dog, we have a few recommendations that can help to make this process go a little more smoothly. Here is what we recommend:

• Pick a dog of the opposite gender, rather than the same. A male and a female will get along much better and you’ll have less territorial opposition to deal with, if any.
• Make sure that they have separate feeding stations and their own toys. This should help minimize fighting.
• Keep all time together supervised until you are sure that they are best friends.
• Introduce them to each other in a ‘neutral’ place, such as an extra room or in the backyard.
• Be patient with the process…. They’ll get along, but sometimes it takes a little time.

Will my Yorkie be jealous if I get another dog?

Yes, your dog is going to be jealous and maybe even angry at you and the other dog. They are used to being your only companion and ‘master of their territory’, so expect a period of adjustment while your current dog gets used to the new one.

Will my Yorkie be sad if I get another dog?

Aside from anger or jealousy, some dogs can get depressed if you bring a new dog home. Generally, they will adjust with a little time, but if your dogs shows signs of deep depression, such as moping around or not eating, then it might be a good time to bring them in to your vet.

Doggy depression is treatable, so don’t worry, but your current dog may need a little help and extra attention so that they can accept that they aren’t being abandoned, but rather they are getting a new friend.

What is the best age to get a second Yorkie?

It is best to bring in a new dog when your current dog is 1 or 2 years old. This is also a good age gap, as older dogs may take quite a bit longer to adjust to puppies (though sometimes they get along right away!).

Try to target a 1 – 2 year age gap, if possible, and this will make the transition much easier on both dogs.

Will an old Yorkie accept a puppy?

It can go one of two ways. Either your older dog will be amused and take to the little one right away, or they might feel that you are replacing them and start bullying the new pup to ‘show them their place’ in the pack.

As long as they aren’t hurting the puppy, then this is perfectly fine and standard dog behavior. As they are pack animals, each has their place in the hierarchy, and your older dog is just exerting their seniority.

How do I know if my Yorkie wants another dog?

If your dog hates leaving the dog park, loves visiting the neighbor’s dog, and seems a bit bored when they aren’t socializing, then they would probably love to have another dog in the house.

If your dog doesn’t show these behaviors, though, that doesn’t mean that they won’t accept a new dog, but it may take a little longer for them to adjust to the presence of a second Yorkie in the house.

Kevin "Ken" Davies

My name is Ken and I’m one of the staff writers at Petloverguy.com. I’ve cared for pets most of my life starting with hamsters, turtles, and snakes. Then moving up to parakeets, guinea pigs, and even ducks.
I currently live with two yorkies and a chihuahua mix.