Overview
Though a toy breed, the Yorkie still retains much of its terrier ancestry, especially the personality. Individual dogs will differ, but they are generally intelligent, independent and courageous. Yorkshire Terriers are quick to determine where they fit in a household's "pack". Their behavior towards outsiders will vary. Some will be inclined to bark at strangers, while other Yorkies are outgoing and friendly towards new people, and still others are withdrawn and aloof. These differences in behavior are largely based on how the owner trains, conditions, and socializes their Yorkie. A few individual Yorkshire Terriers may be timid or nervous, rather than bold, but the vast majority do seem to meet the breed standard for a confident, vigorous and self-important personality.
Boldness
Despite its Toy classification, the breed retains much of the lively terrier personality. In a multi-breed home, many Yorkies will assert themselves as the "alpha" dog. Yorkies typically get along well with other dogs and love to play together with them. Their bold character comes more from the Yorkie's mix of great inquisitiveness, or an instinct to protect, and self-confidence. Some Yorkies are unaware of their small size and may even challenge larger, tougher dogs.
Intelligence
Yorkshire Terriers are intelligent dogs. This trait enables Yorkies to excel in sports like obedience and agility which require the dog to understand communication from the handler. Yorkies can recognize numerous words and can be taught to distinguish many complex series of commands.
Independence
A well bred and well handled Yorkshire Terrier is content to be near its owner without being on a lap or underfoot. Yorkies are energetic but also need much rest and will often prefer to spend downtime in privacy, such as in a kennel or out of the way corner. Very pampered and indulged Yorkies are more likely to be clingy and demanding, and lack the true terrier self-confidence. Yorkshire Terriers tend to be more difficult to train than some breeds, due to their characteristic independent nature.