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Can a Yorkie Be a Service Dog?

liitle boy and yorkie dog

The Yorkshire Terrier is a big dog in a small package. With his silky coat and traditional “topknot,” the Yorkie is sure to attract attention wherever he goes. And because of his pint-size, this dog often travels in style – in designer doggy purses or special totes made just for those “elite” pooches.

The Yorkie may have won the hearts of those looking for some “furry arm candy” but what about in the world of service? Can a Yorkie be a Service Dog? According to the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), any breed of dog can be a service dog.

Ready to register your Service Dog Yorkie? Complete the service dog registration in the link below.

Certified Service Dog Registration

General Traits of the Yorkie

The Yorkie is a curious and playful pooch that is always on the lookout for a new adventure (and maybe even some trouble). This breed is affectionate towards his people, yet he can also be a bit wary of strangers, barking at unfamiliar sounds and “intruders.”

Despite his propensity for being a watchdog, the Yorkie does need time with his family and won’t do well left alone for long periods-of-time.

The Yorkie is also a very intuitive breed. He will pick up on his owner’s feelings so be aware not to over-coddle your pup, or he may start to believe the world is a scary place and react with fear.

Since the Yorkshire doesn’t grow very large, it’s best to keep small children away from this dog. They can become snappish if startled or teased.

The Yorkie adapts well to apartment and condo living as he doesn’t need excessive exercise. It is also considered to be hypoallergenic since his long coat is more like hair than fur.

Fast Facts About the Yorkie

Height: Up to 9 inches at the shoulder

Weight: 4 to 6 pounds

Lifespan: 12 to 15 years

Yorkshire Terriers as a Service Dog?

For obvious reasons, the Yorkie would not do well for people that need a Service Dog for large tasks such as pulling a wheelchair or providing balance support. However, that doesn’t mean your Yorkie is out of the picture.

Even though they are small, Yorkies can still be adept at helping around the house with more managable projects. These include pulling open cabinet doors equipped with soft handles, fetching the television remote, retrieving clean clothes from the dryer, and alerting their owners to specific sounds such as the telephone ringing, the doorbell or a crying baby.

Yorkies have even proven themselves to be valuable as a medical alert service animal. They can be trained to detect epileptic seizures and subtle changes in a diabetic’s glucose level.

This breed is also valuable for those individuals that suffer from specific psychiatric issues. Their small stature allows them to accompany their handlers almost anywhere, which can be a huge advantage for some people suffering from a mental illness.

Another area a Yorkie can be used as a Service Dog is lap duty. This is perfect for tinier breeds (like the Yorkie) which provides caregivers the opportunity to physically embrace their canine companions rather than having just the dog’s head resting on their laps.

Certified Service Dog Registration

What to Look for in a Potential Service Dog

Regardless of the breed of dog, there are some qualities and characteristics a good Service Dog should possess. These include;

  • Being the right size, with the right amount of strength, and stamina to perform the duties.
  • The canine must be physically active as well as calm when in public.
  • The dog will need to have a certain amount of Intelligence and obedience and will need to problem-solve.
  • Must always be well-behaved in public situations. Not hyper, snappy or creating a ruckus.

Can My Yorkie Be a Service Dog? 

Although the Yorkie is a small breed, there are many Service Dog tasks he is capable of learning. These include being there for physiatric issues and small duties around the home, like opening cabinet doors.

If you have a disability and believe a Yorkie may be the right choice for you, then be sure to seek out a reputable breeder or a rescue organization.

Getting back to living a healthy life may be closer than you think.

Yorkie Service Dog Registration

| Breeds Service Dog

About the Author: The writing team at Service Dog Certifications is made up of folks who really know their stuff when it comes to disability laws and assistance animals. Many of our writers and editors have service dogs themselves and share insights from their own experiences. All of us have a passion for disability rights and animals.

14 comments

  1. Christine Brown says: November 24, 2019

    If I train my Yorkie to visit patients in a hospital or a nursing home, what title do I strive for, for my Yorkie, thank you Christine

    Reply
    • Peter says: December 8, 2019

      Your Yorkie is a Therapy Dog. A TD provides comfort and support to patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or any other communities that require calming, psychological, and physiological healing. That’s a very noble cause; I’m sure your Yorkie will bring lots of joy to the patients. You may find this article on Therapy Dogs interesting – https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/guide-to-therapy-dogs/

    • Richard Leonard says: July 6, 2020

      I am 63 years old and was diagnosed 8 years ago with a muscle disease called Mitochondrial Myopathy which is a muscular Dystrophy disease …
      With this comes much anxiety and depression…
      8 months ago my wife got me a yorkie …He was the runt of the liter and weighs in at a huge 4 pounds…
      His name is Bailey and I really had no idea that this little guy was going to help me with both the anxiety and depression, but he has…
      It’s really remarkable but he has a way of calming me that even medicine hasn’t been able to… I’ve been able to get rid of my depression medications ,but still on anxiety…But the anxiety medication has been cut in half so far…
      He is truly a blessing to me…
      My wife is a ICU nurse and someone had told her a yorkie might help…She purposely didnt tell me that’s why she got him…
      How can we use him as my service dog to be able to take him in places they normaly won’t let a dog enter…
      I’m in a wheelchair so we don’t go in many places ,but I would like to know if we needed we could take him…
      Looking forward to hearing from you…
      Thanks in advance…
      Richard Leonard

    • Peter says: July 27, 2020

      Happy to hear Bailey is such a great help to you. For Bailey to become a legitimate service dog, he would need to be trained to perform one or more special tasks that benefit your disabilities. For example, he could be trained to get your medicine, or help pick-up items… anything that you in times of need are unable to perform yourself. You may find this article on how to make your dog become a service dog interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-make-my-dog-a-service-dog/

    • Carol Teegardin says: December 1, 2020

      I have my Yorkie in behavior training – first, for walking heeling, sitting, lying down and come (to me) commands. Noenl want him to alert me to my alarm on my phone for when l take my transplant pills. I am looking for someone to help me with that. PetSmart training has gone as far as it’s going

  2. Marie says: March 26, 2020

    I have a Yorkie and I’m disabled

    Reply
  3. Jasmine says: September 28, 2020

    I have a 8 year old Yorkie who has separation anxiety. Would it be possible to make her my service dog for her sake? She panics when I leave for long periods of time yet, I can’t take her when I go to many places, she is super good for behaving in public places though.

    Reply
    • Peter says: October 5, 2020

      In order to qualify as a service dog, the dog must be trained to perform tasks related to the handler’s disability. You can not qualify a dog as a service dog solely to have it by your side at all times. You could check if you qualify for an emotional support animal, but it will not give you full access rights to all public places. You may find this article on how to qualify for an emotional support animal helpful https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-qualify-for-an-emotional-support-animal/
      Hope your Yorkie and you find a solution to ease her anxiety.

  4. Robin Turner says: July 4, 2021

    would a yorkie be a good service dog for bipolar depression? I’m really struggling with this and was thinking a little lap dog would be such a comfort. Can they be trained to make sure you take all your meds? Are they much to manage? would we be able to have one even though the landlord says no pets, is there a way to get around that?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Peter says: July 8, 2021

      Sure, any breed dog can make a service dog if they are able to master the tasks. Some dogs are more inclined to help than others, but that really depends on their personality and intellect. Once the Yorkie has gone through the entire training process and can perform all tasks in all public settings, you have a fully certified service dog. And, unless the dog is a threat to other tenants, a landlord cannot deny a service dog or ask for pet fees. You may find this article on how to make your dog become a service dog interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-make-my-dog-a-service-dog/

  5. Tom says: December 8, 2023

    can I register our 6 mth old as a MS / TBI service dog in training as a assistance dog?
    He can’t pull my wheelchair, but he knows exactly which house to go to. He’s

    Reply
    • SDC says: December 10, 2023

      A service dog in training is not yet considered a service dog. Our registry is only for service dog handlers who can confirm they have a fully qualified service dog.

  6. Ashley B says: June 15, 2024

    I agree that any breed can be a service dog, as long as the tasks match the capabilities of the dog! There are a couple of small breeds that are in training to be a service dog at our pup’s boarding/training facility. Though it is definitely a different type of service, there is even a Yorkie apart of their therapy dog group where they go and visits hospitals and nursing homes.

    Reply

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