When a Yorkshire Terrier Prefers Just One Person

Overview

Are Yorkies a ‘one person’ breed that can get attached to a favorite person? Are they only able to have a strong bond with one particular caretaker? And if this happens, what can be done to encourage a Yorkie to accept love from the entire family? These are questions that this article explores. So, whether you are considering bringing a Yorkie into your family or you currently have a Yorkie and are looking for advice, you’ll find the answers here.

Are Yorkshire Terriers a ‘one-person dog’?

The quick answer is no, not usually, but there are always exceptions. Yorkshire Terriers are a very adaptable breed that will be happy in a wide range of households: single owners, small families and large families.

This said, the problem of a Yorkie becoming close to just one person can indeed happen and ahead we will discuss signs that this is the case and how to help resolve it.

What Causes a Yorkie to Pick a Favorite Person?

In most instances of favoritism, a Yorkshire Terrier will become overly attached to one certain person who provides most or all of the care. This almost always includes the task preparing and offering meals and treats. It can also extend to other activities such as being taken for walks, being bathed, groomed and otherwise kept clean and tidy, and/or being played with. In essence, they start to cling to the person that they spend the most time with who is providing social interaction and life’s necessities.

In other instances, a Yorkie may only like a particular person due to having a fear of others. Many times, this can be seen with rescues and stems from past neglect or abuse. For example, if a Yorkshire Terrier was previously physically abused by a tall adult male, they may dislike all men with a tall stature.

There may also be some cases where a Yorkie is so overly attached to one owner and they never learned it should be any other way, that they have not even considered extending their affection to others.

The important aspect to keep in mind is that there is nothing mean-spirited about a Yorkshire Terrier choosing a favorite; they are simply gravitating toward the one person who appears to be their leader and caregiver.

Signs that a Yorkie Only Likes One Person

Typically, once a Yorkie has chosen a favorite, they will make it clear by establishing physical boundaries; they will only want to sit near their favorite, be cuddled by them, etc. A Yorkie may not follow commands from others. Commonly, everyone aside from the chosen favorite may be more or less ignored but in rare instances there may be jealousy and even aggression; someone who is not the favorite may be growled at or even snapped at if they get too close.

The Problem with A Yorkie Being Attached to Just One Person

There’s a big difference between having a preferred caregiver (but being friendly and affectionate with other household members) and having a clearly defined favorite with no tolerance for others.

With the latter, problems can arise. Primarily, there is the issue of the favorite having to shoulder the bulk of caregiving responsibilities. There is also the problem of other family members feeling left out; it can be isolating to have a dog that doesn’t seem to like you and doesn’t seem open to allowing a bond to develop.

How to Help a Yorkie Bond with All Family Members

The goal will be to gradually yet consistently allow a Yorkie to form a bond with everyone in the household. Of course, the fewer people there are, the easier and quicker this can be achieved. But even with large families, it can be done if everyone plays a role in turning things around.

The only exception will be instances when a Yorkie is aggressive to people in the house, especially with children.

Aggression, including biting, should be handled with the help of a professional canine trainer. ASPCA shelters are often a good resource for this.

Assuming there is favoritism, but no aggression, the following tips can help:

1. Set the right vibe.

Depending on the extent of a Yorkie’s leanings toward one person, other family members who have been ignored, or seemingly disliked, may be feeling sad or upset. And canines excel at reading both non-verbal cues and voice inflection. So, it’s important to set aside any negative feelings and move forward with a ‘clean slate’ and an optimistic outlook.

2. Take turns with meal prep.

Dogs know that food equals survival; therefore, it is a canine instinct to respect the person who provides meals. So, one way to get a Yorkie to like everyone in the house is to have everybody take turns with this task.

The prepping process should be done in full view of the Yorkie by calling them into the kitchen. Up on a counter, kibble should be measured and then slowly transferred to the bowl. Any additions (fruit, veggies, etc.) should be prepared and then deliberately mixed in. Once the bowl is ready, the Yorkie should obey a sit, there should be a silent count to five, and then the bowl is placed down.

At this point, there is no need to hover; most dogs like to be left alone while eating.

3. Take turns with other care tasks.

While there may be some initial balking from the Yorkie as their routine is altered, all household members should take turns giving a Yorkshire Terrier their baths, brushing the coat, brushing teeth, heading outside for potty duty and for daily walks. If tolerance is low, the Yorkie’s preferred person may need to stand nearby or share the task, at least initially.

Note that it’s common for the preferred person to know all the ‘tricks and tips’ to efficiently carrying out these responsibilities, and there should be patience while other family members learn how things are best done.

4. Take charge with sitting arrangements.

Things never turn out well when a canine believes they are the ‘leader of the pack’, so a Yorkshire Terrier should never hold so much power that they decide where and when a person sits. It’s fine if a Yorkie wants to cuddle up on the lap of their favorite owner, but it’s another story if they growl at or otherwise try to prevent someone else from sharing the sofa. And it’s even worse if that person gives up and takes a seat on a chair instead.

In some instances of growling and other such behavior, giving a dog ‘time-outs’, where they can see the family but cannot physically interact, can help resolve things when done each time there is an infraction, but again, if there is aggression this should be addressed with the help of a canine trainer.

5. Positive association.

Canines very quickly pick up on which actions bring about something good (praise and reward) versus those that do not. So, for Yorkies that have had a low tolerance for other people, any progress towards acceptance should be noted. Small moments can be marked with praise. More significant improvement can be rewarded with training treats.

6. Command training.

The previously listed steps should be done on a regular basis for several weeks to several months before this stage is initiated. However, once there has been some acceptance of other caregivers, command training can be a fantastic method to solidify a strong bond.

This training can be for basic commands or for tricks of all levels; the important factor is that both dog and human will work together with repeated sessions that reinforce communication and teamwork.

There are several resources for training, including books and videos. Your local ASPCA center may hold classes, either solo or group. One book that we recommend is 101 Dog Tricks by Kyra Sundance; this is a wonderful resource with photos and step-by-step instructions for all basic commands (sit, stay, come, down, etc.) as well as a wonderful collection of tricks.

Summary and a Final Thought

There's usually an underlying reason why a Yorkie may only like you, or another person in your house, and while this can cause some hurt feelings it can be resolved in most cases. Please remember to have patience and understanding while your Yorkshire Terrier learns that they are safe with all of their caregivers, and that love has no bounds.

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