A Tiny Yorkie Watches the First Christmas Eve Snow Fall

Snow is just beginning to cover the yard, and a small Yorkshire Terrier has climbed up to watch it. His blue-grey and tan coat is neatly groomed, his ears are perked and his dark eyes follow something beyond the glass. A tiny lit Christmas tree glows in the corner of the room behind him, and the evening sky outside is pale gold and grey.

Yorkshire Terriers are tiny but bold, with the confidence of a much bigger dog. They tend to be alert and affectionate, and they like to keep an eye on the neighborhood. Their fine, silky coat gives limited warmth, so they get cold easily and often need a sweater outside. Small dogs also love window perches, but make sure the window is closed or screened. Yorkies can bark at anything that moves, so a dog watching the snow might suddenly sound the alarm for a passing squirrel, which is a good reason to practice a calm cue.

Let's call him Biscuit. He stares out at the falling flakes with obvious wonder, maybe trying to work out where all this white stuff is coming from. Soon he'll bundle up and trot out to meet it, but for the moment he's savoring the quiet part of Christmas Eve. It's a quiet, magical sort of moment, the kind a small dog and a big window were made for, with the whole evening still ahead.