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Yorkshire Terrier Breed
 The Yorkshire Terrier, also known as a Yorkie, is a breed of small dogs. Yorkies can be very small indeed, usually not weighing more than about 5 or 6 pounds (less than 3kg.) You can easily carry a Yorkie in a large coat pocket or a bookbag. This tiny dog with engaging personality and outstanding courage has endeared himself to pet lovers all over the world.
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small, hardy, lovable and fearless family pet. Very light shedder, friendly and easy to care for, the Yorkie is an ideal companion. He lives peacefully with other pets in the family, takes his watchdog duties very seriously and is very loving and devoted to his humans.
The breed was created around the middle of the 19th century by crossing a number of different terriers at the time, including the Sky Terrier and the old Black-and-Tan Terrier. Some believe that the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont are the direct ancestors. This was done around the middle to north of England, especially in the County of Yorkshire, hence the name Yorkshire Terrier. He soon became quite fashionable and he still holds firm to this position.
The early Yorkshire Terriers could be as large as 6 kg and were used, similar to other terrier breeds, to kill rats. Over time, breeders produced a smaller, more beautiful dog that was a household pet and show dog, rather than a rat killer. A Yorkshire Terrier is born completely black with tan markings on the face and legs. As an adult, he must have well-defined tan markings at the sides of the head and ear roots, on the muzzle, down the back of the neck, on all four paws and under the tail. All traces of the black or sooty puppy hair must be outgrown. The profuse, flowing coat of the Yorkie is the hallmark of the breed and it demands constant care which should begin while the dog is only two or three months of age.
Photo courtesy of Yorkshire Terrier Ike
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Yorkshire Terrier Breed Outline
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Country of Origin: | Great Britain |
| FCI Classification: |
Group 3 - Terriers; Section 4 -Toy Terriers |
| Utilization: |
Toy Terrier |
| AKC Classification: |
Toy Group |
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Size | Up to 7 pounds (AKC, UKC, CKC, NZKC, ANKC, KC(UK) Breed Standards)
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Colors: |
Blue and gold, blue and tan, black and gold, or black and tan. The following colors are NOT recognized by the AKC Breed Standard: all gold, born blue, liver (also known as red or chocolate), and parti-colors. |
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Other Names: | Yorkie |
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Average Litter Size: | 4 |
| Life Span: | 9-15 years |
| Personality: | The Yorkshire Terrier has an independent and lively spirit, but it is also a very loyal companion and a good watchdog. He loves to run and play around. |
| Grooming Requirements: |
Yorkshire Terriers require daily brushing to maintain their long silky coat in good condition. Ears and teeth should be cleaned regularly. |
| Shedding: | None |
| Social skills: |
Yorkies usually get along with other animals. Problems between canine housemates are more likely to occur among dogs of the same sex or age. |
| Suitability for Children: | Yorkshire Terriers are not suitable for families with young children. They are tiny fragile dogs and should be treated with care. |
| Exercise Needs: | 0-20 minutes walk daily. |
| Train Ability: | Can be hard to house train. |
| Health Issues: | Yorkshire Terriers are quite sensitive to many medications. They don't like cold or rain and should wear a sweater in cold weather. Most common health issues include: Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease Portosystemic Shunt Patellar Luxation
Tracheal Collapse Retinal Dysplasia | |
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