The old saying that, “big surprises lay in small packages”, certainly does apply to the Yorkshire Terrier.
This toy breed of dog, commonly known as a “Yorkie”, is definitely not the usual lap dog one associates with this group. The Yorkie is the hardiest and most disease resistant of all the toy breeds.
It possesses a sturdy, shortish body with a straight back, and exhibits the same characteristics that it’s ancestors had, even though it is reduced from the original size.
Originally, this breed weighed on average between 12 and 14 pounds. Now the Yorkie that is shown in conformation, weighs between 3 and 7 pounds.
One of the characteristics of the Yorkie that causes it to end up being abandoned by an owner is the amount of time that must be spent grooming this dog.
It is very high maintenance. So if you are not committed to at least one half hour of grooming per day, this breed of dog probably should not be on your list of desires. This is assuming you take your Yorkie on a regular basis to a grooming shop to have its coat trimmed and shaped.
The Yorkie is highly intelligent, and therefore, independent. Sometimes it seems stubborn and not particularly interested in pleasing its owner. Remember that due to this intelligence, the fact that it is a terrier and it was a working man’s dog originally, it thinks on its own.
These dogs were used in the coalmines to get rid of the rats, so they do have not only the aura, but in fact are, self confident and possess a good deal of self importance.
If you have a multiple-dog home, and you bring a Yorkie into it, the Yorkie will take over as boss. This bossy-ness is a terrier trait. The Yorkie is feisty, courageous and high energy. They do not rest for long, usually tearing around the house or yard, being small it doesn’t need large spaces, it gets its exercise just from being at home.
This bossy-ness has also been responsible for Yorkie’s getting hurt or killed. The Yorkie tends towards aggression when around, near or in the general area, of another dog it doesn’t know. It doesn’t matter to the Yorkie the size of the dog it is taking on. It could be a Doberman, St. Bernard, Great Dane whatever.
If the Yorkie is taken from the home, it must be on a leash, and kept under control and a watchful eye at all times. The yard it plays in must be fenced and protected from stray animals getting inside.
The Yorkie is very alert, his dark eyes fairly sparkle with the intelligence this breed possesses. It is a very loyal and depending how it is trained and the environment it lives in, will have a very sweet disposition.
When trained with consistency and firmness, the Yorkie is a very quick learner.
Yorkies in conformation show coat rarely compete in obedience or agility due to the problems of grooming – but if you are not into conformation, Yorkies are tremendous candidates for the performance events due to this high degree of intelligence.
Relevant Yorkshire terrier resources
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Yorkshire Terrier Breed History
The Yorkshire Terrier had its beginnings as a breed in the Yorkshire, Manchester and Leeds counties in the northern part of England. The weavers of Scotland brought their families and dogs with them when they left their homeland.
The Industrial Revolution had forced them out of work. The time was the mid 19th century, 1860’s and 1870’s.
The dogs that accompanied these families were for the most part the sturdy Scottish Terrier. The Paisley and Clydesdale Terrier’s bloodlines were probably also included in the bloodlines.
These were all working men’s dogs, used to keep the vermin under control in the textile mills and coal mines. What bloodlines were used to establish the Yorkshire Terrier is subject to much speculation, due to the fact that the breeders of these dogs did not write down who was bred to whom.
If they liked the spirit and looks of the dogs, they mated them. It was chancey at best.
It is guessed that the Yorkshire county miners crossed the Black and Tan English Terrier, this dog was rough-coated, and the long-coated, blue-gray Waterside Terrier breeds were infused in the Scottish Terriers. The Maltese and Skye Terrier are also possibilities. And here are the most common Yorkie Mixes.
In 1865, the foundation sire of the Yorkshire Terrier breed, was born.
Huddersfield Ben was owned by M.A. Foster, and he enjoyed a very public life, to popularize the breed in England. He demonstrated that he was very successful in the rat killing contests (these were quite popular in the 19th century), and he won more than 70 prizes as a show dog as well.
In 1872, the Yorkshire Terrier was introduced into the United States, and was recognized by the AKC in 1878. But it wasn’t until the 1930’s that the Yorkshire Terrier took on its modern look. It is important to note that the Yorkshire Terrier up until the 1930’s usually weighed approximately 30 pounds, not the 3 to 7 pounds it does today.
While a Toy, and at various times a greatly pampered one, the Yorkshire is a spirited dog that definitely shows its terrier strain. The show dog’s length of coat makes constant care necessary to protect it from damage, but the breed is glad to engage in all the roistering activities of the larger terrier breeds.
Video trascript:
Yorkshire Terrier became a popular dog in the late Victorian era. It was originally a working class dog. The Yorkshire Terrier is a high spirited dog that definitely demonstrates and originates from the Terrier species. The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog who’s weight should not exceed seven pounds. Its long coat is glossy, fine, silky in texture and relatively straight. The coat is either blue, dark seal blue or tan. The tan coat is darker at the root. Grooming must be done on a regular basis. Although the coat is easy to care for it is time-consuming and necessary to keep your dog in healthy condition. The Yorkshire terrier can easily be injured by small children. If you are considering a Yorkie, you must be able to supervise the dog around small children. The Yorkie is an independent dog but a devoted companion. Despite its small size, it is more than willing to act as a guardian for his master. It is a loyal companion with the temperament of a terrier. It loves being the center of attention.
Yorkshire Terrier Breed Standard
Yorkshire Terrier Breed standard
General Appearance
That of a long-haired toy terrier whose blue and tan coat is parted on the face and from the base of the skull to the end of the tail and hangs evenly and quite straight down each side of body. The body is neat, compact and well proportioned. The dog’s high head carriage and confident manner should give the appearance of vigor and self-importance.
Head
Small and rather flat on top, the skull not too prominent or round, the muzzle not too long, with the bite neither undershot nor overshot and teeth sound. Either scissors bite or level bite is acceptable. The nose is black. Eyes are medium in size and not too prominent; dark in color and sparkling with a sharp, intelligent expression. Eye rims are dark. Ears are small, V-shaped, carried erect and set not too far apart.
Body
Well proportioned and very compact. The back is rather short, the back line level, with height at shoulder the same as at the rump.
Legs and Feet
Forelegs should be straight, elbows neither in nor out. Hind legs straight when viewed from behind, but stifles are moderately bent when viewed from the sides. Feet are round with black toenails. Dewclaws, if any, are generally removed from the hind legs. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed.
Tail
Docked to a medium length and carried slightly higher than the level of the back.
Coat
Quality, texture and quantity of coat are of prime importance. Hair is glossy, fine and silky in texture. Coat on the body is moderately long and perfectly straight (not wavy). It may be trimmed to floor length to give ease of movement and a neater appearance, if desired. The fall on the head is long, tied with one bow in center of head or parted in the middle and tied with two bows. Hair on muzzle is very long. Hair should be trimmed short on tips of ears and may be trimmed on feet to give them a neat appearance.
Colors
Puppies are born black and tan and are normally darker in body color, showing an intermingling of black hair in the tan until they are matured. Color of hair on body and richness of tan on head and legs are of prime importance in adult dogs, to which the following color requirements apply:
Blue: Is a dark steel-blue, not a silver-blue and not mingled with fawn, bronzy or black hairs.
Tan: All tan hair is darker at the roots than in the middle, shading to still lighter tan at the tips. There should be no sooty or black hair intermingled with any of the tan.
Color on Body
The blue extends over the body from back of neck to root of tail. Hair on tail is a darker blue, especially at end of tail.
Headfall
A rich golden tan, deeper in color at sides of head, at ear roots and on the muzzle, with ears a deep rich tan. Tan color should not extend down on back of neck.
Chest and Legs
A bright, rich tan, not extending above the elbow on the forelegs nor above the stifle on the hind legs.
Weight
Must not exceed seven pounds.
Disqualifications:
Any solid color or combination of colors other than blue and tan as described above. Any white markings other than a small white spot on the forechest that does not exceed 1 inch at its longest dimension.
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Last update on 2022-04-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1 Comment
they are the most lovable ,loyal ,sweetest protective I’ittttle guys to have. they love to kiss and play -very intelligent.and understanding – believe me I had mine from age 6 weeks to 16 years and he still though he was a puppy at 16 -the vet couldn’t believe the energy he had.
love love love them I will be getting another – I miss my baby so much !!!!!!