Yorkshire Terrier Profile

Other Names: Yorkie 

Country of origin: Great Britain

Dog Group Kennel Club: Toy

General Appearance:

The Yorkshire Terrier is a lovely lap dog that much prefers to be held on their owner's lap all day.
The Yorkies coat is not coarse, but is fine and silky to the touch. Unlike other breeds,which have fur, the Yorkshire has hair that is growing constantly. They have no undercoat and do not shed. A small, sturdy dog of blue and gold colouring, the Yorkie is best known for it’s full flowing tresses of a texture quite similar to human hair. Indeed, if the coat texture is correct and in not in any way cottony, many allergic people find they can tolerate Yorkies with no bother. These lovely locks do take a great deal of daily care though.

Colours:

blue and tan. Yorkshire Terriers are born black, gradually attaining their blue and tan coloration as they mature.

Size:

Bitch            15 - 20 cms

Dog              18 -23 cms

Weight:

                           Min            Max
 
Bitch            2kg (4lbs) 3kg (7lbs)

Dog              2kg (4lbs) 3kg (7lbs)

Temperament:

The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog with a big attitude. This is a dog that will one minute happily snuggle on grandma’s knee, delicately eating digestives and the next minute leap through the air and tear after the neighbour’s Rottweiler, promising to show it who is boss. Yorkies are terriers
after all, and will protect their territory valiantly. The Yorkshire Terrier can be territorial and likes to have their space respected. They are tolerant of older children if treated with care. They get along well with other pets.If a Yorkie is brought up with children or exposed to them as a puppy, it should be fine. However, children need to understand that the Yorkie has small bones that break much easier than most toys. Supervision is highly recommended. The Yorkshire Terrier can also be somewhat independent and assertive.

Movement:

Effortless and free

Care and training:

The Yorkshire Terrier's coat requires daily grooming. The hair on top of the head, if grown long, is usually secured with a band or bow. However, if the Yorkshire Terrier is not being used for show, then the coat may be clipped short. Ears and eyes must be cleaned daily. Dental hygiene is also
important.The topknot especially should be taken down, brushed out and redone. Leaving an elastic band in for days will destroy the coat. Hair under and around the tail should be checked for faeces.

This breed is quick to learn. However, they may become willful in which case training of any kind can become difficult. Training must have consistency and firmness. They do not like to be ignored, so lots of praise will bring out the best in their training. People often complain that you cannot housetrain Yorkies. This is not true. As long as you stick to the same rules that you would apply to a large dog, a Yorkie will learn to eliminate according to a human’s preferences.

Overall Exercise: 20 - 40 minutes per day.
To keep your Yorkie healthy and fit, daily exercise is a must. Yorkies love walking and will trot on for miles if allowed. A short walk will please a Yorkie so long as he gets a good sniff around and some mental stimulation. Do remember that Yorkies aren’t just lap dogs though and do like to run, fetch and play like any dog

Feeding requirements:

The Yorkie can subsist on very little food. It is very easy to overfeed a Yorkshire Terrier. Obesity is a serious state for the small dog and can lead to several nasty diseases, such as diabetes, joint problems, kidney failure, etcetera.

Exercise: Low

Grooming: High

Noise: Med

Personal Protection: Medium

Suitability As Guard Dog: Medium

Level of Aggression: Medium

Compatibility With Other Animals: Medium

Suitablity for Children: Low

Often docked?  Yes

Average litter size: 2 - 3

Life expectancy (yrs): 12 -15

Health issues: Eye irritations, hypoglycemia, Legg-Perthes disease, liver shunt, patellar luxation, premature dental disease and some puppies are born with open fontanels (parts of the skull).

History: Yorkshire Terriers first originated in the same district as the Airedale terrier in England. They first appeared from "Huddersfeld Ben", the "first" Yorkie, around the year 1850. The Yorkie is thought to be made of the Old English Black and Tan Terrier, Maltese, Clydesdale Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Paisley Terrier and Skye Terrier. But, there are different lines that may have come from different dogs in the first place. Today they retain all of the same traits, however. The breed was perpetuated by income of poor farmers and workers, and thus to compete in the market, they would not share their "ingredients" of their particular Yorkies. The Yorkie (Yorkshire Terrier) became a fashionable pet in the late Victorian era in Yorkshire, England. They were originally called the Broken-haired Scotch Terriers. Yorkshire Terriers are a half progenitor of the Silky Terrier.