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Today the Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) is classified as a Toy Breed by the AKC or American Kennel Club. They are a direct descendent of the Terrier and have come from European bloodlines ultimately. The Yorkshire Terrier has been designed and breed over many, many years and comes to us from England in 1961 where it was first introduced as the Scotch Terrier.
As one of the most popular toy breeds in the world, they are full of spunk, personality, loyalty and a style all their own. They are certainly not for everyone, but in the right home they grow and develop into a true member of the family. With great intelligence, and the tenacity and fearlessness of a much larger dog they are the perfect companion for someone young or just young at heart.
One of the most popular features of the Yorkshire Terrier is the long, gorgeous flowing hair. Typically, this is a silky texture; however, there are several other variations as well which are acceptable. As a show dog, they are stunning, and as family pets they are treasured little gems that love to travel and stay close to their family.
In the past, and in original breeding the Yorkshire Terrier was between 12 and 14 pounds on average. Over the years however, this has been reduced to the much smaller size they are today, it is important however to remain as close within the breed standard as possible to ensure the healthiest dog possible.
General Appearance of Yorkies
Overall, the Yorkshire Terrier has a beautiful long, straight silky coat that is parted from the tip of the nose, to the end of the tail. There are several variations of the silky coat that are still acceptable; however, the ultimate goal is silky smooth.
Yorkie’s Coat
A high gloss, silky texture, with a deep rich steel blue and rich tan chest.
How Big Do Yorkies Get
The standard size is between 4 and 7 pounds.
Yorkshire Terrier Head and Skull
The head should be small and flat, with no prominent or rounded areas. With a stout muzzle that is not too long, and a solid black nose.
Yorkie Eyes
Medium sized, dark colored and intelligent expression that is also lively. A Yorkshire Terrier is rarely ever a passive dog.
Yorkie Ears
Small and erect, with a distinct V shape that sits directly on top of the head. Rich tan color; ears should not be overly large.
Yorkie Mouth
Regular, evenly spaced teeth with even jaw line as well.
Yorkie Body
The forequarters should feature straight legs, as well as level shoulders. The hindquarters should be perfectly straight when you are looking from behind, and the tail is either docked, or left intact. Many European Yorkshire Terriers especially feature the tails intact. American Standard typically has the tails docked.
Yorkie Temperament
Yorkshire Terriers are very active and lively dogs. While some are the perfect lap dogs, others prefer their individual space. They are quite loyal to their family and tend to heavily bond to one specific person in the household. You can expect your Yorkshire Terrier to be very outgoing, playful, as well as eager to please you. They make wonderful companions and are quite easy to train with some patience.
Yorkie Characteristics
Highly alert, very intelligent little dogs. They make wonderful guard dogs in terms of watching their surroundings. However, due to their size they should not be used as guard dogs.
Health Problems
Many Yorkshire Terriers are extremely cold, this is often due to their very small size. It is very important to keep your Yorkshire Terrier warm, especially when outside in the cold. Purchasing sweaters, shoes and even jackets may be essential to keeping them warm; due to their small size, they can become ill from the cold very quickly. Additionally, small Yorkshire Terriers have greater health problems than their larger counterparts. It is advisable to avoid Yorkshire Terriers smaller than 3 pounds due to the dangers. Bronchitis, digestive problems, fractures and patella disorders are also highly common.
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