Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier has reached new levels of popularity this decade as more and more apartment dwellers have chosen these little dolls to share their home with. This breed is super popular with celebrities. They are small dogs weighing in at about 7lbs maximum as an adult while the “teacup” variety weighs in at about 4lbs maximum.

This feisty little breed was first bred in Yorkshire England. There is not a lot known about the breeding of the three terriers that all contributed to the Yorkie. It is known that there were three dogs that belonged to mill workers that came from Scotland. It is also known that the three terrier types that resulted in what came to be known as the Yorkshire Terrier are The Paisley Terrier, The Skye Terrier and The Maltese. It is also known that is was the late 1800’s when the first Yorkie made their debut.

Coat and Grooming Needs

The Yorkie has a long silky coat that requires regular (as in daily brushing is best) grooming. The long silky hair of this little beauty is actually listed as hypoallergenic by many authorities on such matters. The hair should be kept long but should never impede movement. Regular trips to the groomer will help to keep the hair neat and trimmed.

If the dog is not going to be used for show than cutting the hair and keeping it close to the body can help reduce the amount of time that has to be spent on grooming.

Colors

Yorkies are typically one of four color combinations. Blue and Tan, Blue and Gold, Black and Tan and Black and Gold. There are particolored Yorkies but they are very hard to find and are considered more valuable so that cost is very high for them. The particolors are white with black, blue and tan and are not recognized by the AKC.

Any Yorkie that does not fit into the four accepted color combinations may have been cross bred. Some experts feel that off colored coats may be an indication of a genetic anomaly and they should not be bred to avoid passing on any defects into the population. Of course genetic testing before breeding can out rule any color combination genetic abnormality.

The same holds true for the condition of the coat. Coats should be smooth although there are incidence where the coat can be wiry. Many experts believe that this is an indication that there has been some cross breeding along the line somewhere or that there is a genetic defect.

Personality

This breed is viewed in two very different ways when it comes to personality. Some people view them as tiny terrors and others view them sweet loving dogs. They do love to be loved. They enjoy being cuddled and like a soft pillow to sleep on. They also can be a bit boisterous and a little on the tough guy side when it comes to other dogs.

They have no fear in announcing that someone is at the door or making sure that someone knows you are their person. They are very protective and not a big fan of other dogs but they can learn to live with them. They do need to be trained rather early on to not be possessive of their food and toys. This breed is notoriously difficult to potty train especially if the where you live has an unpleasant climate with lots of rain and chilly weather. An indoor potty box with pads can help or access to a covered potty area can also work.

They are feisty little dogs that are not the best pet for small children. Small children tend to be viewed as a threat and they may not mix well with these little powerhouses.

With proper training that is consistent they can become well trained. A lot of the so called personality problems that people complain about stems from the owners not from the dog, it is very tempting to “baby” and “spoil” a Yorkie because they are so small and sweet but they do need to be trained just as a large sized dog is.

They can be willful while others can be sweet and very willing to please but they are all trainable and with a little time and patience you can make the perfect pet out of these little dolls.

Housing

These dogs are the perfect size for apartment living although living in a house with a backyard is fine as well. They do not take up very much space. They are not “outside” dogs and do not tolerate the elements well as a matter of fact many Yorkie’s simply refuse to go outdoors when the weather is not what they consider suitable.

They enjoy their own space in the form of a bed or some other area that is designated as their own! Not the best family pet but a wonderful addition to an adult home.

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