Yorkshire Terrier

Often called a "Yorkie," the Yorkshire Terrier is a smart dog with a beautiful coat. As with other terrier breeds it has a lot of energy but it is also a very devoted to its family.

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Some controversy exists as to the origin of this breed, most people believe it is the result of breeding both English and Scottish terriers. The first name given to this breed was the "Broken Haired Scotch Terrier."

This particular dog was around 13 pounds and had wiry hair. The entire purpose of the development of the Yorkie was to help keep rats and other small critters out of small places within the home.

It was not until the late 19th century when the official name "Yorkshire Terrier" was given, a name representing Yorkshire England.

With this cross breeding it was discovered the dog had good energy, was highly intelligent, very devoted, and beautiful. Today, the Yorkshire Terrier ranks as the third most popular dog according to the American Kennel Club.

The Yorkshire Terrier is intellegent, tough, determined, playful and lively. They learn fairly quick with positive and consistent training. They are tolerant of children, provided they are not treated like toys and have their own space to which they can retreat.

Yorkys can be overly brave towards other dogs, but they generally get along fine with other household pets. Yorkshire Terriers always bark when they sense danger and will always alert their owners when visitors arrive.

These terriers become very attached to their family. The Yorky may not be ideal for the elderly or small children because of their lively and exuberant nature.

Grooming

The hair of this breed has to be brushed daily and clipped. In fact, for show dogs, the care of this dog's hair is quite complicated.

Some pet owners will apply oil to the hair, followed by wrapping it in rice paper to keep the ends of the hair strong and shiny.

Other pet owners choose to have the coat trimmed, if unable to meet these grooming demands. The hair is usually kept out of the eyes with a bow tied in a top knot.

The ears should be checked regularly and the loose hairs need to be removed from the ear canals.

Physical Characteristic

This small breed of dog usually weighs between five and seven pounds, although it looks bigger due to the long, flowing hair.

What you typically notice first about the Yorkie is its tall and proud stance. Without doubt, the Yorkie is a self-confident breed, one with curiosity, cleverness, and spirit.

The coloring for the Yorkie is a steel blue and tan although you might also see some with black or silver/gray in the coats. The face and legs are tan, and while most have a straight coat, there are some dogs with a slight wave.

Keep in mind that if you plan to show your Yorkshire Terrier, wavy hair is not acceptable. In addition, the American Kennel Club would look for the nose, lips, rims around the eyes, and paw pads to have dark pigmentation.

Temperament and Personality

While a wonderful breed, the Yorkshire Terrier is NOT for everyone. This breed does have a high level of energy and if not properly trained, can be somewhat strong-headed. However, this independence and intelligence is also an attraction.

Since this dog gets along well with children and other pets within the home, it makes a great family addition. The one downside is that the Yorkie can become injured if not handled properly. Therefore, it is generally not a breed recommended for households with real small children.

This breed is suitable for an apartment or small home, but it's important to provide the Yorkie with outside time to help burn off some of the energy.

I strongly recommend training for this breed. Again, carrying the terrier traits means being strong-willed and determined. Start training while the puppy is young, teaching him or her its place within the home.

Health

For the most part, the Yorkie is a strong, healthy breed of dog. Unfortunately, as the dog ages, the development of cataracts is common. Other possible health problems include arthritis and a collapsed trachea.

To keep the trachea from collapsing, you want to use a harness rather than a collar around the neck. This way, when or if the Yorkie were to pull, direct force would not be placed on the neck.

Other potential health problems, although not as common, include various genetic disorders. For instance, the liver shunt, known as Portosystemic Shunt, occurs when a part of the dog's blood bypasses the liver. The result of this is the blood not being cleaned of dangerous toxins.

Additional Comment

If you love to pamper choose the Yorkshire Terrier , but it's a mistake to think of them as lap dogs. They have the typical terrier character, of being lively, energetic and highly-spirited.

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