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Yorkshire Terrier
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The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog breed of Terrier type,
developed in the 1800s in the historical area of Yorkshire in
England. The defining features of the breed are its small size and
its silky blue and tan coat. The breed is nicknamed Yorkie and is
placed in the Toy Terrier section of the Terrier Group by the
Fédération Cynologique Internationale and in the Toy Group or
Companion Group by other kennel clubs, although all agree that
the breed is a terrier. A winning showdog and a popular
companion dog, the Yorkshire Terrier has also been part of the
development of other breeds, such as the Australian Silky Terrier.
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Description
Appearance
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog, weighing 3.2 kg (7 lbs) or
less, with a glossy, long silky coat that hangs straight from a part
that runs along the middle of the head, back, and tail. The coat is
dark on the back with a tan chest and tan on the head and legs.
Small erect ears are covered with short, deep tan colored fur. The
tail was traditionally docked but today the Yorkshire Terrier often
has a long tail, held a little above the level of the back, with long,
dark fur parted down the middle. Like most dogs bred to be pets
rather than working dogs, breed standards contain detailed
descriptions of precise colors and placement of markings, as well
as body proportions and structure. Most importantly, according to
the Standard, a Yorkshire Terrier should have a general look of
self confidence, "conveying an important air".
Coat
For adult Yorkshire Terriers, the importance is placed on its coat
color, its quality, and its texture. The hair must be glossy, fine,
straight, and silky. Traditionally the coat is grown-out long and is
parted down the middle of the back, but "must never impede
movement."
From the back of the neck to the base of the tail, the coat should
be a dark gray to a steel-blue, and the hair on the tail should be a
darker blue. On the head, high chest, and legs, the hair should be
a bright, rich tan, darker at the roots than in the middle, that
shades into a lighter tan at the tips. Also, in adult dogs, there
should be no dark hairs intermingled with any of the tan colored fur.
Adult Yorkshire Terriers that have other coat colors than the
above, or that have wooly or extra fine coats, are still considered to
be Yorkshire Terriers, and will be just as good of a companion as a
dog with the correct coat. The only difference is that atypical
Yorkshire Terriers should not be bred. In addition, care may be
more difficult for "wooley" or "cottony" textured coats, or coats that
are overly fine. One of the reasons given for not breeding
"off-colored" Yorkies is that the color could be linked to a genetic
defect that may affect the dog's health.
Puppy Coats
Yorkshire Terrier puppies are not born with their adults coats.
Yorkies are born black with tan points and slowly transition in to
their adults coats over many months, even years. As an adult, a
Yorkie can be black and tan, blue and tan, blue and gold, or black
and gold.
A newborn Yorkie puppy is born black with tan points on the
muzzle, above the eyes, around the legs and feet and toes, the
inside of the ears, and the underside of the tail. Occasionally
Yorkies are born with a white "star" on the chest or on one or more
toes. These markings fade with age, and are usually gone within a
few months. A white "star" on the chest is generally an indication
that the puppy will be a good coat grower in quantity, but not
necessarially quality.
It may take up to three years or more for the coat to reach its final
color. P. H. Coombs, writing in 1891, complained about show wins
awarded to puppies, when the dog's coat does not fully come in
until three or four years old, "and the honor of winning such a prize
(for a puppy) can therefore be of but little practical benefit to the
owner" since the adult dog's colour cannot be exactly predicted.
Other Colors
The Yorkshire Terrier is a tan dog with a blue saddle.It does have
the parti color. The party color coat Is white with black and tiny
places with tan. It's very rare to get a a party color yorkie, and if
they are found they tend to be very expensive. The breed is
defined by its colour, and colours promoted as "rare" may indicate
health problems or crossbreeding with other breeds of other
colours. The AKC registration form for Yorkshire Terriers allows for
four choices: blue and tan, blue and gold, black and tan, black and
gold. Colour alone will not affect whether or not a dog is a good
companion and pet. Even though off-coloured Yorkshire Terriers
are advertised at premium prices, being of an unusual or untypical
colour is neither new, desirable, nor exotic.
Until recently, mismarked Yorkshire Terriers could be crossed with
Biewer Terriers, a new breed originally from parti coloured
Yorkshire Terriers. Although the American Kennel Club will not
deny registration of a Yorkshire Terrier on color alone, the
Yorkshire Terrier Club of America has a directive that "any solid
color or combination of colors other than blue and tan" for adult
dogs is a disqualification, and "dogs of solid color, unusual
combination of colors, and parti-colors should be disqualified." This
means such dogs are not evaluated in the breed ring, and should
not be bred for puppy mills.
Temperament
The ideal Yorkshire Terrier character or "personality" is described
with a "carriage very upright" and "conveying an important air".
Though small, the Yorkshire Terrier is intelligent and active,loves
attention and should not show the soft temperament seen in
lapdogs.
Boldness
The Yorkshire Terrier breed is bold and active. They can be very
hostile towards other dogs, growling and barking at them. They are
surprisingly brave for such a small breed. They are also quite loyal
and affectionate.
Health
A number of health issues, some of them hereditary, have been
found in individual Yorkshire Terriers, and are listed below. There
is no data on the percentage of dogs with these ailments, and it is
not suggested that all Yorkshire Terriers have all of these ailments,
or that any particular dog has any of these ailments. Puppy buyers
are advised to ask breeders if tests have been done for these
diseases.
Morbidity
Health issues often seen in the Yorkshire Terrier include
bronchitis, lymphangiectasia, Portosystemic shunt, cataracts, and
keratitis sicca. Additionally, injection reactions (inflammation or hair
loss at the site of an injection) can occur. In addition they may
have skin allergies
History
The Yorkshire Terrier originated in Yorkshire (and the adjoining
Lancashire), a rugged region in northern England. In the
mid-nineteenth century, workers from Scotland came to Yorkshire
in search of work and brought with them several different varieties
of small terriers. Breeding of the Yorkshire terrier was "principally
accomplished by the people--mostly operatives in cotton and
woolen mills--in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire." Details
are scarce. Mrs. A. Foster is quoted as saying in 1886, "If we
consider that the mill operatives who originated the breed...were
nearly all ignorant men, unaccustomed to imparting information for
public use, we may see some reason why reliable facts have not
been easily attained."
What is known is that the breed sprang from three different dogs, a
male named Old Crab and a female named Kitty, and another
female whose name is not known. The Paisley Terrier, a smaller
version of the Skye Terrier that was bred for a beautiful long silky
coat, also figured into the early dogs. Some authorities believed
that the Maltese was used as well. "They were all originally bred
from Scotch terriers (note: meaning dogs from Scotland, not
today's Scottish Terrier) and shown as such...the name Yorkshire
Terrier was given to them on account of their being improved so
much in Yorkshire." Yorkshire Terriers were shown in a dog show
category (class) at the time called "Rough and Broken-coated,
Broken-haired Scotch and Yorkshire Terriers". Hugh Dalziel, writing
in 1878, says that "the classification of these dogs at shows and in
the Kennel Club Stud Book is confusing and absurd" in lumping
together these different types.
In the early days of the breed, "almost anything in the shape of a
Terrier having a long coat with blue on the body and fawn or silver
colored head and legs, with tail docked and ears trimmed, was
received and admired as a Yorkshire Terrier". But in the late
1860s, a popular Paisley type Yorkshire Terrier showdog named
Huddersfield Ben, owned by a woman living in Yorkshire, Mary Ann
Foster, was seen at dog shows throughout Great Britain, and
defined the breed type for the Yorkshire Terrier.
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Yorkshire Terrier
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Country of Origin
England
Weight
~7 lb
Height
6-7 in
Coat
Long and silky
Color
Multiple colors
Life span
10-15 years
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