The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog with a friendly character. An excellent companion for a family with children.
Country of origin : United Kingdom
Size : miniature
Height : 18-20 cm
Weight : up to 3.2 kg
Age : 14-16 years
FCI breed group : terriers

Basic information about Yorkshire Terriers

Yorkshire Terriers are suitable for people with allergies because they shed very little and their coats are almost completely odorless.

The first therapy dog was a representative of this breed. During World War II, a dog named Smokey helped rehabilitate wounded soldiers.

Yorkshire Terriers are capable of making funny sounds, which are commonly called “reverse sneezing” in the veterinary community. This condition is not considered dangerous and passes very quickly. It partly resembles grunting. This most often occurs due to the reaction of the dog’s nose to some irritants: pollen, dust, various unpleasant odors for the pet, etc.

Yorkshire Terriers are recognized record holders among the smallest dogs. The Guinness Book of Records listed a dog born in the 1940s as the smallest. Its height at the withers was only 7.11 cm.
Despite their small size, these animals are very brave and courageous. There are known cases when Yorkshire terriers entered into fights not only with large dog breeds, but also with wild animals: bears, coyotes.

History of Yorkies

It is believed that these miniature dogs were bred in the UK in the 1800s in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The ancestors of the dogs are believed to be Maltese and Skye Terriers .

Initially, the breed was bred for hunting. It was kept exclusively by representatives of the peasant class. It was not for nothing that the dogs were then called “terriers for the poor.”

Weavers in English factories were in great need of small pets that could successfully hunt rodents hiding in the most secluded corners of textile factories.

At that time, people liked to joke about the long and silky fur of dogs. Commoners laughed and said that the wool of small dogs was a product of weaving machines.

In addition to the textile industry, the region where the breed was developed also saw a flourishing mining industry. Coal miners also used the animals as rat and mouse hunters.

At first, the breed was not singled out as a separate one; the dogs were considered Scotch Terriers . It received its official name in 1870, when journalist Angus Sutherland put forward a version that these dogs were bred in Yorkshire.

These dogs began to take part in exhibitions in the 1860s. The breed type was determined by a male named Huddersfield Ben. His owner, a resident of Yorkshire County, took her pet to exhibitions held throughout the country, thereby making the breed popular.

Yorkshire Terriers were recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1886. It was from this time that the dogs began to gain popularity among ladies, who began to have them as companions. This fact contributed to the fact that the size of the breed representatives gradually began to decrease, and the former rodent hunter turned into a cute pet with a bow on his head.

The official standard was adopted only in 1898.

The dogs arrived in the United States in the 1870s. The first Yorkshire Terrier was registered by the American Club in 1885.

In our country, such pets appeared quite late – in the 1970s. The first owner of a Yorkie was the ballerina Lepeshinskaya, who received the dog as a gift.

Description of Yorkshire Terriers

Yorkshire Terriers are small animals. Their characteristic feature is long, flowing hair on both sides. The parting starts at the tip of the nose and ends near the base of the tail.

This dog looks compact and very graceful. The posture is proud and important.

The body looks strong. The physique is harmonious and proportional. Despite its elegant appearance, the dog is not deprived of well-developed muscles.

Head

It is small in size in Yorkshire Terrier. The skull looks flat. It should not be too rounded and convex.

The nose is pigmented. Its color is exclusively black. The jaws are quite strong, with a scissor bite. The teeth are even and white.

Eyes

They are of medium size in the Yorkshire Terrier. The color of the iris is dark. The expression of the eyes is always intelligent and lively. Bulging eyes are considered a significant defect.

The pigmentation of the eyelids is well expressed. Their color can only be black.

Ears

According to the standard, the ears of representatives of this breed should be small. Their shape is triangular. The set is straight and not too wide. The hair on them is short. The color of the ears is rich tan.

Neck

The Yorkie has a good set. The dog holds its head proudly.

Frame

Looks compact. The back looks straight. The ribs of the chest are moderately convex. The loin is muscular, strong.

Tail

It has a medium length. It is abundantly decorated with a coat of wool. When moving, the dog carries its tail, slightly raised above its back. A straight tail, without bends, is considered ideal.

Limbs

The Yorkshire Terrier’s front legs look straight. The coat on them is thick and long.

When viewed from behind, the dog’s hind legs appear parallel to each other. The hocks are moderately pronounced.

The paws are round and small in size. The claws are black.

Gait

The Yorkshire Terrier’s movements are free and active. The hindquarters provide the animal with a good, strong push.

When looking at a Yorkie from the front or from behind, its legs will move parallel to each other as it walks. The tracks from the front and back paws should remain in one line. The back is always kept straight as it moves.

Yorkie coat

The Yorkshire Terrier’s coat looks absolutely straight. Wavy hair is not allowed. It should not interfere with the dog’s movement, it is light and silky.

The tan always has clear boundaries; there can be no impurities or inclusions in it.

There is a lot of decorative hair: on the head, body, paws.

Color

According to the standard, the Yorkshire Terrier color should be dark steel. But not silver-blue. This color colors the area from the back of the head to the base of the tail. Admixture of fawn, bronze and black is unacceptable. On the chest – golden tan.

Size and weight

The breed standard suggests that the weight of such a dog does not exceed 3.2 kg. The average height of an adult is usually from 18 to 20 cm.

Yorkshire Terrier Personality

The Yorkshire Terrier is an ideal companion. This pet can become a friend for a lonely person, as well as join a large family with children.

They get along well with other pets. Especially if they grew up together. They may show increased interest, perhaps, only in rodents, due to their hunting past.

On walks, Yorkshire terriers sometimes chase small animals. For example, lizards, butterflies, etc. They are friendly with their relatives and are easy to contact.

They love to bark. Their voice is loud and shrill. Most often, Yorkies bark for a reason. This is how they warn their owner of danger. The animal needs to be weaned from this bad habit at an early age.

The Yorkshire Terrier is good with children. But it is better not to get this breed into a family with a very small child: the baby can accidentally drop the dog, press on it. These games often end in injuries for the pet.

Representatives of the breed are very attached to their owner. Loneliness is not for them. Yorkies always strive to be the center of attention and are ready to follow their owner everywhere. Such miniature dogs are taken with them to cafes, shops, and travel with them on public transport.

Left to his own devices for a long time, a Yorkshire Terrier may become bored and spoil things in the house. To prevent this from happening, provide your pet with a sufficient number of toys: bones, balls, etc.

Yorkshire Terriers are very active and energetic. They will never refuse active games in nature. They will happily run after a ball, play hide-and-seek, tag. Yorkshire Terriers love various outings in nature: picnics, mushroom picking, fishing.

The guard instincts are very well developed. Despite the fact that such dogs are unlikely to be used as guards, the dog is always ready to rush to protect its owner from any ill-wisher.

Yorkshire Terriers are very brave and are not afraid even of an enemy several times larger than them.

Their level of intelligence is high. Dogs easily learn new information. They learn new commands in just a few repetitions. Although they sometimes show stubbornness. To prevent this from happening, the owner must make the pet understand that he is the “leader of the pack”. The dog will unconditionally follow the commands of the one whom it considers an authority.

Yorkshire Terriers love affection. They love to be stroked and hugged. Although you shouldn’t consider the dog as a “live toy”. You need to regularly train and educate it . It requires constant, moderate physical activity.

Education and training of Yorkies

Even such a miniature dog as a Yorkshire Terrier needs training. If you do not train it, it will become uncontrollable, it will be difficult to handle both at home and on the street.

Since Yorkshire terriers are easy to train, this process is not difficult. The main thing is to interest the dog, build the training in a playful way so that it does not get bored.

They start raising the baby from the first days of its appearance in the house. It is wrong to think that the puppy is not capable of perceiving new information. At this age, you can already master basic skills: accustoming to a nickname, its own bed , a bowl for food and water.

The name for the baby should be simple. This word should be easy to pronounce and easy to remember. It is better if the word has no more than two syllables. If the dog was taken from a nursery and already has a name written down in the documents, then you can come up with another, easy-to-pronounce abbreviation. After all, the birth certificate often indicates a long nickname that few people use in everyday life.

A dog bed should be purchased in advance. When choosing, take into account the size of the animal.

For a miniature Yorkshire terrier, they usually buy a warm bed in the form of a house or basket. It is not recommended to place it on the passage, where someone is constantly. This place should be quiet, secluded, because the dog rests and sleeps there. You should not place the bed in a draft, as the dog may catch a cold.

Education is a concept that includes several components. It is not only the mastering of the basic set of commands by the animal. It also includes rules of behavior at home and on the street.

Every owner has their own limits. Some are ready to sleep with their pet in the same bed, while others categorically do not accept such behavior. If you do not want to constantly chase the dog off the bed, forbid it from climbing there from the very beginning. Let it learn that it can only lie in its own place. Having let the dog warm up under your blanket a couple of times on a cold night, it will be difficult to wean it from this in the future. Prohibitions should be “iron”.

Mastering a basic set of commands is essential for any breed of dog, including the miniature Yorkshire Terrier. This will help manage its behavior both at home and during a walk. A well-trained and socialized dog does not bark at passers-by or guests, reacts calmly to other animals, and is not afraid of passing vehicles.

Due to its small size, Yorkshire Terriers can be trained to go to the toilet at home even as adults. In any case, training should begin in puppyhood.

Maintenance and care

The breed is suitable exclusively for home keeping. Its small size allows people with small living space to have it. This can be either an apartment or a country house.

The most time-consuming part of grooming a Yorkshire Terrier is grooming. Despite the fact that dogs shed almost unnoticeably, long hair needs to be brushed regularly – 2-3 times a week. Otherwise, tangles will form, which will be very difficult to untangle later. It is better to buy several types of combs and brushes (slicker brush, massage brush, comb) with different pile for the procedure. If you plan to cut your pet yourself, then buy scissors or a clipper. If you do not want to learn this art, then you can contact a specialized grooming salon. You need to accustom the dog to combing and haircuts from a very early age.

Yorkshire Terriers that are not shown are allowed to have their hair cut short. Usually, this is required once a month.

For walks in autumn, winter and spring, it is recommended to buy clothes and shoes for the dog. This will help protect the coat from dirt and dust, and also warm the pet in the cold season.

To prevent the hair above the eyes from getting in the way of the Yorkshire Terrier, it is pulled up using bows, clips or elastic bands.

It is not advisable to bathe your pets too often. Usually, 1-2 times a month is enough. You need to buy specialized shampoos for the procedure. Human care products cannot be used for dogs. During the washing process, it is important to constantly ensure that the shampoo does not get into the pet’s eyes, ears, or mouth. The water temperature should be optimal – 37-39 degrees. After washing, the dog is dried with a towel; drying with a hairdryer is allowed.

The animal’s ears are cleaned using veterinary lotions. It is not recommended to use cotton swabs or to insert them too deeply into the auricle. It is also forbidden to use boric alcohol, baby cream and peroxide. Ear cleaning is usually required 1-2 times a week. If signs of inflammation in the auricles are detected, contact a veterinarian to determine the cause.

Yorkshire Terrier teeth require special attention. This breed, like many other miniature dog breeds, has problems with the replacement of baby teeth with permanent teeth. Despite the fact that the permanent teeth have already appeared, the baby teeth are in no hurry to leave their places. In some cases, it is necessary to remove baby teeth under general anesthesia. Owners need to constantly monitor the condition of the pet’s oral cavity.

Teeth are cleaned from plaque with special veterinary pastes and brushes. You can also use finger cots (regular children’s) instead of brushes for the procedure. This helps to avoid the formation of large plaque accumulation, tartar and caries.

Nail trimming is usually required every two weeks.

After walks in the summer, paws can be cleaned with a cloth or napkin. In spring and autumn, they are washed with warm water. In winter, it is important to wash paws with soap, since this is the only way to remove chemical reagents from the skin of the pads, which are sprinkled on roads to prevent ice.

All questions about pet care can be asked to the veterinarian using the Petstory app.

Yorkshire Terrier Nutrition

A properly selected diet is important for a dog of any breed. The health of your pet directly depends on it.

A specialist – a nutritionist – should select the type of feeding, determine the portion size, and the caloric content of dishes. Each pet’s body is individual. Dogs differ from each other in age, activity level, and health. That is why it is impossible to feed two different dogs the same diet or offer the same portion size.

For example, an individual nutrition plan is developed for pregnant or lactating bitches, for animals involved in active sports or undergoing rehabilitation after an illness.

Each owner can choose one of the feeding types for their pet:

• Natural products;
• Ready-made industrial rations.

The first type is considered difficult. In this case, you will have to calculate the caloric content of each portion on your own every day, and ensure that the balance of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates is maintained.

You will need to spend a lot of time in stores, choosing high-quality and fresh products for your dog. You should not buy food of average or even lower quality. In no case should you choose expired goods. This can negatively affect the health of your pet.

As a source of protein on a natural type of feeding, lean meats are used: chicken, turkey, veal. Carbohydrates – cereals and vegetables. Fats – vegetable oils (you can use sunflower and salmon).

With any type of nutrition, it is worth remembering that dogs are zoophages. That is, carnivorous animals. And this suggests that the basis of their diet is protein products. Carbohydrates are also necessary. But much less of them are required.

Ready-made industrial rations are the best option for an owner who does not want to cook food himself. They can be dry and wet. And also complete and incomplete. The former are not supplemented with vitamin and mineral complexes, the latter are required. This is their main difference.

Vitamin supplements for dogs are prescribed only by a specialist, based on the selected type of nutrition.

It is important to follow the feeding regime. The dog should eat daily at the same time. It is not recommended to change the diet often. If this is necessary, then it is important to make the transition gradually, over 10-14 days: gradually add new food to the usual diet. Be sure to monitor the health of the pet, if allergic reactions or other symptoms occur, you should contact a specialist to adjust the nutrition plan.

The bowl is removed immediately after the dog has eaten. Leaving it for the whole day is not recommended. Only clean water remains in the open access of the dog.

The number of meals per day is a strictly individual matter. For some dogs, it is enough to eat once a day, while for others, it is necessary to eat more.

Health

Yorkshire Terriers are relatively healthy dogs. Although sometimes they are diagnosed with such diseases as:

• Patellar dislocation;
  Vision problems (cataracts);
  Bronchitis.
  Yorkshire Terriers often have a sensitive digestive system, which can result in diarrhea or constipation. That is why owners need to carefully monitor their pets’ diet and not allow them to eat foods that provoke such problems.

Yorkshire Terriers often have problems with their teeth. When the permanent teeth have already erupted, the baby teeth often remain in place. This can cause discomfort to the dog, so it is recommended to remove extra teeth in a clinic.

Like many small breeds, Yorkies are prone to plaque buildup. To avoid this, it is advisable to have your dog professionally cleaned regularly by a professional.

Who is this breed suitable for?

Yorkshire Terriers are a dog breed that is suitable for an owner who dreams of having a pet:

• With beautiful, smooth fur;
• Small in size;
• Gets along well with other pets;
• With excellent guard instincts.
• Yorkies are not suitable for dog owners planning to get a dog:
• For living in a booth or enclosure;
• Does not require frequent combing and trimming;

For a family with a large number of small children who do not understand how to properly behave with a miniature dog and are capable of injuring it;
Doesn’t like to bark loudly.

Yorkshire Terriers are pets that are suitable for both a single person and a family. The main thing is to comply with the necessary conditions of maintenance. It is important to provide the animal with attention, moderate physical activity, choose a balanced diet, and train it.

Famous Dogs

The Yorkshire Terrier was the smallest dog to take part in World War II. The dog named Smokey weighed only 1.8 kg and was 18 cm tall. He was found in an abandoned trench by an American soldier on the island of New Guinea.

Later, the dog was sold to William Wynn, a corporal from Ohio. With him, the little one took part in many sea and air rescue operations and received eight well-deserved awards for this. In addition, the dog helped soldiers lay communication cables through underground pipes. Without the help of the Yorkshire terrier, about 200 workers and several dozen aircraft would have had to be involved in the work.

How to choose a Yorkie puppy

Before choosing a breeder, it is important to decide whether the Yorkshire Terrier is your breed. Carefully study the standard, read literature about these dogs, talk to owners and breeders. Assess your chances: do you have enough time to care for the dog, train and educate it.

If you are confident that you can handle it, then start looking for a nursery or a private breeder.

The best option is to find a professional with experience and integrity. Such Yorkshire Terrier breeders always conduct tests that guarantee that the parents of the litter are free of any genetic diseases.

Since the breed is now one of the most popular, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a conscientious breeder. Many work only for profit, which means that individuals who have not undergone genetic testing are allowed to breed. It is necessary to choose a specialist very carefully, it is advisable to rely on the reviews of acquaintances and friends.

Before buying a Yorkshire Terrier puppy, be sure to study the breed standard. This will help you understand exactly what the dog’s appearance, body type, and coat should be.

In professional nurseries, all babies receive a birth certificate. This document contains all the information about the animal: its breed, gender, nickname, date of birth, brand, name of the breeder and owner. In addition, several generations of the dog’s ancestors are indicated here with nicknames and titles (if any).

When choosing a puppy, it is very important to understand why you are buying it. If you need a family favorite, you can buy a pet-class dog. The breed class is more suitable for breeding. Representatives of the show class are allowed to participate in prestigious exhibitions.

Examine the baby. Its limbs and tail should be straight. The fur should be smooth, without bald spots. The eyes of a healthy dog are clear, without traces of redness. The ears are clean, without odor.

Feel the tummy. A tight belly most often indicates that the animal has parasites – worms .

The puppy should not be shy, but active. He is not afraid of guests, he gladly comes out to meet them, he is active and playful. The baby always has an excellent appetite.

Personal experience of owners

Having analyzed the reviews and comments of Yorkshire Terrier owners, we found out that dog breeders consider their pets:

• Smart and intelligent;
• Similar in appearance to a toy;
• Active and very mobile;
• Brave and courageous;
• Excellent companions.

Many owners say that such a dog can be easily trained to go to the toilet in a tray, like a cat. This is a significant plus, allowing you to sometimes not take the animal outside before work in the morning and in severe frost.

A miniature pet is perfect for an apartment.

It is better to buy an insulated lounger: a house or at least a high one with sides.

As dog breeders assure, such a dog is ideal for people suffering from allergies. After all, it sheds almost nothing, because there is no undercoat. The fur does not emit any unpleasant odor, like other dogs.

In winter, the owners say, Yorkshire terriers are always dressed in warm clothes. For autumn and spring, it is also advisable to buy sweaters and raincoats. This is not at all for beauty, as many believe, but for health: without insulated clothing, the dog can catch a cold, get cystitis, etc.

People either trim their pets themselves or turn to professionals for help. Usually, most owners, wanting to save money on grooming services, buy a hair clipper and learn this “art” themselves. As Yorkshire Terrier owners note, it’s actually not that difficult.

Representatives of the breed love all kinds of toys; it is necessary to buy a lot of them so that the pet has something to do when the owner is at work or school.