Yorkshire Terrier – Breed Profile

One of the most popular and recognizable breeds in the world, the Yorkshire Terrier was originally bred for catching rats before finding fame as the ideal companion dog…

The Yorkshire Terrier (nicknamed the “Yorkie”) is an English toy breed of dog which for the most part retains their original terrier instincts and features a silky blue and tan coat that sheds little to no hair as well as a small face with dark eyes, a black nose and perked-up ears that combine to create an overall glamorous or pampered appearance. The breed first appeared in the mid-1800s, and was initially raised for the main purpose of catching rats before they later found popularity as a companion dog after exhibition on the dog show circuit.

A small number of their more distinguishing features are their bold and feisty temperament, hypoallergenic coat that is commonly worn in long, flowing styles at dog shows around the world, tendency to be pampered and ability to offer a lot of dog in a small package – which help make the Yorkshire Terrier the third most popular companion dog breed in the world as well as the most popular of all breeds for apartment dwellers and people who suffer from dog allergies. Below are a handful of fast Yorkshire Terrier facts:

Trainability & Intelligence:

Friendliness With People:

Compatible With Animals:

Daily Exercise Required:

Grooming Requirements:

Suitable For A Family Pet:

Suitability As A Guard Dog:

Origins Of The Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier first came to be in Yorkshire in England during the mid-1800s and was originally bred to catch rats that infested clothing mills. Soon they became popular around the dog show circuit and subsequently they found favor as a companion dog for the wealthy in England as well as America once they were exhibited there just a few years later. The many breeds thought to have been involved in their creation include the Waterside Terrier, Clydesdale Terrier, Paisley Terrier, Black and Tan English Terrier as well as perhaps the Maltese and Skye Terrier.

Average Size Of The Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terriers are classified as a tiny-sized dog. The suggested standard size for the Yorkshire Terrier male and female is 8-9 inches high from paw to shoulder and a weight of 5-7 pounds.

Temperament Of The Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is renowned for their busy, curious and often stubborn disposition. They are often suspicious with people they don’t know, but their small size can make them unsuitable as a guard dog.

The Yorkshire Terrier is also demonstrated to be highly intelligent – scoring equal 27th compared to other dogs based on their capability to learn obedience directives. They are additionally well-known to be too fragile for some young children and may become snappy with them if handled too roughly – which means they are not the best choice as a family pet. The Yorkshire Terrier is not highly compatible with other animals and can be surprisingly aggressive despite their size which makes it very important to introduce them to new animals slowly.

Grooming Requirements Of The Yorkshire Terrier

Grooming the Yorkshire Terrier is a reasonably time-consuming task. They require a regular level of brushing every day or two as well as routine dental care and complete grooming every 3-4 weeks in either the traditional dog show style or the short “teddy bear” cut if they are mainly a companion dog and to make them easier to maintain. The procedure for properly grooming the Yorkshire Terrier can be explained as:

1. Brush through the coat with a slicker brush and if necessary use a matting comb to remove mats then follow up by combing with a fine-toothed metal comb.
2. Use medicated ear powder to clean the ears then remove any stray hairs from inside.
3. Cut the tips of the nails with a nail clipper.
4. Moisten a cotton ball with eye drops and wipe the eyes to clean them.
5. If necessary, trim any stained hair from the corners of the eyes with scissors.
6. Use a #15 blade to clip the tips of the ears then neaten them with scissors.
7. Change to a #10 blade to clip the rear end, stomach area and inside the thighs.
8. Put a cotton ball in each ear to prevent water entering then bathe and dry them with a blow dryer while brushing through the coat.
9. Use a metal comb to part the coat down the middle from head to tail.
10. Part the hair on top of the head between the ears and comb it backwards evenly before securing it with a rubber band and attaching a bow or braid depending on preference.
11. Trim the hair between the foot pads with scissors and neaten around the edges of the feet.
12. Neaten the area around the tail by trimming underneath and rounding the edges of the tail.
13. Finish by combing through the entire coat in a downward direction with a fine-toothed metal comb.

Living Requirements For The Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier doesn’t need a yard to play in, and are easily the most popular breed for living in an apartment which they are highly suited to so long as they are walked on a regular basis. They prefer warmer climates, and can be made uncomfortable if it gets too cold – so extra measures should be taken to keep them warm in winter.

Health & Life Expectancy Of The Yorkshire Terrier

Similar to many small-sized breeds of dogs, the Yorkshire Terrier is normally long-lived possessing a life expectancy of 12-15 years. The biggest health problem for Yorkshire Terriers is regularly recognized to be fragility and susceptibility to injuries and broken bones due to their small size. They can also be vulnerable to conditions such as bronchitis, slipped stifle, collapsing trachea, patellar luxation, sensitivity to anesthetics, Legg-Perthes disease, hypoglycemia, occasional eye problems like cataracts or Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and more commonly early tooth decay which can be prevented by giving them dry dog food and regular dental care.

Exercise Needs For The Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is made happy with pursuits including play sessions with their owner and going for a run around a safe area. They possess a high level of energy and this necessitates exercise every day in the form of short walks while being kept on the leash to stop behavior problems like excessive barking – habits that the Yorkshire Terrier may be particularly inclined to take up if they’re given no other outlet for their energy.

Who Should Own The Yorkshire Terrier?

The Yorkshire Terrier could be the ideal breed of dog for gentle owners, families with older children, apartment dwellers, seniors or allergy sufferers. They are well-suited for anybody who is eager to perform a moderately high amount of grooming and set aside time to provide them with early socialization and fair discipline to establish the human as the pack leader as well as take them on short walks every day and offer a very high amount of companionship and attention. Although they may be somewhat out of place in households with other pets or young children, if you are able to meet their demands for gentle loving care, attention and firm leadership then the Yorkshire Terrier possibly will be the best dog for you.

More Posts You Will Love...