In 2006, Yorkshire Terriers became America’s second most popular purebred dog. The previous year they had been number three. Although it seems hard to think that any breed of dog would take down the long-reigned Labrador Retriever from first place, the little Yorkshire Terrier seems poised to do just that. Wondering if you’ve ever seen a Yorkshire Terrier (more commonly called Yorkies)? You have most likely seen a lot of them.
Yorkshire Terriers weigh only about six pounds, although they can become heavier or lighter without getting sick in any way. They have pointed ears, a pointed nose, and a shrill voice. They are most commonly in blue and gold coats, although there are slight variations in color, blue and gold dominate. These coats naturally grow long and silky, becoming almost twice the length of the dog, requiring that little red bow at the top for the dog to see.
The personality of a Yorkshire Terrier is quite consistent, although you will find some differences in individual dogs. There is a temperament target in the Yorkshire breed standard that ethical breeders try to get their dogs to emulate. Yorkshire Terriers are the benevolent Napoleons of the canine world, needing to be in charge of everything on their territory. They are bossy, vocal and you have to worry about them.
The breed standard lists Yorkies as alert, lively, and full of “self-importance.” (That’s putting it gently). Yorkies are one of the few dog breeds that can be picky eaters. They are very good watchdogs. They do not do well in a home with domestic rodents, as they were bred to kill rats. However, they do well in homes with the elderly or young children. In a household with other dogs, don’t be surprised if the Yorkie becomes the alpha dog very quickly.
Other distinguishing characteristics of the Yorkshire Terrier include a black nose, a squeaky voice, and a bold personality. Unlike a sloping spine from, say, a German Shepherd, Yorkies have uniform spines with the shoulder aligned with the rump. They must be firm. Although blue and tan is the official color, other colors or white markings have appeared on quality pet animals.
Yorkshire Terriers are famous for their silky coats. In show champions, the coat is approximately twice that of the dog. At the shelter, the dog you are trying to identify most likely has a trimmed coat, making it look like a cross between a teddy bear and a ragamuffin. Another flaw that disqualifies a Yorkie from a show ring is having black hair mixed with blue and tan. Also, if your Yorkie’s blue is silver blue instead of steel blue, it won’t be considered good enough for the display ring either.
