A toy breed, the Yorkshire Terrier dog is best known for his full flowing tresses of a texture quite similar to human hair. The coat colouring is unusual too, being a steel blue and gold (rich tan). He has an air of importance about him, holding his head high.
| Lifespan: | 13–16 years |
| Weight: | No more than 3.2kg |
| Height: | 18-20cm |
| Colours: | Steel blue, gold (rich tan) |
| Size: | Small |
| Kennel Club group: | Terrier |
| Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 4/5 |
| Easy to train: | 3/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 2/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 3/5 |
| Energy level: | 5/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 2/5 |
| Shedding: | 2/5 |
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog with a big attitude. This is a dog that will one minute happily snuggle on grandma's knee and enjoy a good cuddle, and the next minute leap through the air and tear after the neighbour's dog promising to show it who is boss. Yorkies are terriers after all, and will protect their territory valiantly.
This is a huge dog in a small body! He is lively and curious and into everything – and owners will have to get used to being tailed everywhere by their inquisitive (and often noisy) shadow. This is a dog who needs lots of exercise and stimulation – he loves long walks but also needs games in the house to keep his busy mind occupied.
Country of origin: United Kingdom
British born and bred, the Yorkshire Terrier is a man-made dog of fairly recent origin. It is believed that Scottish weavers brought a small terrier with them during a period of immigration from Scotland to Yorkshire and Lancashire during the 1850s. These ‘Scotch Terriers,’ sometimes also known as ‘Halifax Terriers’ interbred with local small terriers. It is believed that Yorkies have in their lineage the Manchester Terrier, the Maltese, the Skye, Dandie Dinmont and the Paisley terriers. Shown as the Scotch Terrier in 1861, the dog later became known as the Yorkshire Terrier and was recognized as such by the Kennel Club in 1886. It is during that decade that the Yorkie was transported to the United States and was established as a breed over there as well. Thus the Yorkie is considered a breed of ‘the working classes’ and was primarily known as a ratter. Popular belief states that the Yorkie was bred to guard small children from rat bites at night, one Yorkie on guard at the head of the bed and one at the foot, rather like furry guardian angels, though somewhat less benign.
The Yorkshire Terrier will suit an owner who wants a big personality in a small package, who doesn’t mind a bit of noise and who enjoys grooming. This is another breed who doesn’t like to be left, and so a home-loving owner is needed.
Yorkshire Terrier dogs tend to have a long lifespan. Nevertheless, they are predisposed to eye problems, kneecaps that may temporarily slip out of place, a specific thigh bone disease, bladder stones, a windpipe disorder and congenital liver disease.
To keep your Yorkie healthy and fit, daily exercise is a must. Yorkshire Terriers love walking and will trot on for miles if allowed. A short walk will please a Yorkie so long as he gets a good sniff around and some mental stimulation. Do remember that Yorkshire Terriers aren't just lap dogs, though, and do like to run, fetch and play like any dog. A minimum of half an hour of exercise is needed by an adult daily.
The Yorkshire Terrier enjoys being a country dog but is equally happy in a flat as long as he has access to the outdoors for exercise and toileting. Close neighbours may not enjoy the sound of his voice, however!
Toy dogs have a fast metabolism, meaning they burn energy at a high rate, although their small stomachs mean that they must eat little and often. Small-breed foods are specifically designed with appropriate levels of key nutrients and smaller kibble sizes to suit smaller mouths. This also encourages chewing and improves digestion.
As a pet, the coat of a Yorkshire Terrier dog needs to be brushed daily, using a brush and comb to ensure all tangles are removed. The topknot should be taken down, brushed out and redone. Leaving an elastic band in for days will destroy the coat. Hair under and around the tail should be checked for faeces. The teeth should also be brushed daily, as the small mouth leads to overcrowding and a tendency to teeth decay. Once mastered, the daily grooming should take no longer than 15 minutes.
Yorkshire Terriers are surprisingly clever and can be taught basic exercises easily - although can often be selectively obedient if he is distracted by something exciting! They should be taught to walk on a collar and lead and early and ongoing socialisation in a class with other small dog puppies is vital to prevent them being nervous around other dogs.
If they are to live with cats, it is best to find a breeder who rears the puppies with cats and that they are introduced early. He may never get on with strange cats, however.
Yorkshire Terriers are not great family dogs as they are too small and delicate for exciting games and some have a traditional terrier short fuse! They can live with older sensible children, however.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
