Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier, a modern symbol of leisure, was developed in the Yorkshire region of England as a working dog. It is now popular all over the world as a companion dog; the American Kennel Club counts it amongst the most popular breeds in the United States. Because of its small size, it is shown in the Toy group of major registries, rather than in the Terrier. Although it is small, the Yorkshire Terrier requires a great deal of attention from its owner; but for the person who wants a dog who truly is a constant companion, it can be ideal. The Yorkie is a tiny, compact dog, well-proportioned and of medium bone. It stands an average 9 inches tall at the shoulder, and usually weighs between 3 and 7 pounds. Its carriage is full of confidence and self-importance. Its hallmark physical trait is its long, fine, silky coat. The Yorkshire Terrier sheds only minimally, and that combined with its need for frequent brushing and bathing, makes it a good choice for people with allergies to pets. The coat is generally parted in the middle over the back and hangs down straight, often to the floor depending upon the trim. It is usually gathered at the top of the head into a tie, or is parted and gathered into two ties. Hair on the muzzle is very long unless trimmed. The ears are carried erect and are heavily feathered; they are sometimes trimmed for neatness. The coat is tan and blue in color: the blue extends over the back and head, and the tan is on the chest and legs. (Puppies are black and tan, and grow lighter, with more of the blue apparent, as they mature.) Dewclaws are often removed, and the tail is usually docked and carried up a little higher than the line of the back. The Yorkshire Terrier traces its lineage directly to the Waterside Terrier; this was a small breed with a long coat. The Waterside was developed from crossbreeding the Rough-coated Black and Tan with the Paisley Terrier and the Clydesdale Terrier. It is believed that the predecessor of the Yorkie came to Yorkshire in the mid-19th century, with Scottish factory workers who came to work in the fabric mills common to the areas of Yorkshire and Lancashire. These Scottish men came with many different varieties of terriers, all of which were used in their native Scotland for practical purposes hunting down vermin. At a bench show in 1861, one of the tiny dogs appeared as the "Broken-haired Scotch Terrier."� For the next several years, the little dogs known by that name made themselves invaluable in the mills by keeping the rat population at bay. After the breed had appeared in the Westmoreland show in 1970, well-known dog sports writer Angus Sutherland commented in "Field"� magazine, ". . . they ought no longer be called Scotch Terriers, but Yorkshire Terriers for having been so improved there." And the name Yorkshire Terrier stuck. In these early years, the appearance of the "Yorkshire Terrier"� varied greatly; any blue and tan long-haired, small terrier was given the name. Then a dog owned by a Yorkshire woman attracted the attention of the breeding public. "Huddersfield Ben"� became the best-known stud of his time, and set the tone for the breed standard. Even today he is considered the "father of the Yorkshire Terrier."� The first documentation of a Yorkshire Terrier being born in the United States comes in 1872. At that time, the breed was used as a ratter in factories and mines. It was slowly becoming popular as a lapdog and companion for ladies of the leisurely class. The American Kennel Club recognize the Yorkie in 1885. The Yorkshire Terrier is not a dog amenable to being treated as a mere decoration. This breed is full of personality. It is energetic, active, intelligent, and inquisitive. It demands the attention and affection of its owner. The Yorkshire Terrier is a good watchdog, and is happy to announce its every suspicion with barking. This is a feature of the breed, and can be somewhat controlled with training, but not eliminated. The Yorkshire will get plenty of exercise running around the house, and a fenced yard is nice but not necessary if the owner is willing to take the dog out on a few daily jaunt through the neighborhood. The coat of this breed requires daily attention, since it is prone to tangles and mats. Some owners choose to keep their Yorkie in a short "puppy"� coat permanently to cut down on care requirements. However, even the short coat is prone to matting and must be maintained diligently. Allowing the coat to mat can result in a source of continuous pain for the dog, and can encourage skin infection and the proliferation of parasites. The Yorkshire Terrier in a long coat should be brushed thoroughly on a daily basis and bathed at a minimum every two weeks. The attention of a professional groomer will be needed every four to six weeks.Yorkies are very popular, and as such have been over bred in recent decades by unscrupulous breeders. Great care should be taken when acquiring this breed; the potential owner should buy only from an experienced, respected breeder who has had extensive genetic testing done on all breeding stock. The Yorkshire Terrier is a bright, determined dog. It is never shy. Many owners make the mistake of failing to properly socialize this breed, mistakenly assuming that a dog so small will never present a serious behavioral issue. But the Yorkie that is not properly socialized can easily become excessively territorial, fearful and jealous. The owner should expose the dog while it is very young to many types of environments, to many people including children, and to other dogs and other potential types of household pets. For the owner who is willing to start early and religiously to socialize the Yorkshire Terrier, this breed can make the perfect little companion.

Back to iAnimals.com home page Copyright Notice: This website is © . All Rights Reserved.  Click Here to contact us. Link Partners: Animals Go to Heaven | Adopt Me | Salt And Pepper | Singing Animals | Animal Noises