Yorkshire Terrie

Average height: 8 - 9 inches
Averages weight: 7 pounds maximum

Appearance

The Yorkshire Terrier must be one of the best known Toy breeds, a neat, compact little dog. His head is small and flat on top, The muzzle not too long and the teeth meet in either a scissors or a level bite. The small V-shaped ears are carried erect and set not too far apart. The Yorkshire Terrier’s back is rather short and his topline level, with the height at shoulder the same as at the rump. The tail is docked to a medium length and carried higher than the back. The coat is glossy, fine and silky in texture, the coat on the body it is moderately long and perfectly straight, not wavy. The long headfall is tied with one bow in the center of the head. On the muzzle the hair is very long and should be trimmed on the  tips of ears and feet to give a neat appearance. Puppies are born black and tan, usually showing an intermingling of black in the tan hair until they are mature. In adulthood, The Yorkshire Terrier is a dark steel blue and tan, the tan hair being darker at the roots than in the middle and shading to a still lighter shade at the tips.

Characteristics

Despite his small size, the Yorkshire Terrier is spirited and highly alert; he has never forgotten his terrier ancestry. He makes a devoted companion and is always ready to protect his family. He is rather independent but ever playful, inquisitive, intelligent, friendly and wiling to please. Because he is so active he simply loves participating in dog sports such as obedience, agility, flyball, Frisbee, tracking and even earth dog trials. The Yorkie also makes o good therapy dog.

Origins and History

The Yorkshire Terrier can be traced back to the Waterside Terrier, which was a small longish-coated  dog of a bluish-gray color.
This dog usually weighed about 10 pounds, but could range from 6 to 20. The Waterside Terrier was a result of crossing of the  old rough-coated Black-and-Tan English Terrier and the Paisley and Clydesdale Terriers. This little dog was taken to Yorkshire in the mid-19th century by weavers who migrated from Scotland to England. The breed we know today first appeared at a show in England in 1861, under the name of “Broken-haired Scotch Terrier”. In 1870 it became known ass the Yorkshire Terrier, for it was felt  that was the country in which the breed had been improved. There is an early record of a litter born in the USA in 1871 and classes for the breed appeared at shows from 1878, although at that time they were divided into two sizes, under and over 5 pounds. Soon size settled down to an average of 3 to 7 pounds.

Health Issues

Amongst the health problems to which the Yorkshire Terrier is susceptible are campylobacteriosis, coccid Otis, collapsing trachea, Cushing’s disease, eclampsia, hemorrhagic gastric enteritis(HE), hypoglycemia, Legg-Clave Perthes disease, liver shunt, pancreatitis patella luxation and reverse sneezing(pharyngeal gag reflex).
Owners should also be aware than the bread can have poor tolerance to anesthesia and risk early tooth decay.

Exercise and Grooming

The Yorkie easily adapts to its owner’s activity level, but appreciates regular opportunities to play and run. His coat should be brushed on a daily basis, a bow or band used to keep the hair away from the eyes.