If you've never met a Yorkshire Terrier, then you've missed out on one of life's more entertaining experiences. These inquisitive little dogs are absolutely adorable. They usually top out at about 7 pounds, with some weighing a little more, and some a little less.
However; the only thing tiny about them is their structure. Their loyalty, personality, and courage will often top that of a 110 pound dog. Yorkies are exceptionally smart, and in spite of their small size, make excellent watch dogs. They must see a 100 pound image when they look in a mirror, because they'll seldom back down from anything. Their determination to protect their owner could indeed get them in a heap of trouble if they're not careful.
Your home is in good hands when there is a Yorki on board. The slightest noise awakens them and they're immediately ready to pursue the "invader".'
The origination of the Yorkshire Terrier is not entirely certain, but they are believed to have originated somewhere in England. They are part of the terrier group and it is believed they were used to hunts rats and other vermin--and yes, sometimes they like to dig.
Because Yorkies are tenacious little characters, they are sometimes accused of being difficult to train, but with perserverance and consistency, training should not be much of a problem. The earlier the training starts, the better. Yorkies need to know early in life what is and what is not acceptable behavior. They' re like small children, and will try to get away with as much as possible.
Yorkie puppies start out as adorable little fluffy black and tan furballs that mature into beautiful steel blue and tan adults with long silky coats. These beautiful coats however, take regular ongoing maintenance.
Many owners that have a Yorkie for companionship, and who don't intend to show the dog , opt to keep their dog in a shorter cut to alleviate some of this maintenance. This is an option that you may want to consider also unless you're willing to commit to considerable time maintaining your Yorkie.
Yorkie's are a very adaptable dog, and fit in well with a variety of different types of families from apartment tenants to country dwellers with large fenced in yards. They are extremely loyal to their owners and aim to please. They are very energetic, but are certainly not opposed to curling up in your lap for some love and personal attention.
Due to their small size they do better with older children if they're going to be around children at all. Because of the Yorkie's "big" attitude, we often forget that they're a small dog. Care must be taken when placing a Yorkie on a couch or bed or anyplace up off the floor. They will not hesitate to jump off and could quite possibly break a leg in doing so. A Yorkie may not be the perfect dog, but what they lack in some areas, they make up in personality, and are currently ranked in the top ten of most popular breeds.
Yorkshire Terrier Dog
The Popular Pet and Lap Dog: Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire terriers, or Yorkies, originated from Scotland but bred in England. They were molded to hunt rats, but nowadays they are popular as pets. In fact, their variety was one of the Top Dog Breeds of 2005.
They usually grow being small and light varieties. Hence, owners do not mind having their pets on their lap almost all day. Moreover, this usual bonding activity usually transforms this lap dog into a bright, playful, and loyal companion pet.
The following are some of the basic facts breeders would really love to know about Yorkies:
Category: Toy (Terrier)
Living Environment: indoors (highly recommended); outdoors (fenced yard)
Coat: silky, glossy, long and fine; no undercoat
Colors: black when young but they attain the colors tan and blue as they mature
.
Height: between 8 and 9 inches
Weight: between 3 and 7 pounds
Temperament:
Naturally,
• they are territorial and like their privacy to be respected
• they are intelligent and fearless
• they are assertive and independent
When properly trained,
• they develop close affinity with older children
• they become really playful and lively
• they become extremely affectionate
• they do not mind having other pets at home
• they focus much of their attention and affection toward their owner
Breeders should note of the following health issues:
• Alopecia, or losing hair
• Cataract, or loss of transparency of one or both lenses of the eyes
• Cryptorchidism, wherein testicles do not descend into the scrotum
• Dwarfism
• Entropion, a disorder with the eyelid; lashes on the eyelid that irritate the eyeballs could lead to other complications
• Glaucoma, a condition that causes an increase pressure within the eye
• Hydrocephalus
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or the reduction of tear production
• Low blood sugar
• Patellar luxation, a disorder in the kneecap
• Portosystemic shunt, or the accumulation of blood toxins in the liver
• Urolithiasis, an infection of the urinary tract leading to the formation of bladder stones.
Care and Exercise:
• They require daily grooming.
• Ears and eyes must be cleaned and checked regularly.
• Dental hygiene must be regularly maintained.
• They are fit only for short strides.
• They should have a regular play time while lying under the sunbeams, chasing shadows, and joining tug-of-war.
Origin/History:
In the 19th century, a number of weavers from Scotland migrated to England and brought with them different terriers that were bred to hunt rats. Through time, these terriers were crossed and terriers with "broken hairs" were produced.
In 1870, a "broken-haired Scotch terrier" was named as a Yorkshire terrier by a reporter. He argued that the breed should be called as such because his types were bred in a town called Yorkshire.
Though the Yorkies were originally bred as working dogs, they became fashionable pets is England in the latter part of the Victorian era. In 1972, Yorkies were brought to the United States and became the country's favorite pet.
You can say that the Yorkies developed into tough breeds because of their ancestors' reputation as rat-hunters. However, their size, and playful and bright character have actually captured the attention and affection of most pet owners. Most proud owners would boast that they have the great giants inside the bodies of these little dogs. If you want a small but terrible breed of dog, grab a Yorkie now! Just a friendly reminder, they would really need your attention and companionship than any other terriers.
