The Yorkshire Terrier

By Victoria Swanson
From the Purebred Star Blog Series

Welcome to Purebred Star, the weekly blog exploring the wide diversity of dogs out there!

This week: The Yorkshire Terrier

My Training Experience: I have had the pleasure of working with many Yorkie’s and yes, to they ARE every bit adorable in person! My saddest training experience with them is unfortunately a situation that is very common with this breed. Parents with small children get a Yorkie, but never teach them properly how to handle and behave around their new Yorkie puppy. Keep in mind the size of these dogs - they're tiny and delicate. As a result, these Yorkies who grew up being handled too roughly or dropped, learn to fear small children and will growl and nip to keep them away. Training is a must with this little breed which can quickly develop the “Small Dog Syndrome” I discussed in a previous blog.

Though they can truly be wonderful, loyal and loving little dogs, as a trainer, I highly recommend only bringing home this little pocket sized breed if your children are of ages 11 and older.

Originates From: Yorkshire, England is the origin of this pint-sized-but-full-of-punch purebred, but Yorkshire Terrier wasn't always it's name! Originally called the Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier, the breed was renamed in the late 18th century and is a descendant of the Waterside terrier, Old English black and tan terrier, Paisley terrier and the Clydesdale terrier (however there is debate that the Maltese is one of their descendants.) Best known as the "Yorkie", the Yorkshire Terrier was the number 3 most popular dog breed of 2011!

Bred For: The Yorkie was originally bred to catch rats in Yorkshire clothing mills, but quickly became a little companion dog.

Build: The Yorkie’s height can range from 7-9 inches and their weight can range from about 3-7 pounds. They are a very small and sometimes fragile breed if mishandled by young children.

Appearance: Their distinctive coat is long, silky and glossy with a part down the middle and hanging to the floor. Typically though, they are groomed with a “Puppy Cut” which makes it more manageable to maintain. Shedding is almost non-existent in the breed which leads some to consider them a "hypoallergenic dog" (though no dog is COMPLETELY hypoallergenic). As to color, they are born with the colorings of black with tan points which gradually change over the years (sometimes 2-4 years) to a blue/tan color or a silver/cream color. They have little erect ears which are V-shaped.

Personality: Yorkie’s are full of punch. They have a zest for life! They are scrappy, courageous and extremely assertive - which is great fun, but unfortunately also means they are sometimes difficult to train. Some have been known to take up to 2 – 5 years to potty train, so if you live in a colder climate area, it will be in your best interest to get your Yorkie pup in the spring time.Training early on will help you and your Yorkie to understand the importance of hierarchy in your family dynamics. They are full of spirit and are happy to take the lead of guarding their territory - which again is fine, but without training can mean they become very yappy. In fact, though you manage the trait, they will always be a “barker”, so think twice before getting a Yorkie if you'd prefer not to have a dog that barks a lot.

Activity Level: The Yorkie is a dog with a moderate activity level, which makes the Yorkie a perfect partner for a daily 30 minute walks. It is important to have playtime and daily walks scheduled to keep them physically and and mentally happy!

Health Concerns: This breed is known to have dental issues (yearly dental cleanings will be a MUST for this fur kid), hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar), Legg-Perthes Disease (Top of the Femur, thigh bone, degenerates), liver shunts, tracheal collapse (weakening of the walls of the trachea) and luxating patellas.

Rescue First

This is a fun, energetic and spunky little dog that will get "awww!"s all it's life! If that sounds like a match for you,and you're up to the challenge of training this spirited, pint-sized pup, you're going to love the Yorkshire Terrier! They are an adventurous breed making them a great traveling buddy and will be happy to go with you in a moment’s notice.

As you begin looking for your Yorkshire Terrier, please check with rescue organizations for this purebred first. Every year there are millions of dogs being euthanized, not because they are bad dogs, but because there is no home for them and insufficient resources to feed them at the rescues. By adopting a dog, you are truly saving a life.

At the very least, NEVER purchase any dog from a pet store. Unfortunately, those puppies almost always come from puppy mills. Instead, look for a reputable breeder to work with.

And as a final note, it is important to spay and neuter your puppy by 6 months old to have a healthy and happy pet for many years to come!