Is a Yorkshire Terrier Right for You?
These small and lively dogs are known for their feisty and confident nature. Despite their small size, Yorkies are courageous and can be quite protective of their families. They are also incredibly intelligent and eager to please, making them relatively easy to train. However, these little dogs can sometimes exhibit stubbornness, so consistent and patient training is important.
The Yorkshire Terrier is a Small Terrier Dog Breed
having it’s origins in Scotland. The Yorkie has a genetic mix from now extinct terrier breeds from Scotland, the Skye Terrier and possibly the Maltese. In the middle of the 19th century, these dogs were exported to Yorkshire, England, where further development of the Yorkshire Terrier took place. It is in Yorkshire that they earned their present-day name.
Yorkshire Terriers were First Used by
butchers and shopkeepers to catch and kill rats. They were known as ratters. Bred to be fearless and tenacious, these small dogs would often emerge victorious over opponents much larger than themselves. Hunters would actually carry Yorkies in their pockets into the forest to hunt down small animals that lived in dens and burrows.
It Began with Huddersfield Ben
who was the most sought after stud dog in England. This stud Yorkie won over 70 dog shows and countless ratter competitions. Ben had all of the traits breeders wanted in their dogs and sired many puppies. Unfortunately, at the age of 6, he was run over by a carriage and killed. He is considered the foundation of the Yorkshire Terrier breed.
Is the Biewer Terrier a Yorkie?
The Biewer Terrier is the result of a recessive piebald gene gene not normally found in Yorkies. The breed started in Germany as almost an accident. They are recognized as a separate breed even though they are the result of breeding two purebred Yorkies!
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog
up to 8 inches tall and weighing up to 7 pounds. According to the AKC breed standard-accepted coat colors are:
“Blue – Is a dark steel-blue, not a silver-blue and not mingled with fawn,
bronzy or black hairs. Tan – All tan hair is darker at the roots than in the middle, shading to still lighter tan at the tips. There should be no sooty or black hair intermingled with any of the tan.”
Yorkie Coats are Soft and Very Similar
in feel to human hair. While there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, because of their hair quality, they generally produce less dander than other breeds. This makes them a good choice for allergy sufferers.
Growing Up Yorkshire Terrier
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In this Same Research
the Yorkshire Terrier ranks 38th out of 124 breeds in excitability. Yorkies tend to become hyper when a potentially stimulating event is occurring such as the doorbell ringing, getting ready for a walk or drive, visitors in the house etc. They also may take some time to calm down after such an event.
Yorkshire Terrier Humor!
In the Landmark Book
entitled, “The Intelligence of Dogs”, professor Stanley Coren researched and documented the intelligence of over 130 different dog breeds. In his book, the Yorkshire Terrier ranks 27th out of 130 breeds in working/obedience intelligence. Essentially this means they will learn new commands between 15-25 repetitions. This is considered above average canine intelligence. In contrast, the least intelligent breeds will require 80-100 repetitions while the brightest dogs need 5 or less to learn and follow the same commands!
Yorkshire Terriers can be Hard to Train
It’s not because they lack intelligence. While smaller breeds can generally be a bit harder to train, the Yorkie has a confident, almost cocky personality and can be quite stubborn. While obedience training may be somewhat of a challenge, if you are consistent, eventually they will “get it”!
Check Your Yorkshire Terrier Facts and Take a Fun Yorkie Quiz!
Quick Facts About Yorkshire Terriers Infographic
Facts About Yorkshire Terriers-Final Thoughts
Yorkshire Terriers are beautiful and unique dogs. From their long silky coats to their small stature, they have all the qualities that make small breeds so wonderful. But don’t let their size fool you – Yorkshire Terriers have big personalities packed into their tiny bodies. With their playful nature backed by that spunky personality, they make great family dogs and are especially well-suited for apartment living as companion dogs. However, it’s important to note that their beautiful coats require regular grooming to keep them looking their best and, as one of the smallest dog breeds, pet parents must be careful to handle them with care. Yorkies generally have a confident strut and meet the stereotype of a big dog in a small dogs body
