YORKSHIRE TERRIER Breed Standards
As with many other breeds, there is some doubt as to the exact origin of the Yorkshire Terrier. The most popular theory is that the Yorkie is the product of crossbreeding between various English and Scottish Terriers, particularly the Waterside Terrier. This dog was brought to Yorkshire by Scottish workers in the mid-19th century, and the Yorkshire Terrier made its first appearance in a dog show in 1861, when it was known as a "broken-haired Scotch Terrier." In 1870 the breed was given the name of Yorkshire Terrier.
The Yorkshire Terrier was developed to catch rats and aid as a hunting dog. Its small size allowed it to chase animals in mine shafts as well as badger and fox burrows. As their fame grew, the Yorkies became a popular dog among middle and upper class women, who would carry them around with them under their arms or in their purses.
The first recorded birth of a Yorkshire Terrier in the United States was in 1872, and the breed was participating in shows in the US as early as 1878; the Yorkshire Terrier was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885. At first, the breed was divided by weight into two groups: under 5 pounds, and 5 pounds and over. After a while, though, the Yorkie’s size became more uniform, with larger Yorkies losing favor. In 2005, the Yorkshire Terrier became the third most popular breed in the United States, as based on registration information from the American Kennel Club (only the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever were more popular).
SKILLS: Yorkshire Terrier. That of a long-haired toy terrier whose blue and tan coat is parted on the face and from the base of the skull to the end of the tail and hangs evenly and quite straight down each side of body. The body is neat, compact and well proportioned. The dog's high head carriage and confident manner should give the appearance of vigor and self-importance.
SIZE: Weight - Must not exceed seven pounds Height: 6-7 inches (15-17Ѕcm.)
COAT: Quality, texture and quantity of coat are of prime importance. Hair is glossy, fine and silky in texture. Coat on the body is moderately long and perfectly straight (not wavy). It may be trimmed to floor length to give ease of movement and a neater appearance, if desired. The fall on the head is long, tied with one bow in center of head or parted in the middle and tied with two bows. Hair on muzzle is very long. Hair should be trimmed short on tips of ears and may be trimmed on feet to give them a neat appearance. Colors - Puppies are born black and tan and are normally darker in body color, showing an intermingling of black hair in the tan until they are matured. Color of hair on body and richness of tan on head and legs are of prime importance in adult dogs, to which the following color requirements apply: 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. Color on Body - The blue extends over the body from back of neck to root of tail. Hair on tail is a darker blue, especially at end of tail.
CARE REQUIRED: Regular grooming is needed. A clipped coat needs daily to weekly combing and brushing. Topknot is usually tied back with ribbon. Full show coats need hours of grooming. They should have their teeth cleaned regularly. This breed sheds little to no hair.
CHARACTER: This little dog is highly energetic, brave, loyal and clever. Affectionate with its master, but sometimes suspicious of strangers. It can be aggressive to strange dogs and small animals. In other words, it has true Terrier heritage. They do best with older, considerate children. Yorkies are easy to train, although they can sometimes be stubborn.
EXERCISE: The Yorkshire Terrier is a lively little warrior that does not need a lot of exercise. Although it will benefit from regular opportunities to run and play.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: The Yorkie is a good dog for apartment life. They are very active indoors and will do okay without a yard. The Yorkie is sensitive to the cold and prefers warm climates.
TRAINING: The Yorkie is an excellent watchdog, defending its territory in no uncertain manner. They can get snappish if surprised, frightened or over-teased, but are usually very sweet and loving. They can be difficult to housebreak. These little dogs should not be over-protected, for they may become neurotic. The Yorkie likes to bark, but it can easily be taught not to do so.
