Yorkshire Terrier

Quick Facts:
Group Classification: Toy
Country of Origin: England
Date of Origin: mid-19th century
Weight (M): 6-7 lbs
Height (M): 8-9 inches
Weight (F): 6-7 lbs
Height (F): 8-9 inches
Life expectancy: 10-15 years

History

The Yorkshire Terrier made its first appearance at a dog show in England in 1861. It was then called the Broken Haired Scotch Terrier, a reference to its ancestors. These were working dogs used to control rats and other pests in textile mills and coal mines. The Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie, was also called a Toy Terrier. The designation as Yorkshire Terrier was common by 1874.

The Yorkie is also thought to have descended from the Waterside Terrier, a breed resulting from the cross of Black-and-Tan English Terriers with Paisley and Clydesdale Terriers. In the mid 19th century, the Waterside Terrier was brought to the Yorkshire region of England by weavers emigrating from Scotland. The first record of a Yorkshire Terrier birth in the United States is dated 1872, and it has participated in shows since 1878.

Yorkshire Terriers were initially bred to be ratters, and there is evidence that the dogs may also have been used for hunting, with their owners carrying the dogs in their pockets to hunt in the fields. Yorkies were used for sport in rat-killing competitions during the 19th century.

Description

The Yorkshire Terrier is classified as a Toy, but its ancestry as a terrier is evident in its energetic and determined attitude. The dog has a long, luxurious coat that is parted on its face and from the skull to the tail along its back. The hair hangs evenly along each side of its compact body. The Yorkie has a small head, flat on top, and a black nose. Its erect ears are small and v-shaped. The Yorkie’s coat is blue and tan in color.

Health and Care

Yorkies have long coats, and so they must be bathed regularly and their hair trimmed or shaved periodically. The coat should be brushed every day so it doesn’t get tangled. Yorkies should wear coats or sweaters in cold weather because they don’t have any undercoat to help them stay warm. Since the dogs eat very little, they need to high-grade, nutritious food.

The Yorkshire Terrier is prone to conditions like bronchitis, cataracts, and allergic skin reactions. They are somewhat picky about their food and may have digestive upsets if they eat food outside of their regular diet. Toy breeds like the Yorkie can be injured relatively easily by falls, other animals, or human clumsiness. Some breeders do not allow their dogs to go to homes with young children because of the risk of injury to the dog. As puppies, Yorkshire Terriers should be watched for hypoglycemia because their lack of muscle mass makes it hard for them to store and regulate blood sugar.

Interesting Facts

The smallest dog in recorded history was Sylvia, a matchbox-sized Yorkie who died in 1945 at the age of nearly two. At her death, she measured 2.5 inches tall at the shoulder and 3.5 inches from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail. She weighed four ounces.

Pets4You offers listings of Yorkshire Terrier breeders with puppies for sale.