The Yorkshire Terrier is a compact, long-haired toy terrier with a blue and tan coat parted to reveal the face, and from the base of the skull to the end of the tail. Coats should hang straight and even on both sides of the body.
Head
Yorkies possess a small head with a short muzzle tipped with a tiny black nose. Ears are V-shaped and perched atop a flat skull.
Body
The Yorkie’s body is described as compact, well-proportioned and rather short. Yorkie’s shoulders should be even with their rump.
Legs and Feet
Yorkies have straight legs, with elbows in line and straight when viewed from behind. Feet are round with black toenails.
Tail and Hindquarters
Yorkie tails are docked to a medium length and carried slightly higher than the level of the back.
Coat and Colors
Coat and color are regarded as exceptionally important to the breed standard of the Yorkie. Adult Yorkshire Terriers should exhibit a coat that is glossy, fine, straight and silky.
Coats are typically grown out very long and groomed parted down the middle of the back. Coats are a dark grey or black color and slightly darker on the tail. The head, chest, and legs are a rich tan that fades from dark to light at the tips.
The Yorkshire Terrier coat is also hypoallergenic which makes the Yorkie a great choice of companion for dog-lovers with allergies.
Height and Weight
Yorkshire Terriers stand 9 inches tall and should not exceed 12 pounds.
Yorkies may be tiny, but they are born with big personalities. The Yorkshire Terrier temperament is described as bold, intelligent, courageous, independent and confident, which is a lot to pack into the little pooch.
Yorkies think they are the biggest dog in the yard, in fact, it is common for a little Yorkie to boss around much larger dogs.
Yorkshire Terriers are active, curious, and shower their owners in affection, but they also long for attention. Like a tiny monarch, a Yorkie can become very jealous and arrogant when it feels it is not being paid enough attention.
Yorkies are very courageous and confident which makes them fantastic therapy dogs and travel companions, especially since they can fit in a small carrier bag or purse.
Yorkshire Terriers are known to be aggressive towards other dogs and to be impatient with small children which is why frequent socialization is key to developing a healthy canine personality.
As terriers, Yorkies are very active and intelligent. They enjoy and excel at obedience tasks and quickly learn new commands.
Since Yorkies can be stubborn and bossy and can be aggressive with other dogs and impatient with small children. Ensure you train them at a young age and provide frequent socialization. Because they are so smart, they are quick learners.
They have silky, glossy hair that needs regular grooming.
Since they are so independent and intelligent, they require regular mental stimulation and physical exercise.
As a primarily indoor dog, ensure you dress them appropriately for adverse weather! Since they are often carried, you require regular nail clippings.
Nutrition
All nutritional choices should be made in consultation with your vet; though Yorkies generally require 2-3 meals of high-quality dog food appropriate to their stage of life.
Weaning Age Puppies (4-7 weeks) should be free-fed through the entire weaning process until they reach the appropriate weight to be fed a structured diet.
Free-feeding refers to the practice of leaving food out and available for your Yorkie puppy to eat whenever they get hungry.
Yorkie Puppies between the ages of 3 months and 1 year should be fed according to a structured diet, consisting of 3-4 meals of high-quality dog food, free of artificial ingredients.
Adult Yorkies between the ages of 1 and 8 years should be fed a regular diet consisting of high-quality dog food two times per day.
Senior Yorkies require a different level of nutrition than younger dogs. Speak with your veterinarian to establish a diet rich in nutrients that support joint, bone and digestive health.
Quick tip: High-quality dog foods are free of artificial ingredients and made from beef, chicken or venison and are free of grains, potatoes, and wheat.
Feeding your Yorkie dog foods rich, healthy proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins produce a more luxurious coat, healthier skin and greater quality of life.
Like all dogs, Yorkies are carnivores and will never require corn, wheat or gluten. Owners should avoid dog foods that contain ingredients derived from corn, wheat or gluten, and artificial ingredients.
Yorkies will rarely shy away from a snack, which is why obesity is commonly found throughout the breed. Owners should avoid feeding their Yorkies from the table and never feed them:
- Chocolate or Candy
- Alcohol
- Onions and Garlic
- Caffeine
- Grapes
- Diary
- Nuts
- Pitted Fruit
- Salt
- Yeast
Grooming
Every dog, even hairless dogs, require regular grooming. Grooming includes more than trimming a dog’s coat.
A full-service canine grooming includes a bath, nail clipping, and thorough cleaning of your dog's ears and teeth.
Grooming also presents a terrific opportunity to check you Yorkie for potential health concerns such as cuts and abrasions to their legs and paws, poor dental hygiene, ear & eye infections and infestation of fleas and/or ticks.
A visit to the vet is recommended If any such concerns are discovered during the grooming process.
Bath - A bath makes the grooming process much easier for most dogs, but it is especially beneficial to Yorkies and their long silky coats.
The coat of a Yorkshire Terrier behaves much like human hair, which means it is subject to tangles, clumps, and matting.
Professional canine groomers recommend washing your Yorkie’s coat with canine shampoo and conditioner to remove dirt and tangles before grooming.
Drying & Brushing - Once your Yorkie is clean use a blow dryer to thoroughly dry their coat. Use a soft brush to gently remove tangles and clumps.
Repeat this process until your Yorkie is entirely free of tangles and their coat falls straight.
Trimming & Styling - To a show dog, a properly trimmed and styled coat can make the difference between winning and losing.
As show dogs, there are strict regulations regarding a Yorkie’s coat, and how it must be styled to qualify. Of course, you are empowered to style your Yorkie’s coat in the manner that seems best to you.
However you decide to groom your Yorkie’s coat, be sure that the style does not impede their vision or their movement.
Nail Clipping - Dogs who receive frequent outdoor exercise wear down their nails on hard surfaces like sidewalks.
Yorkies are primarily indoor dogs and are often carried, so they require regular nail clippings to prevent pain, discomfort, and possible infection.
Exercise
Regular exercise is essential to a healthy life for every dog. Regular outdoor activity stimulates the mind, encourages positive social behavior, and fights obesity.
Obesity - Obesity is an epidemic in canines large and small, but small dogs bear the brunt of obesity’s adverse effects.
Small dogs are very susceptible to becoming obese. Like all small dogs, it doesn't take much for a seven-pound Yorkie to become obese.
We know you want to hold the adorable puppy everywhere you go, but Yorkies who are frequently carried will have difficulty maintaining healthy body weight.
Going for walks and throwing a small ball are great ways to keep Yorkies active and mentally stimulated. Regular exercise is also essential to maintaining healthy body weight.
Agility & Competition - The Yorkshire Terrier may be small, but they are surprisingly athletic and incredibly agile.
Yorkies love to play and romp outside, but they are also intelligent and dutifully follow commands when properly trained.
All of these features combine to make the Yorkshire Terrier one of the most iconic competitive canines in history.
Yorkshire Terriers frequently compete in dogs shows such as the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. One fancy pooch named Cede Higgins even won Best in Show!
Training
All breeds possess varying levels of intelligence and a unique temperament; all of which present a unique set of challenges when it comes to training. Yorkies have a stubborn, often bossy temperament that can complicate the training process, especially when it comes to potty-training.
However, there is no canine behavior that cannot be corrected with consistent, reward-based training, and plenty of love and affection. As with every breed, there are several keys to successfully training a Yorkshire Terrier.
Remove Distractions - Puppies are easily distracted. Focus is an essential lesson in any training session. The best way to keep a puppy’s focus during training is to remove distractions from the area.
Be Patient - Take the time to ensure your puppy understands your commands. As with children, patience is key to properly train a Yorkie puppy.
Be Consistent - Consistency and repetition are critical to establishing the desired pattern of behavior.
Designate a specific sound and gesture for the desired command and use that combination every time you issue the command to your Yorkie.
Reward, Don’t Punish - By rewarding positive behavior you encourage your Yorkie to listen to your commands out of a desire to please you, rather than fear of punishment.
Regular Training Sessions - One session is rarely enough to train any dog properly. Regular training sessions cement the desired behavior into a dog's mind and increase the chance of lesson retention.
Housebreaking
Think of housebreaking as puppy school for your Yorkie. Housebreaking is where your Yorkie puppy learns how to behave, and what is, and is not appropriate.
Crate Training - Courageous, intelligent and very curious Yorkshire Terrier puppies are every bit as bold as the adults.
Yorkie puppies are light sleepers and will find mischief if given a chance. Training your Yorkie puppy to sleep in a crate at night ensures you will find your socks, shoes, and papers intact when you wake in the morning.
Owners should also crate train their Yorkie puppy when they are away from the house. Crate training should be done in conjunction with potty training and other housebreaking lessons.
Potty Training - Yorkies are notoriously difficult to potty train. Puppies do not possess full control over their bladder and bowls until they are at least two months old.
The two most important things to have when potty training a Yorkie is patience and realistic expectations.
How To potty train a Yorkie:
- Designate an area.
- Watch for indications that they need to go.
- Ensure they are in the designated area when the time comes. You may need to run.
- Reward the desired behavior. Do not punish.
- Understand that accidents will occur and be prepared to clean them up.
Socialization
The Yorkshire Terrier’s bold and stubborn temperament may appear as a general dislike for other dogs and small children. Like all dogs, Yorkies need to be taught appropriate behavior.
Socializing a Yorkie from an early age introduces the puppy to pets and children in a safe environment resulting in less anxiety for the pooch and less frustration for the owner.
The longer an owner waits to socialize a Yorkshire Terrier, the harder it will be to instill positive social behavior and break negative behavior.
Obedience Training
Yorkies are not only smart, they are also incredibly loyal and affectionate, which can make obedience training a rewarding experience for you and your puppy. However, Yorkies are also notoriously stubborn, even bossy, so it’s important to start training early.
- Start Early - Like adult humans, adult Yorkies quickly become set in their ways. Yorkies are the most impressionable and easiest to train when puppies.
- Teach Commands - Use simple command words, followed by a treat to reinforce the desired behavior in your Yorkie.
- Issue your command. Pause. Then reward them with a snack when they get it right. Do not punish your Yorkie if, and when they fail a command. Simply regain their focus and try again until they are successful.
- Use a Clicker - Utilize a clicker to create a specific noise when you issue a command to your Yorkie. Follow the successful completion of the command with a treat.
The story of the Yorkshire Terrier begins in England at the height of the Industrial Revolution.
English breeders realized the need for a dog who could root out and eliminate the rats from the numerous mills, factories, and mines that dotted the English landscape.
By combining several terrier breeds, including the Paisley, Skye and Clydesdale Terrier, English breeders engineered one of the best ratters ever bestowed the title.
The Yorkshire Terrier grew in popularity as word of its skill at rooting out rats and other small vermin quickly spread around Britain. However, the Yorkshire Terrier soon left its humble roots in the factories and mills of England for the laps of royalty across Europe.
The upper crust of Victorian society adored the diminutive canines long, silky fur and quickly elevated the Yorkshire Terrier into a prestigious symbol of high society and wealth.
By the turn of the century, the plucky little terrier had earned recognition as an official breed and an affectionate nickname, the Yorkie.
The Yorkie’s popularity soared once again in the 1940s when American soldiers returning from the European theatre brought with them tails of the adorable little pooch with the courage of a lion.
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small and sturdy breed with an average lifespan of 11-15 years. As with any breed, they are predisposed to certain health conditions. With proper care and yearly vet exams, the majority of Yorkies will live long and healthy lives. While most Yorkies will not encounter these health issues it is important to know them, monitor your dog for any physical or behavioral changes, and contact your veterinarian with any concerns.
Potential Health Conditions:
• Dislocated Kneecap, Patellar Luxation
• Trachea Collapsed
• Gum Disease, Periodontal Disease
• Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head, Legg-Calve Perthes Disease (LCP)
• Liver shunt, Portosystemic Shunt
• Low Blood Sugar, Hypoglycemia
• Overweight, Obesity
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
• Hypothyroidism
Suggested Screenings
• Knee Exam
• Eye Exam
• X-rays
• Liver Ultrasound
• Endoscopy of the Trachea
Routine Care
• Regular Dental Exams
• Neuter or Spay
• Weight Management
• Avoid Stress
Life Expectancy
Yorkies are relatively long-lived when compared to many large breeds, but that is expected of small breeds.
The life expectancy of the Yorkshire Terrier is between 12 to 15 years. On average, Yorkies live 13.5 years; however, Yorkie females typically outlive males by nearly two years.
The best way to ensure a long, happy and healthy life for your Yorkie is to provide a safe environment, regular exercise, mental stimulation, and a nutritious diet.
