The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most beloved dogs ever. It has long, shiny hair that covers it like a cloak of bright silk and a very cute muzzle.
It's a very smart and intelligent small breed dog, with an affectionate and gentle but bold and lively character. We will tell you its history, character, and characteristics in the article that follows.
As can be easily understood from its English name, the Yorkshire Terrier (or simply Yorkie) originated in Great Britain, in the Yorkshire region.
History tells us that initially, it was not very popular as a companion dog, but rather as a working dog: it was an excellent hunter of small animals such as badgers, foxes, and otters, which once trapped could be very aggressive.
However, its main task was not to hunt in the countryside: the Yorkie was in fact employed in coal mines to search for the missing, or in farms or factories as a hunter of mice and other small rodents.
In the English urbanizations of the second half of the 19th century, rats were an insurmountable plague and workers used to bring rat-hunting dogs from their region of origin.
The progenitor of the breed was named Huddersfield Ben and was born in 1865 in Yorkshire. This small terrier with an important name lived only 6 years, but won many awards and was fundamental for the future definition of the breed's characteristics.
Apparently, despite weighing about 5 kg, he produced many litters with puppies weighing less than 3 kg, giving rise to the modern Yorkshire that we all know.
From then on, the path was all uphill, as during the second half of the Victorian era, the English nobility adopted this small dog in the English courts, making it exclusively a companion dog.
Its arrival in the United States is dated 1861, when it was still called Broken Hair Scotch Terrier. The name was changed to Yorkshire Terrier in 1874.
The breed was consecrated by the American Kennel Club only in 1878. Its origins as a hunter in coal mines, factories, and rat hunting were now only a distant memory, and the Yorkie became a full-fledged member of the small companion animals category.
This terrier is a small-sized dog, in fact, one of the smallest in size among small dog breeds, no bigger than a small cat, perhaps even smaller in some cases. But don't be fooled: it may be a "purse dog," but it has a great personality and lots of character!
This terrier is a dog that will appeal to all family members: it has a firm and tenacious temperament, lively and witty, very intelligent and playful, without being intrusive or hyperactive.
It forms a strong attachment to its owner, who becomes its absolute point of reference, and it hates solitude.
It's stubborn and proud, but also cuddly, especially the male. The female generally has a more independent character.
It's an excellent observer and tends to be extremely protective of the family, to the point of becoming suspicious and sometimes even aggressive with strangers or when sensing danger.
It has a strong protective instinct, often leading to a lot of barking. It can tend to be dominant, so it should be trained from a young age to socialize with other animals.
It does not have a particular tendency to bite, unless in stressful situations or if annoyed. And it does not tend to run away.
Since it does not like to be alone, it is the ideal companion dog for every family with children and for the elderly. It feels perfectly at ease in any environment and lifestyle.
But even though it adapts perfectly to apartment living, it will need daily walks to interact with the outside environment, but especially to exercise, in order to avoid becoming overweight and developing diseases such as diabetes and high cholesterol.
It is not a particularly delicate dog but does not appreciate extreme temperatures, so be careful with outings on very cold or very hot days.
The Yorkshire Terrier gave birth to a very charming breed called the Biewer Terrier. Due to a recessive gene, a litter produced two puppies with white, black, and gold coats, who became the progenitors of a new and very particular bloodline.
You can find a lot of information about the Biewer Terrier in the article dedicated to it, it is a truly wonderful animal and worth getting to know.
For the Yorkshire Terrier to be recognized as a purebred, it must meet all the characteristics required by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale).
If you haven't yet found a trusted breeder, or if you want to learn about this wonderful breed, read the article carefully and use these guidelines as a reference point.
Note: These are the standards set by FCI and ENCI and therefore valid for Europe. Size, color, or coat standards may differ for the AKC and NKC. For more information, check the standards of the country of interest.
The photos on this site may represent both FCI and AKC/NKC standards.
Group: 3 Terrier
Section: 4A Companion Terriers (Short-legged)
Without working trial certification
Although a small breed, the Yorkshire Terrier comes in only one size variant that must adhere to very precise breed standard measurements.
There are no breeds such as Toy Yorkshire Terrier, Mini Yorkshire Terrier, Mini Yorkshire, Tea Cup Yorkshire, Pocket Yorkshire, or even Large Yorkshire: any specimen under the minimum weight and height required for the breed might suffer from dwarfism, be malnourished, or have significant growth pathologies due to reckless crossbreeding.
Similarly, any specimen above the standard size might not be purebred or may have a growth anomaly.
The general trend is to purchase increasingly smaller animals, but honest breeders will never sell you a Toy Yorkshire, as it doesn't exist!
Height at the withers for an adult male Yorkshire Terrier: 15-25 cm, weight 2-3 kg
Height at the withers for an adult female Yorkshire Terrier: 15-25 cm, weight 2-3 kg
The long hair is smooth and silky, falling straight (never wavy) and evenly on both sides with a natural parting from the nose to the tail. The coat grows very quickly and needs to be brushed and groomed frequently, both to prevent tangling and to avoid possible skin allergies, which would be extremely bothersome for our four-legged friend.
The texture is silky, not woolly, and a coat that appears dull is a sign of poor care. The coat lacks an undercoat, making this breed hypoallergenic.
The coat of the Yorkshire Terrier breed comes in a unique variant: dark steel blue and dark tan on the chest. The two colors must be distinct and never mixed. Any other color indicates that the dog is not purebred.
There are no white Yorkshire Terriers or steel or tan Yorkshires. Any variation in coat color, whether solid or bicolored, is considered a sign of impurity.
The Yorkie's head is relatively small and flat, with a skull not too prominent and a muzzle not too long. The eyes are dark, medium-sized, and not protruding. The ears are short, small, V-shaped, and tan in color, with short hair. The nose is completely black. The teeth are regular and well-placed, and the jaw closes perfectly in a scissor bite. The length of the jaws is equal.
Compact, lightweight but strong, with a straight backline and arched back, straight limbs, and round feet. The Yorkshire Terrier naturally has a slender and well-proportioned form.
With abundant hair, carried higher than the backline.
This Terrier is quite long-lived, with a life expectancy ranging from 12 to 17 years. However, your beloved pet can live much longer if properly fed and kept in shape with the right amount of physical exercise. Always take care of it with great attention!
Although it does not have delicate health, it can suffer from the most common diseases of small dogs or suffer from genetic diseases typical of the breed. Among the most frequent are:
Legg-Perthes disease, a degenerative pathology of the femur
Tracheal collapse
Dislocation and Dysplasia of the patella
Osteoarthritis
Luxation of the patella
Ear infections and ear canal infections
Eye disorders, such as cataracts, dysplasia, and retinal atrophy
Tracheal collapse
Dental problems such as gingivitis, cavities, and infections
Portosystemic shunt (liver's inability to filter toxins)
While not naturally prone to gaining weight, Yorkies can be gluttonous, and given their small size, their weight must be monitored and controlled.
Managing their diet and providing good quality food will avoid future problems such as obesity, to which they are predisposed, diabetes, and cholesterol.
Weaning of Yorkshire puppies begins from the first month of age. From that time, in addition to mother's milk or artificial milk formula, specific puppy food or lean ground meat can be introduced, starting with one meal a day in combination with mother's milk.
Between the first and second month, meals based on solid and wet food should be administered about 3/4 times a day, and three times from the second month onwards. This can then continue with three meals or be reduced to two.
Being a small breed dog, it is advisable to administer at least two meals a day. Meals must be balanced and contain the right amount of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and minerals. The safest choice is classic kibble, as long as it is of good quality, always adhering to the recommended doses for weight and age.
The simplest way to ensure not overfeeding the animal is to provide good quality dry food, adhering to the recommended doses for weight and age. Choosing food designed for small dogs with the right characteristics for the breed (generic food for small terriers is indicated) is recommended.
Always check the ingredients and especially the supply of vitamins and minerals, essential for keeping our dogs in shape. Using wet food as the only alternative is not advisable, but a small amount can be added to make dry food more palatable.
For those who prefer to avoid classic kibble and opt for freshly cooked food, the ideal choice for preparing homemade dog food falls on primary products, mainly to be served boiled.
Meat
Offal
Fish
Grains
Dog-friendly fruits and vegetables
Eggs and a bit of cheese occasionally.
Sweets
Bakery products
Fatty and greasy foods
Tubular bones
Spiced and smoked food
Onions and garlic
Mushrooms
Avocado
Remember, a homemade diet does not mean kitchen leftovers, but food specially prepared for your companion, which can be frozen and thawed as needed.
Cooking at home is not difficult; you just need to prepare a mix of proteins, carbohydrates, and vegetables (50% - 25% -25%) and add a multivitamin and a glucosamine and omega-3 supplement.
The composition of homemade dog food can vary, but the majority should always be protein, which is the basis of a correct diet.
For more information on how to properly feed your dog with homemade food, you can refer to the suggestions in our guide: "The Homemade Diet for Dogs." However, it is always advisable to consult a veterinary nutritionist.
Dogs are very habitual animals when it comes to diet, so it's best to choose one from puppyhood and maintain it as long as possible.
It's important to remember to periodically deworm both puppies and adult dogs, especially if adopted from shelters, kennels, or private sellers. Opt for a dewormer suitable for your dog's weight and age.
This breed requires daily walks and loves to play outdoors. Therefore, if you live in endemic areas, it is advisable to regularly carry out flea and tick prevention.
Foxtail spikes or plants like small thistles can also pose a danger to your little friend, or they might simply get entangled in the fur, making subsequent brushing difficult.
Even if the dog lives almost exclusively indoors, its nails should be regularly trimmed to prevent injury or discomfort while running.
Ear cleaning is of paramount importance to avoid unpleasant odors or ear canal diseases such as:
Ear mites
Bacterial otitis
Fungal otitis
Ear discharge
Foreign body otitis
Dental cleaning is very important, as poor oral hygiene can lead to serious disorders such as:
Gingivitis
Stomatitis
Periodontitis
Oral tumors
Halitosis
Although it may be difficult to keep the animal still, it would be best to perform daily teeth cleaning to avoid costly sedation sessions in the future.
In addition to classic toothbrush models, you can also find glove-type toothbrushes that slip onto the fingers or toothbrushes that clean both the inner and outer arches at the same time, as well as various flavors of enzymatic toothpaste specifically for your pet!
Ideally, the mouth should be kept clean at least once every two days to prevent tartar buildup.
Remember to periodically check the status of the anal glands to avoid situations such as:
Anal sac abscess
Tumors (adenomas and adenocarcinomas)
Atypical bacterial infections
Fungal infections
You'll know it's time because the dog will start to rub its anus on the floor, scratch or lick repeatedly, and have a bad odor.
Although many owners disagree, spaying or neutering your four-legged friend can safeguard them from future problems: a female, if operated on before her first heat, is much less likely to develop malignant breast tumors.
A male will be less aggressive and less prone to wander or be attacked by other males, an event rather frequent with Yorkshire Terriers.
Practically anyone, both for experts and first-time owners: they bond very well with all family members and are sociable, intelligent, and obedient, with good energy and a playful, friendly character.
They adapt well to indoor life but also to life in the countryside: although the days of hunting rats and small rodents in the English countryside are over, these graceful dogs will appreciate life in the countryside and many walks with their human companion.
The Yorkie is also suitable for those with dog hair allergies or who don't want to constantly brush their home and clothes. And it adapts well to living with cats and other animals, including larger dog breeds.
And being lighter than a cat, it won't be a problem to take them everywhere or on a plane.
Who is the Yorkshire Terrier Not Suitable For?
For those who can't afford extra expenses for frequent grooming or don't have the desire and time for home grooming.
Some specimens tend to bark loudly, so it might not be the right dog for those living in an apartment building or with intolerant neighbors.
Still not sure which dog is ideal for you? Find all the information you need to make the best choice on khani.co.uk.
