Yorkshire Terrier Dog Breed
Dog Group:Toy Group
Class:Toy
Description
The Yorkshire Terrier is a very sweet looking toy dog with a very distinctive and unique look. These tiny canines start off as black and tan but as they grow older, the black part of the coat turns a steely-blue in color. The luxurious coat parts all the way down the body, from the face to the rum, and curtains the terrier’s body evenly. The coat is very soft and silky, with masses of hair framing the face, which is often tied up with a bow for practical and aesthetic purposes. The Yorkshire Terrier has a medium sized muzzle, with pointed, furry ears. Its face is small and sweet, with sparkly dark eyes and an intelligent, alert expression.
Temperament
As small as the Yorkshire Terrier is, it is a dog that thrives on excitement and adventure. The Yorkshire Terrier is an eager, enthusiastic and excitable little dog, with bags of energy and intelligence. It is also a loyal and courageous breed, and can be something of a live wire when it comes to energy levels. Although the Yorkshire Terrier is an affectionate and loyal dog, it can get snappy and irritable when teased or scared and may therefore make a better pet for families with older children rather than youngsters that may not know any better. This breed is generally very protective despite the tiny size, and can be aggressive with strangers and other pets. A Yorkshire Terrier will want and enjoy plenty of attention and time from its owner.
Height and Weight
The tiny Yorkshire Terrier grows to around six or seven inches in height. The weight of this breed, based on a balanced diet, will reach approximately seven pounds.
Common Health and Behavioral Problems
The Yorkshire Terrier may be prone to spinal problems, which can lead to reduced mobility. The small size and fragility of this breed also makes is a prime risk for damaged or broken bones as the event of a household accident. Bronchitis and digestive issues are also ones to look out for with this breed. And the diet of a Yorkshire Terrier must be carefully planned, as the breed is known to be at higher risk from tooth decay and oral problems.
Ideal Living Conditions
The Yorkshire Terrier’s size and temperament makes it an ideal dog for apartments as well as houses. This breed does not necessarily need a garden, although he will need to be taken for moderate exercise. Bear in mind that the Yorkshire Terrier also likes warm environments and does not like extreme cold temperatures.
Exercise Requirements
The Yorkshire Terrier does not need vast amounts of exercise, although like all creatures he does need to be encouraged to take part in moderate levels of activity. However, this is an energetic little breed and will require very little encouragement!
Diet and Nutrition
The diet of this small dog needs to be carefully monitored. You should try and feed him dry, nutritious food to keep tooth decay at bay. Avoid the temptation to overfeed your Yorkshire Terrier as this could lead to obesity and a myriad of related problems. Fresh water should always be accessible.
Life Expectancy
The life expectancy of a healthy well looked after Yorkshire Terrier is around 12-15 years of age.
Grooming Requirements
Brushing your Yorkshire Terrier on a daily basis will help to keep the luxurious coat of this dog silky-soft. You should also ensure that the teeth of the dog are regularly brushed due to the breed’s tendency to suffer tooth decay.
Origin
The Yorkshire Terrier originates from Great Britain, and in stark contrast with it’s easy lifestyle today, used to be a real working man’s dog used to find and catch rats in the old English mines. The Yorkshire Terrier is thought to have originated from breeding between dogs such as the Skye Terrier, Maltese, Paisley and Clydesdale Terrier. Making its first appearance in the United States in the late nineteenth century, the breed quickly gained popularity as a toy pet dog. The American Kennel Club first registered the breed in 1936.
 |
 |
Secrets to Dog Training Testimonials
I wanted to send you a testimonial on how wonderful your book was, and how much it helped my little Sydney, who is a year and a half old yorkie. Thank you for your help! Sydney is my one and a half year old yorkie who was having problems barking whenever anyone came to the door, we passed by anyone on our walks, and anytime she heard something outside. I tried your techniques with the squirt gun and what a difference it has made. Everytime I hold the water gun now, she knows that she should be quiet. I had to learn that I needed to become the alpha with her and not let her run the household. She is a very pampered princess, but now Syndey knows who is the boss. Your books are a great refresher to read and each time I find new information. Thank you for your help!
-- Mara Giampaola (New York, USA)More Resources
 |
 |
Want to find out about more dog breeds? Search here or go to our Dog Breed index.
Got Dog Obedience Training or Problem Behavior Issues?
Is your dog trying your patience on a daily basis? Are you constantly faced with a dog that displays one of the following issues? To find the solution to your problem click on it.. you'll discover the answers to it and other common dog problems you may be facing.
This is the most comprehensive book on dog training and behavior problems around. Best of all... You can download this book to your computer and be reading and using the professionals training techniques in minutes.
About The Author
Daniel Stevens is the renowned dog trainer and author of Secrets to Dog Training: STOP Dog Behavior Problems!, one of the leading dog training guides on the market today selling over 25,743 copies (and counting). He currently heads the Kingdom of Pets dog training team.
