Yorkshire Terrier John Wash Weight: 3 - 9 pounds Color: Steel Blue and Tan Origin: Scotland Purpose: companion Photo: This is John & Sandie Wash's little "Kyrie"

The Yorkshire Terrier is a member of the American Kennel Club's Toy Group. There are differing opinions on the origins of the breed. The 18th edition of the AKC's Complete Dog Book says that: "The Yorkshire Terrier traces to the Waterside Terrier, a small longish-coated dog, bluish-gray in colour, weighing between 6 and 20 pounds." Other sources place the Yorkie as a cross between the Maltese (also a toy breed) and the now-extinct Black and Tan Terrier.

The official standard for the breed is a weight of "under seven pounds," with most falling between three and seven pounds. There are Yorkies being bred larger, and the current trend is away from teacup dogs to a much larger (7-9 lb.) dog.

The texture of a Yorkie's coat is quite unlike the coats of most other terriers, which tend to be coarse. Yorkies have hair rather than fur, in that their coat is constantly growing. Since they have no undercoat they do not shed, though the coat of a Yorkie requires frequent care by its owner to keep it in good shape. A Yorkie's hair is fine and silky to the touch, and a full-coated Yorkie is one of the most beautiful dogs you will ever see: most Yorkies that are shown in confirmation have hair that touches the floor!

Blue and tan are the standard colours for Yorkies. The hair on a Yorkie's back is a dark steel blue; the hair on its head, legs and chest is a golden tan. A Yorkie's body is typically small and compact, with the ears held erect, the head small, and the legs straight. The tail is docked.

Yorkies have a delightful temperament with a healthy dose of the terrier attitude. They are bright and playful, always ready to engage in a vigorous game of tug-o-war or a chase around the house. Like many terriers the Yorkie is supposedly somewhat independent and occasionally difficult to train, though that has not been our experience (our first Yorkie was at one point ranked fourth in the nation in AKC obedience).

Some time ago a study was done on the amount of human attention required by certain breeds of dogs: the Yorkshire Terrier was said to need more human companionship and attention than any other breed.As a breed Yorkies are extremely intelligent and like most intelligent dogs do not take well to being ignored.

Ownership of a Yorkie requires careful consideration. First, you have to understand that you don't own a Yorkie: it owns you. Seriously, a Yorkie owner is a special type of person, and Yorkies are not for everyone. Yorkie owners are notoriously proud of their dogs, and we have yet to meet any past or current Yorkie owners who can think of a single negative thing to say about the breed.

Yorkies are companions, not pets. A Yorkie is not a dog for people who don't love, respect and pay attention to their animals. Yorkies definitely focus on their owner(s) and are very affectionate. Many Yorkies love nothing more than to be held in the laps of their owners all day (with occasional breaks to chase shadows or sunbeams across the floor).

If you have small children, a Yorkie(or any toy breed, for that matter) may not be right choice for your family. Small dogs are not as well equipped to put up with the rigors of life with children as big dogs are. Rather than a toy breed you might consider a larger dog such as a Golden Retriever or a German Shepherd Dog, which are both extremely intelligent breeds that make great family pets.

Yorkies do not shed like most breeds; as a result they are a wonderful addition to any household that's not crazy about vacuuming dog hair out of the carpet. It is true that a full-coated Yorkie requires almost daily brushing, but if you're not showing your Yorkie you can keep its hair cut shorter (Silky Terrier length, for example): Your Yorkie might appreciate the trim as much as you do!

Yorkies are very animated dogs with bright, intelligent eyes always looking for attention or a fun little game. Do you like playing with your dogs? If so... maybe a Yorkie is for you!

Related Reading:
"Book of the Yorkshire Terrier Brearley, Joan
"The New Complete Yorkshire Terrier" Gordon, Joan B.
"James Herriot's Yorkshire" Herriot, James
"Pet Owner's Guide to the Yorkshire Terrier" McKay, Douglas
"Yorkshire Terriers : An Owners Companion" Sameja, Osman

John Wash
Sandie: sandie@tico.com
http://sunsite.unc.edu/gaelic/john/yorkie