Know It All About Yorkie

Know everything about your tiny Yorkie friends, to keep them healthy and understand their temperament.

Become an Expert on Yorkies

The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the tiniest terrier breeds, overall. Yorkshire, England, was the birthplace of the breed in the nineteenth century. The maximum size of a Yorkshire breed should be 7 pounds.

The breed possesses distinctive confidence and courage. The dog’s powerful head carriage and assured demeanor should convey energy and self-importance. Yorkshire Terriers excel in everything from dog sports such as agility to therapeutic work, making them excellent travel companions and family pets.

If you are looking for a tiny friend with the feistiest attitude, Yorkies are the perfect fit. Don’t be misled by their little stature. They are feisty, sassy dogs. Not even the enormous canines, terrifies them.

Yorkies may not appear to be your traditional watchdog, but they are always on the alert for weird people and sounds, so they will yelp to let you know there is something unusual that needs investigating.

They are very affectionate and like snuggling a lot. Their human companions make them happy, and they enjoy returning the favor by spending time with them. Yorkies have sharp brains in their little body that are brilliant at learning new tricks.

Treat your Yorkie by making sure you complete these: Essential Supplies Every Yorkie Owner Should Have

Important Details and Information About Yorkies

 You need to know a few facts about Yorkshire pups if you are planning to adopt one. Here are some of the important information, you need to know:

Types of Fur and What Makes Them Different

The Yorkshire terrier has the most unique characteristics in the canine world, with its long, silky fur. While this opulent coat is stunning, maintaining it may be a chore. The Yorkie’s hair is almost similar to human hair, making them an excellent choice for people who are allergic to pets.

If the hair is not brushed every day, it tangles into knots, it can also break easily when brushing against carpets in the home. The fact that Yorkies don’t have an undercoat means that their fur sheds less. Many breeders advise owners to keep the Yorkie’s hair in a “puppy cut,” which is short and easy to care for.

The Yorkies, however, do not shed to the same extent as furrier dogs. They are of fine, silky, and longer hair than the typical dog fur. Yorkie don’t have the same growth and shedding cycles as other dogs, since their hair grows at the same pace all year, as human hair.

The types of fur Yorkshire Terriers have are-

• Black & Gold
• Black & Tan
• Blue & Gold
• Blue & Tan

The Temperament of a Yorkie

The Yorkie terrier temperament is on the positive side of a dog’s trait. They can be quite feisty and sassy, but they are very friendly and fun too.

In the United States, the Yorkshire Terrier is the most popular toy dog breed, with many people falling in love with its feisty but affectionate nature.

The Yorkshire terrier is a little in size and is clever, aggressive, dominating, and also incredibly loving. Because the Yorkie has a sharper brain than the typical dog, they are easier to teach and communicate with.

Yorkshire Terriers are recognized for being clever, with high intelligence and great personalities. This Terrier, like every purebred dog, has a breed-specific temperament that is well-known, which makes it easy to understand and get to know their temperament quite well.

And helps you to learn about this unique breed.

It’s crucial to take the time to get to know your Yorkie better so that you can offer a comfortable lifestyle for them and create happy memories with your Yorkie.

Your relationship will become better in understanding their nature and ways to communicate with them.

Yorkie’s Stages of Growth

 Yorkshire terrier pups’ growth and development are influenced not only by their age but also by hereditary relationships. Also, the number of puppies in the litter, and adequate care and food during the first few months after birth.

Experts identify the following stages in the development of the Yorkshire terrier:

• Embryonic – lasting for 58-65 days
• Suckling – from birth to 1 – 1.5 months
• Puppies – 1 – 6 months
• Youngster – 6 and 10 months
• Adult – 1 – 3 years
• Senior Dog – 10 – 15 years

Yorkshire Terrier Appearance 

Color

A Yorkie’s thick and fluffy coat is a huge part of what makes it so attractive and doll-like. They come in a range of colors, with the most common being a black and tan or black and gold mix. You can also find them in blue and tan, or blue and gold options. The color shift between their head, chest, and legs results in a striking effect. If you get a puppy, you’ll find out that the color changes as they grow older, becoming lighter as the dog matures.

Size and weight

A Yorkie’s compact build classifies it as a toy breed under the American Kennel Club standards. Adult dogs in this breed may weigh a lowest of four and a highest of seven pounds, with the maximum height reaching 8 to 9 inches. But what sets them apart from other toy breeds in the same size range is how well-proportioned they are.

Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: Purebred or Non-Purebred Yorkies – How to Tell if Your Yorkie is Purebred

Features

People often ask, “What does a Yorkie dog look like?” Some identifiable features that make a pureblood Yorkie attractive are their large, dark eyes and protruding, pointy ears. A Yorkshire Terrier’s tail will perk up when it feels exciting. Typically, the length of a Yorkie’s tail reaches five inches straightened, and while many pet owners find this an adorable feature, others prefer to shorten it to meet the 2 to 4-inch show dog standard. Additional distinct features include a small, button nose, straight legs, black toenails, and a flat head top.

Age

A Yorkie reaches its adult appearance when it is around one year old. Until this point, the dog is still in its childhood years with features like a darker coat. A young dog will only open its eyes around the two or three-week mark.

Pet vs. Show Variety

When it comes to appearance, it is important to understand the difference between a pet and show Yorkie puppies. To enter your dog into a show, you need to meet the high AKC requirements. Pet quality dogs are not Yorkie look-alike breeds but simply dogs that missed the mark due to tiny blemishes in coat color or features. The difference in appearance is minimal and impossible to pick out by a layperson, so don’t let this label worry you.

Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: Trimmers You Should Use on a Yorkshire Terrier

History of Yorkie

The history of this lovely breed is fascinating, and as many owners are aware, the location of the dog’s origin is what gives the breed its name.

The Yorkie was developed by combining several tiny Terrier breeds. The Yorkshire Terrier was given its official name in 1874. After being known as the “Broken Haired Scotch Terrier” and later the “Toy Terrier”.

Yorkshire Terriers are native to Yorkshire and Lancashire in Northern England. Scottish laborers migrated to Yorkshire during the Industrial Revolution to work in coal mines, textile mills, and factories, and they brought Clydesdale Terriers with them.

These cute little dogs were used to catch rats in mills and factories.

The Yorkie was remarkably skilled at locating tiny creatures hidden under the forest floor in dens and tunnels. When hunters were looking for badgers, foxes, and other small to medium-sized wild creatures, they would take the Yorkie in their pockets.

When wild animals get trapped and enclosed in their caves, they may become violent in order to defend themselves and their pups.

The Yorkshire Terrier gained a reputation for having the courage and bravery to go after its prey without hesitation, and doing so with great success. They appeared to have discovered their calling in the fields and woods, but this did not last long.

As news of this lovely dog spread, their fame gradually extended out of the forest and into the homes of individuals whose curiosity was sparked by this silky-haired dog.

Are There Different Types Of Yorkies?

There are many different kinds of Yorkies because the Yorkshire Terrier isn’t the name of a single dog but a family of terriers. And you can tell them apart on the basis of their breed, color, size, and special features.

Traditional Yorkshire Terrier

When it comes to Yorkies, the traditional terrier is the most well-known. From coloring to size, they reach around eight inches, and seven pounds with a smooth, thick, and long coat.

Biewers Terriers

While traditional terriers come in three-toned fur of black, gold, tan and blue, Biewers terriers have special white streaks that set them apart. This unique color pattern increases their popularity.

Teacup (Miniature) Yorkies

Teacup Yorkies are tiny, even in the world of small dogs. Where regular Yorkies weigh around seven pounds, Miniature Yorkies never cross the three-pound mark. This makes them adorable, yet delicate, perfect for carrying but unsuitable for keeping around children.

Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: Taking Care of Newborn Yorkie and Teacup Yorkie Puppies

Mismarked Yorkies

Like Brewers, this type is also known for its unique color markers. All Yorkies that do not conform to the typical color range established by the American Kennel Club come under the Mismarked tab.

Parti Yorkies

Parti Yorkies have patches of white in their coat, along with the usual color variations. These include black and tan, black and gold, blue and tan, or blue and gold.

Golden Yorkie

Typically a Yorkie will have some patches of darker-toned fur, either black or blue. However, the rare Golden Yorkie is completely light-toned, with only golden and tan in its coat, which sets it apart.

Black Yorkies

Even rarer are Black Yorkies whose lush coats start out as uniform black in infancy and fade to a blue and tan mix as they age. Difficult to find, except at specialty breeders, these Yorkies are obtained through interbreed mixing.

Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: 7 Things You Need to Know About the Yorkipoo and Teacup Yorkipoo

Yorkie Mixes

Mixes often referred to as mutts are born when there is interbreeding. The specific factors of size and color depend on the ancestry of the dogs, so there is no way to predict their appearance.

How to Take Care of Your Yorkie?

This is a very essential step to take when you are in charge of a pet. As they can’t speak or take care of themselves, you need to take care of them.

Dental Hygiene of Your Pup – All dogs, but especially toy breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier, require good dental hygiene since they are prone to dental disorders including tooth decay.

Yorkshire Terrier puppies, like most other dogs, are born without teeth. By the age of 6 weeks, the puppies get 28 deciduous teeth. Those 28 teeth are later replaced by 42 permanent adult teeth throughout the teething process. By the age of eight to ten months, all adult teeth should be grown.

80% of all dogs suffer from dental problems. It happens when tartar builds up on the teeth, and it causes infection of the gums and roots of the teeth. Yorkies have a tendency to keep their baby teeth, which exacerbates the problem. To avoid any dental issues, take your dog for regular professional dental cleanings and exams.

Fortunately,  you can take certain steps to help maintain your Yorkie’s teeth and gums and keep them in good health and avoid the problems that this breed is known to have. The following are some techniques you can follow to keep your teeth clean:

Visit your veterinarian for a dental assessment and potentially full-dental cleaning.

• Use dental wipes to
• Brush your Yorkie’s teeth
• Make use of a dental spray
• Provide a dental chew daily

Take Care of Your Pup’s Trachea – Many dogs with tracheal collapse are treated with a mix of cough and airway irritation medicines, as well as weight loss. It’s also crucial to go from a collar to a harness that doesn’t put any strain on the neck.

If you see the following signs, take your pup to the vet as soon as possible.

• Breathing problems
• When you lift your dog or put pressure on its neck, it cough
• Coughing is accompanied by vomiting, gagging, or retching.
• Episodes of cyanosis or bluish mucous membranes
• Wheezing

Many small dog breeds are prone to tracheal collapse. Mild instances do not require treatment, but more serious ones can be treated with medicine. Surgery is seldom required, and keeping a dog’s weight under control by avoiding obesity can help prevent this problem.

Be Extra Careful When it Comes to Your Pup’s Legs – Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is a painful, degenerative hip ailment that affects young Yorkshire Terriers. It causes discomfort and lameness in one or both hind legs and sometimes needs surgery.

It’s a hip-joint disorder caused by a genetic mutation. As the top of the femur (leg bone) gets less blood flow, the pup’s hip joint will be impacted.

Eventually, the hip joint will distort and may not develop naturally. You may not notice signs immediately, but after the puppy grows about 6 months the difficulties become noticeable.

An X-ray exam is necessary to diagnose it, and medicine is used for treatment. Surgery is seldom required, however, some may need it.

Purebreds And Mutts: How Do I Know If My Yorkie Is Full-Blooded?

If you choose to rescue a dog from a shelter, then it is unlikely the specifics of the breed matter to you. However, if you are spending significant funds purchasing a dog from a breeder, then you’re likely looking for a purebred dog.

Here there is a risk the breeder will try to unethically profit by misrepresenting the background of the dog.

And while verifying their credentials is a start, you should also learn how to identify features in a full-blooded Yorkie body shape.

It may seem like a complicated task, especially if you’re inexperienced, but with a few tips, you can easily verify your dog’s parentage just by looking at it.

Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: How to Keep Fleas Off Yorkshire Terriers

●     The Color Is Always A Giveaway

When it comes to Yorkshire terrier appearance traditional color combinations include a darker and lighter tone, so black and tan, black and gold, blue and tan, or blue and gold. It’s easy to spot peculiarities. The main distinctions are the darker-toned Black Yorkies, Goldies that are a golden and tan combination, and Partis with their white patches.

●     Size Matters

What does a full-grown Yorkie look like? When it comes to pure-bred Yorkies, they follow the specific size and weight guidelines, typically falling within either four to seven pounds or eight to nine pounds. If your Yorkie exceeds these limits, chances are it is the result of a larger dog breeding with a Yorkie. Alternatively, especially breeding the runts of litter leads to Yorkies that weigh less than seven pounds.

●     Temperament Variations

A dog’s temperament is also a good indicator of whether it is purebred. The small bodies of full-blooded Yorkies are misleading. Far from being delicate, they are noisy and filled with an excess of energy, eager to go out and socialize. Mutts, on the other hand, are less energetic and prefer to laze around the house. So, if a Yorkie seems exceptionally mellow and has discrepancies in size or color, it’s likely a mixed breed.

Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: What is a Teacup Yorkie? Should You Get a Teacup Yorkie? Everything You Need to Know

●     Health Problems

Pure Yorkies are specially interbred dogs, and because of their smaller sizes, they tend to face a lot of health problems. Taking care of a Yorkie takes energy and money, along with regular vet visits. If your Yorkie is healthier than others of its breed, it’s probably a mixed breed.

How Big Do Yorkies Get?

According to the standard set by the American Kennel Club, Yorkies are considered a part of the toy breed category. That means the largest among them reaches a height of nine inches and has a maximum weight of six pounds.

●     Nutrition

How big your Yorkie grows depends mostly on what you feed it. It is a smaller breed with a large appetite and low self-control. So, it’s easy to overfeed it, which will inevitably lead to concerns like obesity. Consult your vet on the amount and type of feed for your Yorkie.

Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: How Much Does a Yorkie and Teacup Yorkie Cost?

●     Fitness Level

A common misconception is that small dogs are delicate and don’t require the same amount of energy as bigger dogs. This is simply not true. If you want to keep your Yorkie healthy, you need to take it to the park and play with it.

●     Purity Of The Breed

The size standards earlier stated are for pureblood Yorkies only and don’t apply to mixed breeds. So, if your Yorkie isn’t purebred it will likely cross the nine-pound mark. Some mixed dogs that take after their larger parent can go as high as 25 pounds.

●     Genetics

You also have to be careful you know what the ideal size and weight for your breed are. Teacup Yorkies have very different standards than Traditional Yorkshire Terriers. Even though they are both purebred Yorkies with the same genetics measuring them according to the same metric is unhealthy. You have to consider factors like congenital reasons.

Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: Yorkie Throwing Up? What Do You Do? Everything You Need to Know About Dog Vomiting

●     Health Status

If your Yorkie is not healthy it may be smaller and weaker than others of its breed. This is especially true for Yorkie puppies that fall ill during the early months of their life. The long-term impacts of sickness can stunt a Yorkie’s growth. Alternatively, malnutrition can also upset your dog’s health.

From Feeding To Grooming: Are Yorkies High Maintenance?

If you’ve heard anything about Yorkies, you’ll know that they are incredibly high-maintenance.

From the environment they need, and the food they eat to their grooming and temperament, only an extremely patient dog lover can care for a Yorkie.

So, let’s see if you have what it takes to take care of these divas.

 

●     They Need High-Quality Diets

Yorkies are fussy eaters. Their digestive systems are sensitive, so you can’t just feed their run-of-the-mill, off-the-shelf no-name dog food. You’ll need to invest in a healthy brand of low-carb, high-protein dog food to avoid problems like obesity. You also need to monitor portion sizes.

Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: Does your Yorkie’s paws need special attention?

●     Regular Grooming Is Unavoidable

If you want your Yorkie to maintain its shiny coat, you need to groom them regularly. While their multi-toned hair in its thick coat looks exquisite, it also grows fast, and if you don’t establish regular grooming habits will lead to excessive shedding and a tangled mane. Not to mention, poor grooming will give your Yorkie a terrible stench. To say an ungroomed Yorkie will go through agony during the summer months if you live in a hot climate.

You have two options when it comes to grooming your Yorkie. Either hire a professional to give it a stunning trim every few months, or purchase a specifically designed dog grooming shear set and learn how to do it yourself.

●     They Have Several Health Needs

When you get a pet, you assume the responsibility of providing for all of their needs, including regular visits to the vet. In the case of a purebred Yorkie, you go in knowing that this adorable dog will need constant medical care. These include the regular dog care expenses of regular checkups and shots, but also Yorkie-specific expenses.

The breed has certain genetic weaknesses, which make concerns like infections and dental issues a pressing concern. And if you’re not planning on neutering your dog, you also have to make room for the possibility of pregnancy. Yorkie births are notoriously tricky, and your pup will need extensive care both during and after.

Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: How to find a Responsible Yorkie Breeder

●     You Can Put A Price On Fun

Yorkies are bundles of energy and if you don’t want your dog to destroy your furniture and anything else they can get their paws on you’ll need to keep them well entertained.

That means buying copious amounts of toys for them to play with.

The higher quality ones last longer and you’ll save money long-term.

●     Training Requirement

This breed of dog is among the smartest ranking 34th on Stanley Coren’s dog intelligence scale. But they’re also overly energetic, which means you need to train them properly when they’re young or they’ll never listen to you. That can mean hiring a qualified professional.

Adopt a Fun Buddy, Yorkie

It’s always fun and interesting to have an active and cute Yorkie around you. The presence of these pups makes your life better and more joyful. With the proper care and time given to them, they are the best buddies you can ever ask for.

Related Questions on What Does a Yorkie Dog Look Like

Why Do Yorkies Turn Grey?

A Yorkie’s coat is constantly changing. When they are younger, their coats are darker. As they mature, their coats turn lighter. A Yorkie puppy may appear completely black, but its coat will turn lighter when it enters adulthood, eventually turning grey once it becomes elderly. At this stage, both its eyes and fur will turn grey.

At What Age Do Yorkies Change Color?

The first color change begins around the six-month mark as the Yorkie transitions into adulthood. This change is gradual, and the complete adult coat will not set in till the dog crosses the one-year mark. Some dogs take up to 18 months to get their adult coat.

How Can You Tell How Old A Yorkie Is?

It’s hard to tell a Yorkie’s age simply by looking at it. However, while the specifics are difficult to judge, you can estimate and guess what part of its life the dog is in. A Yorkie will reach its optimum adult weight and height of six pounds and nine inches at 18 months old. Additionally, the tone of the coat can also tell you how older a Yorkie is—the lighter the hair, the older the dog. Dental concerns and cataracts also indicate old age.

Here’s another Yorkie article you’ll enjoy: Preventing Tear Stains if You Have Yorkshire Terrier

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