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The Yorkshire Terrier, also known as
a Yorkie, is a breed of small dogs. Yorkies can be very small
indeed, usually not weighing more than about 5 or 6 pounds (less
than 3kg.) You can easily carry a Yorkie in a large coat pocket or a
bookbag. This tiny dog with engaging personality and outstanding
courage has endeared himself to pet lovers all over the world.
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small, hardy, lovable and fearless
family pet. Very light shedder, friendly and easy to care for, the
Yorkie is an ideal companion. He lives peacefully with other pets in
the family, takes his watchdog duties very seriously and is very
loving and devoted to his humans.
The breed was created around the middle of the 19th century by
crossing a number of different terriers at the time, including the
Sky Terrier and the old Black-and-Tan Terrier. Some believe that the
Yorkshire Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont are the direct ancestors.
This was done around the middle to north of England, especially in
the County of Yorkshire, hence the name Yorkshire Terrier. He soon
became quite fashionable and he still holds firm to this
position.
The early Yorkshire Terriers could be as large as 6 kg and were
used, similar to other terrier breeds, to kill rats. Over time,
breeders produced a smaller, more beautiful dog that was a household
pet and show dog, rather than a rat killer. A Yorkshire Terrier is
born completely black with tan markings on the face and legs. As an
adult, he must have well-defined tan markings at the sides of the
head and ear roots, on the muzzle, down the back of the neck, on all
four paws and under the tail. All traces of the black or sooty puppy
hair must be outgrown. The profuse, flowing coat of the Yorkie is
the hallmark of the breed and it demands constant care which should
begin while the dog is only two or three months of age.

| Country of Origin: |
Great Britain |
| FCI Classification: |
Group 3 - Terriers; Section 4 -Toy Terriers |
| Utilization: |
Toy Terrier |
| AKC Classification: |
Toy Group |
| Size |
Up to 7 pounds (AKC, UKC, CKC, NZKC, ANKC, KC(UK) Breed
Standards)
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| Colors: |
Blue and gold, blue and tan, black and gold, or black and
tan. The following colors are NOT recognized by the AKC Breed
Standard: all gold, born blue, liver (also known as red or
chocolate), and parti-colors. |
| Other Names: |
Yorkie |
| Average Litter Size: |
4 |
| Life Span: |
9-15 years |
| Personality: |
The Yorkshire Terrier has an independent and lively
spirit, but it is also a very loyal companion and a good
watchdog. He loves to run and play around. |
| Grooming Requirements: |
Yorkshire Terriers require daily brushing to maintain
their long silky coat in good condition. Ears and teeth should
be cleaned regularly. |
| Shedding: |
None |
| Social skills: |
Yorkies usually get along with other animals. Problems
between canine housemates are more likely to occur among dogs
of the same sex or age. |
| Suitability for Children: |
Yorkshire Terriers are not suitable for families with
young children. They are tiny fragile dogs and should be
treated with care. |
| Exercise Needs: |
0-20 minutes walk daily. |
| Train Ability: |
Can be hard to house train. |
| Health Issues: |
Yorkshire Terriers are quite sensitive to many medications.
They don't like cold or rain and should wear a sweater in cold
weather. Most common health issues include:
legg-calve-perthes disease
Portosysemic shunt
Patellar Luxation Tracheal
Collapse Rentianl Dysplasia
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