Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier (or ‘Yorkie’) was bred in Yorkshire, Northern England in the 1800’s to hunt and kill rats and other vermin. It was carefully bred from a number of working terriers, some of which came to England alongside Scottish immigrants looking for factory work. The Yorkshire Terrier may have derived its long coat and blue coloring from the Clydesdale and Skye Terriers, and its signature coat pattern likely results from crosses with the English Black and Tan Terrier. Early Yorkshire Terriers were known as Broken-Haired Scotch Terriers or Toy Terriers. Huddersfield Ben, born in Yorkshire in 1865, was a popular champion and skilled ratter who sired many small Yorkshire Terriers and is today universally recognized as the patriarch of the breed. The Yorkshire Terrier was imported to America in 1872 and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1878. The Yorkshire Terrier became the American Kennel Club’s second most registered dog in 2006 at 48,000 registrations, beat out only by the Labrador Retriever. Famous Yorkshire Terriers include Audrey Hepburn’s Yorkie ‘Mr. Famous’ who appeared with her in ‘Funny Face’ and Tricia Nixon’s pet Yorkie ‘Pasha’. ‘Toto’ from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ was played by a Cairn Terrier in the film but originally illustrated as a Yorkshire Terrier in the novel. Some Yorkies are famous for their small size, such as Big Boss, Guinness World Record holder in 2002 for smallest living dog at 12 cm (5 in) tall, and Sylvia, a Yorkshire Terrier from England who was the smallest dog in recorded history at 2.5 inches tall and weighed merely 4 ounces!
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The Yorkshire Terrier is a tan dog with a blue saddle. Parti colours exist, although they are not correct for the breed standard. The parti colour coat Is white with black/blue and tan. It's very rare to get a a parti colour yorkie, and if they are found they tend to be very expensive.The breed is defined by its colour, and colours promoted as "rare" may indicate health problems or cross-breeding with other breeds of other colours.The AKC registration form for Yorkshire Terriers allows for four choices: blue and tan, blue and gold, black and tan, black and gold. Colour alone will not affect whether or not a dog is a good companion and pet. Even though off-coloured Yorkshire Terriers are advertised at premium prices, being of an unusual or untypical colour is neither new, desirable, nor exotic.
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Until recently, mismarked Yorkshire Terriers could be crossed with Biewer Terriers, a new breed originated in Germany from parti coloured Yorkshire Terriers.Although the American Kennel Club will not deny registration of a Yorkshire Terrier on colour alone, the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America has a directive that "any solid colour or combination of colours other than blue and tan" for adult dogs is a disqualification, and "dogs of solid colour, unusual combination of colours, and parti-colours should be disqualified."
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If the coat is the correct silky texture, maintenance for it is relatively easy, requiring a daily brushing and a bath every month. Owners may trim the fur short for easier care. For shows, the coat is left long, and may be trimmed to floor length to give ease of movement and a neater appearance. Hair on the feet and the tips of ears can also be trimmed.
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The traditional long coat is extremely high maintenance. To prevent breakage, the coat may be wrapped in rice paper, tissue paper, or plastic, after a light oiling with a coat oil. The oil has to be washed out once a month and the wraps must be fixed periodically during the week to prevent them from sliding down and breaking the hair. Elaborate care of the beautiful coat dates from the earliest days of the breed. In 1878, John Walsh described similar preparations: the coat is "well greased" with cocoanut oil, the dog is bathed weekly, and the dog's feet are "carefully kept in stockings."
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Yorkshire Terrier Dog Club Directory
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Artistry Yorkshire Terriers

- Breeder and exhibitor. Pictures, grooming, diet recipes, and show results. Michigan.

Bejaze Yorkshire Terriers

- Breeder and exhibitor has pictures of past and present show dogs, kennel history, memorial pages, and a photographic record of puppy growth. California.

BlueBlaze

- Breeder and exhibitor provides photograph galleries, memorial pages, poems, and breed standard. Includes pedigrees and show results. Singapore.

Blumoon Yorkies

- Provides photographs and details of past and present show dogs, general breed information, articles, and memorial pages. Kansas City, Missouri.

Bonsai Yorkshire Terriers

- Breeder in Italy provides pedigrees, show results and photographs, as well as judging background, kennel history, and litter details.

Braecliff Yorkshire Terriers

- Provides photograph galleries and show results. Grimsby, Ontario, Canada.

Caraneal Yorkshire Terriers

- Breeder has pictures, pedigrees, breed history and standard. Virginia.

Chotlada

- Breeder and judge in Thailand provides picture galleries of show dogs in several countries, as well as memorial pages, pedigree details, puppy information, and general care articles.

Coronado Yorkies

- Breeder has pictures and pedigrees. Roseburg, Oregon.

Danre's Yorkies

- Breeder and exhibitor with pictures and pedigrees. Texas.

Declan's Yorkshire Terriers

- News and pictures from dog shows and home. Slovakia.

Dolce Sinfonia

- Featuring details of shows, fashion items, photos, and breeder philosophy. Beverly Hills, California.

Fabulous

- Breeder in Germany provides photographs of show dogs and puppy development, with pedigrees and background information.

Goldenray Yorkshire Terriers

- Breeder of Yorkshire Terriers, Pekingese, and Brussels Griffons. Includes photos, show results, pedigrees and health and care information. Dayton, Ohio.