Welcome to Purebred Star, the weekly blog exploring the wide diversity of dogs out there!
In my last “Purebred Star” blog I talked about the “German Shepherd“.
This week: Yorkshire Terrier
My Training Experience: I have had the pleasure of working with many Yorkie’s and yes, they are every bit adorable in person! My saddest training experience is far too often my most common situation with this breed. It is when parents get a Yorkie (keep in mind of their extremely small size) and have small children that are not taught properly how to handle and behave around their new Yorkie puppy. I commonly see the Yorkie extremely nippy towards small kids and have experienced Yorkie’s getting injured due to small children dropping their puppy. As a trainer, I highly recommend this little pocket size breed for a family with children of ages 11 and older only. Training is a must with this little breed that can quickly fall into the “Small Dog Syndrome” category very fast, making them extremely unpleasant to be around.
Originates From: Yorkshire, England is the origin of this pint-size but full of punch purebred which is best known as a Yorkie and is Number 3 on the 2011 Most Popular Dog Breed list! Interesting Fact: The Yorkshire Terrier was originally called the Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier, the breed was renamed in the late 18th century and is a descendant of the Waterside terrier, Old English black and tan terrier, Paisley terrier and the Clydesdale terrier, however there is debate that the Maltese is one of their descendants.
Bred For: The Yorkie was originally bred to catch rats in the clothing mills in Yorkshire but quickly became a little companion dog amongst dog fanciers alike.
Build: The Yorkie’s height is from 7-9 inches and can weigh about 3-7 pounds. They are a very small and sometimes fragile breed if mishandled by young children.
Appearance: Their coat is sometimes considered to be hypoallergenic (there is no such dog that doesn’t shed). A hypoallergenic dog still dispels skin dander and saliva which is what causes human allergies to flare up, but their shedding of fur is almost non-existent except during brushing and grooming. Their distinctive coat is long, silky and glossy with a part down the middle and hanging to the floor. Typically they are groomed with a “Puppy Cut” which makes it more manageable to maintain the coat. They are born with the colorings of black with tan points and gradually change over the years (sometimes 2-4 years) to a blue/tan color or a silver/cream color. They have little erect ears which are V-shaped.
Personality: Yorkie’s are full of punch, meaning they have a zest for life! They are 
scrappy, courageous and extremely assertive, making them sometimes difficult to train. Training early on will help you and your Yorkie to understand the importance of hierarchy in your family dynamics. They are full of spirit and are happy to take the lead of guarding their territory making them a very yappy dog. With some early training the barking can be manageable but they will always be a “barker”, so think twice before getting a Yorkie if you prefer not to have a dog that barks a lot. Because of their stubbornness, they are known to take up to 2 – 5 years to potty train, if you live in a colder climate area, it will be in your best interest to get your Yorkie pup in the Spring time making the potty training much more easier.
Activity Level: Their activity level is moderate, which makes the Yorkie a perfect partner for those daily walks of 30 minutes. Because they are active to a certain degree, it is important to have playtime and daily walks scheduled to keep your little Yorkie’s energy controlled and mentally happy!
Health Concerns: This breed has issues Dental (yearly dental cleanings will be a MUST for this fur kid), Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar), Legg-Perthes Disease (Top of the Femur, thigh bone, degenerates), Liver Shunts, Tracheal Collapse (weakening of the walls of the trachea) and Luxating Patellas.
Rescue First
This is a fun, energetic, full of attitude pint size purebred! If that sounds like a match for you consider a Yorkshire Terrier as the dog to have. However, reconsider if you have children younger than age 11 as they typically do not do well with younger kids. They are an adventurous breed making them a great traveling buddy and will be happy to go with you in a moment’s notice.
Consider looking into a rescue organization for a purebred, there are many out there and this will give you the chance to “Save a Life” by adopting. NEVER purchase any dog from a pet store, unfortunately, those puppies come from puppy mills, instead look for a reputable breeder to work with.
As for all animals, it is important to spay and neuter your puppy by 6 months old to have a healthy and happy pet for many years to come!
