Breed Profile – Yorkshire Terrier

General Information

Yorkshire Terriers, or "Yorkies" as they are often affectionately referred as, offer big personalities in a small package. The Yorkshire Terrier was developed in the north of England about the middle 19th century, chiefly for the job of controlling the rat population in the coal pits and cotton mills. Yorshire Terriers were also a featured combatant in rat-killing contests.

Personality:

The Yorkshire is a home buddy, always living amid the family, totally immersed and involved in the family's day-to-day routine. Yorkies operate on the family's schedule. They instinctively know who comes home first, and, likewise, they know when someone is late or missing. This family dog cannot sleep if one of his beloved is still not home where he or she belongs. Yorkies have the memory of elephants! Once you cross a Yorkie and he brands you a foe, he will never forget your transgression. Considering this toy terrier's spirit and determination, once a Yorkie thinks he has his way in all matters of the household, he may become less of a joy to have around. By nature, the Yorkie is not a selfish, greedy dog; he is not a stingy eater and does not gorge himself; he does not hide his toys from his playmates and is quite happy to share his things. Once your obsession has spoiled this delightful personality, your Yorkie may not be the generous, open-hearted angel you fell in love with.

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Physical Characteristics

Given the tiny size of the breed, the Yorkshire does not impose upon your space. Given the petite size of the Yorkie, caution is in order. You do not need a palatial estate with a top-security fence. You do not need a large home to provide ample exercise for the dog indoors. You do not need to stress your budget to afford to feed the dog. You do need to open your heart to this 3-pound wonder and learn to give yourself freely and without reservation to another living creature. The Yorkshire Terrier welcomes everyone into his world. A Yorkshire Terrier, whose temper is incited, will make quite a display of spit and attitude when protecting his owner’s property, car or home. Yorkies have the memory of elephants! Once you cross a Yorkie and he brands you a foe, he will never forget your transgression.

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Health and Training

Yorkshire Terrier's eyes are not only a good indication of his affection and devotion for you, his owner, but also an excellent way of evaluating the dog’s health. Look for any cloudiness or opacity in the eyes of your dog; this could indicate a problem to bring to your veterinarian’s attention. With the Yorkshire Terrier, however, the breed is prone to some hereditary eye conditions. Among these conditions, the most common are cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and ulcerative keratitis. Progressive retinal atrophy, abbreviated PRA, causes blindness in affected dogs. Commonly, the Yorkshire Terrier is struck by PRA in the later years, usually around 8 years of age, though it can be as early as 5 and as late as 12. As the name describes, the deterioration of the retina worsens over time. Two orthopedic conditions that commonly affect toy dogs and other small breeds are Legg-Calve-Perthes disease and patellar luxation. Commonly seen in young Yorkies, Legg-Calve-Perthes has a high incidence in the breed. The disease causes lameness in the hip joint, resulting from the collapsing of the femoral head of the leg. Very frequently, in eight or nine out of ten cases, only one leg is affected. It is likely hereditary, though veterinary research is not conclusive. Von Willebrand’s disease (vWD), a congenital bleeding disorder, is seen in many breeds of dog. Unfortunately, the disease is becoming of increasing importance to the Yorkshire Terrier. Breeders and vets have noted a large number of cases in recent times, particularly in dogs over five years of age. Not all dogs with vWD are diagnosed, depending on the level of clotting.

You do not need to purchase expensive equipment to train, house and otherwise accommodate the Yorkshire Terrier. Yorkies can receive ample exercise indoors, with an occasional romp through the yard. Yorkies love to play in the grass and are talented diggers.

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Similar Breeds and Mixing

Yorkshire terrier breed descended from a larger but similar Scottish breeds such as the Paisley Terrier and the Skye Terrier, which are now extinct. Likewise, other breeds have been created from the Yorkshire terrier, such as the Biewer Terrier and the Australian Silky Terrier, bred from a blue, white, and gold puppy they later named Schneeflocken von Friedheck. Unusual pets like this has resulted in high demand and prices being paid for Yorkshire terriers being crossed with various other breeds.

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