yorkshire terrier

Appearance

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The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the smallest dog breeds. According to the FCI and AKC standards, the weight of the Yorkie must not exceed 3.2 kg, the minimum weight or height is not limited by the standard[11][12]. The general appearance is described in the standard as follows: a long-haired dog, the coat falls absolutely straight and evenly on the sides, the parting runs from the nose to the tip of the tail. Very compact and graceful, the posture is emphatically proud and important. The overall impression is of a strong, well-proportioned body of an animal[13].

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coat

The Yorkshire Terrier is a long-haired breed and does not have an undercoat. This means that they practically do not shed. Their hair is similar to human hair in that it constantly grows and rarely falls out (only when combed or damaged)[14].

Due to the structure of their coat, Yorkies are less likely to cause allergies in people. At the same time, allergens can also be dandruff, hair fragments, saliva, dog smell [15].

Standard

The standard describes the coat of the Yorkie as follows: on the body of medium length, perfectly straight (not wavy), shiny, fine silky texture, not fluffy. The hair on the head is long, flowing, rich golden red-brown; while the color is more intense on the sides of the head, at the base of the ears and on the muzzle, where the hair is the longest. The red-brown color of the head should not extend to the neck, should not have an admixture of gray or black hair.

The coloration is dark steel blue (not silver blue) extending from the occiput to the base of the tail. No admixture of yellowish-brown, bronze or dark hair is allowed. The coat on the chest is an intense bright red-brown color. All red-brown hair is darker at the roots than in the middle and becomes even lighter towards the ends.

The limbs are well covered with golden red-brown hair. In this case, the ends of the hair are shaded more lightly than the roots. Red-brown color should not be higher than the elbows and knees. The ears are covered with short hair of a very luscious red-brown color[16].

The tail is profusely covered with hair of a blue color, a darker shade than on the body, especially at the end of the tail.

Varieties

The coat color of many Yorkies does not meet the accepted standard; the yellow-brown coat color can vary from very light to dark brown, and the coat on the main body can be black or silvery-gray.[17]

Experts note the relationship between the structure of wool and color. Dogs that are too dark rarely have the correct silky coat, which is usually wavy and is said to be "puffy". Light-colored dogs have a more regular texture, but their coat may turn yellow over time. It is believed that the most difficult task is to obtain a rich dark steel color, but it is with this color that dogs have a coat structure that best meets the standard and makes the best impression[1][18]. Many breeders now place much more importance on coat quality than color, so they are able to produce dogs with uniform color and correct coat texture

There are also "designer" varieties of Yorkshire terriers of non-standard colors: Biewer Yorkies. Their coat structure is somewhat different from traditional Yorkies (more undercoat is developed), and the dominant color can be white, as well as chocolate brown with brown pigmentation on the nose, paws and eyelids. These varieties are not recognized by all cynological organizations.

Coat of puppies

Yorkies are born black with several tan spots: on the muzzle, under the tail, on the outside of the hind legs, on the inside of the front legs from the armpit with a slight approach to the chest. The lower part of the body, jaws and throat are bronze. The spots can be of different shades - from golden yellow to dark golden-bronze, different sizes, wool of different colors can be mixed.

Over time, the coat begins to lighten. The color change starts from the head: black or black-brown coat is replaced by golden-bronze, as a result, black color should not remain on the head, the color on the chest and paws also changes. Markings become brighter and clearer, areas with mixed coat of different colors disappear. The steel color begins to appear on the neck, shoulders, back, loin and sacrum, when viewed from above, the difference between lighter roots and darker tips is clearly visible.

Not all puppies get the correct color as a result, even in the same litter the results of recoloring may turn out to be different. Puppies born completely black, bronze, bronze with black spots or gray cannot acquire the correct color, such puppies cannot participate in breeding, they are issued documents marked “breeding marriage”, which, of course, does not prevent them from being pets. A serious violation is also bronze wool mixed with black[19].

When recoloring, the structure of the coat also changes. Smooth-coated puppies are born and the texture only develops over time, in rough-coated dogs it often becomes finer and silkier after 1 year[19]. The dog acquires its final color at the age of 2-3 years, and sometimes later.

Wool length

The average coat length prescribed by the standard in practice means that in show dogs it reaches the floor [1]. To prevent wool of this length from getting tangled and not split, it is wound on hairpins, which are removed only during washing and at exhibitions. At the exhibition, the wool on the head is taken into a special knot - the top knot (English top knot - knot at the crown) [22].

Dogs that have already finished their show career or do not participate in shows at all are usually trimmed more or less short. At the same time, the hair on the head can be cut short, forming a “bangs”, or it can be left longer, then it is collected in a “tail”.

Head

The skull is fairly small, flat, neither protruding nor round. The nose is black. The muzzle is not long. Correct level scissor bite, with the upper incisors closely in front of the lower. The teeth stand vertically in the jaws, the jaws are even. Eyes of medium size, dark, shining, with a vigilant, intelligent expression, straight set. Not convex. The eyelids are dark. The ears are small, V-shaped, erect, not too widely spaced, covered with short hair of a very luscious red-brown color. Neck of good length[13].

The length of the muzzle (the distance between the nose and the forehead) is one third of the length of the head. The ears are set fairly high on the head, level with the forehead and not too flanked, and do not feel protruding[1][23].

Baby face

Also popular is the type of dog with a short muzzle and large eyes. This type is called "baby-face" (English baby-face - baby face), as it gives the muzzle a touching, childish expression. With such a structure of the head, the dog does not meet the standard - the skull is round, the muzzle is short, the ears are set low, the eyes are large, bulging, with a surprised expression. Experts at shows prefer dogs with a classic type of muzzle that meets the standard, but the "baby face" looks very attractive from the point of view of the owners.

Dogs of this type can suffer from chronic conjunctivitis due to irritation of too large eyeballs by hair, as well as narrowing of the tear duct. A muzzle that is too short can cause the dog to make grunting noises while playing or running, as well as to snore while sleeping

body and limbs

The body is compact. The back is straight. The loin is very strong. Chest with moderately prominent ribs[13].

The forelegs are straight and well covered with golden red-brown hair. In this case, the ends of the hair are shaded more lightly than the roots. The red-brown color should not be above the elbows. Shoulders are well placed. The hind limbs, when viewed from behind, are perfectly straight, the angles of the knee joints are moderately pronounced. Well covered with hair of a juicy golden red-brown color, while the ends of the hair are somewhat lighter than the roots. Red-brown color should not be above the knees. The paws are round, the claws are black.

Tail

According to the old standards, the tail had to be docked[1]. In the 1998 FCI standard, it was stated: “usually docked to half the length” [13]. In 2003, the description of an undocked tail appeared in the standard[24], and in the current standard of 05/19/2009, preference is no longer given to one of the types:

Previously usually docked

Docked : Of medium length, profusely covered with hair of a blue color, a darker shade than on the body, especially at the end of the tail. Carried slightly above the line of the back.

Undocked: Profusely covered with hair of a blue color, a darker shade than on the body, especially at the end of the tail. Carried slightly above the line of the back. As direct as possible. The length creates a balanced feel

The size

The FCI and AKC standards determine the maximum weight of a Yorkie - 3.1 kg, the minimum weight is 2.3 kg [26], the growth of a Yorkie is not limited by the standard, but 15-17 cm is considered optimal [27]. The standards also do not provide for the division of Yorkies into varieties according to size (unlike, for example, dachshunds or poodles)[25][28]. At the same time, in Russia, unofficial names are common among non-professionals, meaning the size of the dog, the so-called mini and micro, which means all over the world that these dogs are a marriage.

Too small dogs, especially bitches, are not suitable for breeding, are very sickly and have a short life expectancy. The breeding of such miniature dogs is caused by demand from owners who want to get an unusual pet. For this purpose, bitches of standard size are often bred with small males. There are also cases where puppies are deliberately underfed to slow down their growth. As a result, dogs with impaired health and psyche can be obtained. At the same time, tiny dogs can also appear in litters of standard-sized parents[18].

The smallest Yorkie ever recorded is Sylvia from Blackburn, England. She died in 1945 at the age of 2 years, her height at the withers was 6.3 cm, the length from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail was 9.5 cm and her weight was 113 g[29][30][31]. In the Guinness Book of Records from 1995 to 2002, the Yorkshire terrier Big Boss, which belonged to Chai Khanchanakom from Thailand, was registered as the smallest dog. At the age of one year, he was 11.9 cm tall and weighed 481 g[31][32].

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Character

Despite their diminutiveness, Yorkshire terriers retain the qualities inherent in large terriers - courage, curiosity, and tirelessness. He is friendly with people and with other dogs and is devoted to the owner.

More than any other dog breed, Yorkshire Terriers need attention[14]. Yorkshire terriers are ready to spend the whole day next to the owner - on the hands or following him on the heels. They are happy to run, jump, play ball, "hunt" birds, mice or sunbeams, while not forgetting to follow the reaction of the owner. Yorkshire Terriers persistently get their way, whether it's the owner's attention or a portion of food. York feels the mood of the owner well and adapts to it

The hunting passion of the Yorkshire Terrier sometimes poses a danger to him: in the countryside villages, Yorkies catch and eat bugs, as well as injured mice if they are dropped by a bird of prey. Both, of course, are not deadly poisonous, but can provoke indigestion. Walks under the nests of owls, kestrels, etc., where one or two stale mice constantly wallow, are highly discouraged

Maintenance and care

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Due to the small size of the Yorkie, it is easy to keep in the city, even in a small apartment. Yorkies can be trained to use a cat litter box or a special diaper as a toilet, which eliminates the problem of mandatory walks. At the same time, walks give York great pleasure, like any physical activity. In winter, they dress him so that the snow does not get into the wool, and the dog does not freeze. The Yorkie is easy to take with you on any trip in a carry bag[1][36].

But it must be borne in mind that a dog of this size is quite fragile and can be injured, for example, by stepping on it. Puppies should be handled with particular care, the Yorkie puppy is not suitable for families with small children, as a child may drop it or squeeze it too hard.[34][36].

The greatest difficulty is caring for the coat if it remains long. Usually long hair is grown in dogs that participate in exhibitions. A long-haired dog should be washed regularly with shampoo and conditioner, and oiled with oil. To prevent the wool from tangling, it is wound on curlers. So that the papillots do not go astray, overalls are put on the dog over them. Socks are put on the hind legs so that the dog cannot comb out the papillottes [1] [22].

If the dog does not participate in exhibitions, it is usually cut quite short. There are various models of haircuts that can be done at home or by contacting a specialist. For hygiene purposes, the hair is completely cut off on the lower surface of the tail, under it, in the lower abdomen. In other places the coat may be left more or less long. Haircut should be repeated every 2-3 months[36].

The Yorkie's eyes should be cleaned every day with a cotton swab moistened with water to remove eye secretions that, mixed with dust, can cause conjunctivitis. At the same time, you also need to comb the hair on the muzzle so that it does not get into the eyes. You also need to clean your ears, to facilitate cleaning, the hair inside the ear canal is often removed. The hair on the upper third of the ear is cut short with scissors or a razor[36].

Teeth should be brushed to remove plaque and calculus. You can brush your teeth with a special brush, give the dog chewing “bones”, if noticeable dental deposits form, it is recommended to take the dog to the veterinarian. Tartar leads to periodontal disease, which, in turn, can lead to early tooth loss, teeth can fall out as early as 2 years. If the dog's nails do not wear down on their own during walks (if the dog walks little or does not walk at all), they must be trimmed

Health

Yorkies are quite healthy. Their average life expectancy is 12-15 years[33][35][37]. Some individuals reach the age of more than 20 years[36][38].

Some diseases are more common in Yorkies than in other breeds, especially due to their "smallness":

Non-overgrowth of the fontanel - the fontanel can remain open for life, which increases the risk of damage to the skull.

Cryptorchidism - one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum.

Dislocation of the patella - stretching or eversion of the joints, may be accompanied by rupture of the ligaments.

Perthes disease is the destruction of the bone of the head and neck of the femur without inflammation. It appears between 3 and 5 months of age and causes lameness.

Tracheal collapse (English) - sudden respiratory movements (when agitated or sharply pulling on the leash) can lead to an instant narrowing of the trachea, since the cartilaginous semirings in small breeds are poorly developed.

Violation of the change of teeth - milk teeth, especially canines, can remain during the change of teeth, while the permanent ones grow nearby. Removal of milk teeth is performed under anesthesia in a veterinary clinic [1].

Distichiasis is the appearance of an additional row of eyelashes behind normally growing ones

Manchester also had its own breed of terrier, the Manchester Terrier. Breeders managed to get his variety with soft, long and silky hair. All these breeds became the ancestors of the Yorkshire Terrier.

Weavers who worked in new factories took up the breeding of a new breed. They succeeded in breeding a dog with a long, silky, steel-blue coat with pure golden brown markings. Yorkies of that time had a longer body and larger size than modern Yorkies, their usual weight was 6-7 kg. A new breed called the Yorkshire Blue and Tan Silky Coated Terrier quickly gained popularity, displacing other varieties of small English terriers.

In 1886, the breed was recognized by the Kennel Club and entered into the stud book. In 1898, the first Yorkshire Terrier Club was organized

Huddersfield Ben

One of the first famous representatives of the breed was the Huddersfield Ben. He was born at Huddersfield to W. Eastwood in 1865 and was sold to Mrs. M. A. Foster of Bradford. Ben was the result of two generations of inbreeding. At the age of 6, Ben died after being run over by a crew. During his short life, he managed to win 74 prizes at various exhibitions and competitions. Ben left numerous offspring and is still referred to as the "father of the breed"

Hudderfield Ben was the best breeding dog of his time and one of the most remarkable dogs of all breeds and times; most of the show representatives of the breed are currently descendants of one or more sides [3].

Original text (English)[show]

— P. H. Coombs, 1891

Yorkshire Terrier, USA, 1915

20th century

There is little information about the history of Yorkshire Terriers in the first half of the 20th century, since 1946 there are rare reports about breeders and exhibitions. An average of 250 dogs were entered in the Kennel Club's stud book per year, during the war - 150-200. In 1947, the first post-war exhibition took place in Great Britain. During the year, 953 Yorkies were entered in the stud book, in 1949 - more than 1000, in 1960 - more than 4000[1].

In 1940, the first Yorkshire Terrier was bred in Germany

In the United States, where Yorkies arrived as early as 1872 and were included in the stud book of the American Kennel Club in 1878[4], interest in them declined in the 1940s The revival of interest in the breed is associated with a dog named Smokey, who "fought" in the Second World War The popularity of Yorkies is growing: in the AKC rankings, they took 9th place in 1998, 6th in 2003, and in 2006, 2007 and 2008 - 2nd place, second only to Labrador Retrievers

History of the breed

The Yorkshire Terrier is native to Yorkshire and Lancashire in northern England. His possible ancestor is called the Waterside Terrier. The breed was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries in Yorkshire and was described as "a small, blue-gray dog ​​with semi-long hair". These dogs were kept by the peasants, as they were forbidden to have large dogs so that they would not poach on the lands that belonged to the nobility. Small dogs guarded houses from rodents and accompanied their owners on trading trips along rivers and canals (hence the name).

Some experts call Yorkies and Maltese lapdogs among the ancestors, although they differ significantly from them: the Maltese has hanging ears and a white color. It is believed that Yorkies were crossed with lapdogs in order to improve the quality of wool, hair structure and obtain silkiness. Supporting this theory is that light-coloured Yorkies often have very good coat quality.

At the end of the 18th century, with the beginning of industrialization, many people moved to the cities in the west of the county in search of work, and workers also came from Scotland. They brought their dogs with them, which at that time were called “Scotch terriers” (eng. Scotch terrier), later among them such breeds as paisley terrier (eng.), clydesdale terrier, cairo terrier (eng.), skye terrier. It is likely that these breeds were involved in the breeding of the Yorkshire Terrier. The closest to the modern Yorkie were the Paisley Terrier and the Clydesdale Terrier, which were never recognized by the Kennel Club as separate breeds, and over time their breeding was discontinued.