Little Pawz -- Yorkshire Terrier -- Yorkie -- Small Dogs -- Small Dog Breed Information -- Toy Dogs -- Miniature Dogs -- Dog Breeds

The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular dogs of the day. It rivals the Chihuahua for the title of the world's smallest dog. It is unlikely to be over-awed by larger animals, however, and is not the ideal choice for the stand-offish, because it wants to make friends with everybody. It has been described as a big dog inhabiting a small dog's body.

Size
Weight: up to 7 lbs. (3.2 kg)

Coat and Colour
Quality and texture of coat is of prime importance. The hair is glossy, silky, and fine in texture reflecting a certain brilliance and feels cool to the touch. The coat on the body hangs perfectly straight, not wavy, showing the outline of the well-bodied Yorkie. On the mature dog, the coat will eventually reach floor length. The fall on the head is long and tied in the centre with one bow. The hair on the muzzle is moderately long. Puppies are born black with tan markings showing a gradual progression to the colour of the mature adult dog to which the following colour requirements apply. Body Colour: The body coat is a bright steel blue, not light silver and not BLACK, not mingled with fawn, bronzy or black hairs. The blue extends over the body from the back of the neck to the root of the tail. Head, Chest and Legs: A clear golden tan deeper in colour at sides of head, at ear roots! and on the muzzle,with ears a deep golden tan. The golden tan hair is shaded from the roots down and does not extend down the back of the neck, nor above the elbows on forelegs or above the stifle on the hind legs.

Exercise
The Yorkshire Terrier is well suited to city and apartment living, but will prove tireless on a long walk.

Grooming
Many Yorkie owners are content for their little dog to have a somewhat scruffy, shaggy look as long as they know that it is clean and healthy. The show aspirant, however, has a busy time ahead. The immaculate coat needed for the show ring can only be achieved through endless grooming, shampooing and oiling. You may wan to enlist the services of a dog groomer to help you put your Yorkies coat into show condition.

Feeding
Recommended would be 1/2 can (13.3 oz 376 g size) name-brand dog food, with a biscuit, or 1 cup dry dog food. Always provide an ample supply of fresh water for your Yorkie.

Health Care
The Yorkshire Terrier has strong, terrier-type teeth, but it is advised to have them scaled by a veterinarian at regular intervals. Toy breeds tend to lose their teeth at an early age, but the avoidance of treats will preserve them for as long as possible.

Origin and History
The Yorkshire Terrier is similar in appearance to the Silky Terrier. It has existed for over 100 years. It is believed that the breed evolved through the crossing of the Skye Terrier with the old Black and Tan Terrier, although it is rumoured that the Maltese and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier may also have contributed to producing this game little dog, which is renowned as a brave and efficient ratter.

The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most glamorous and popular of the toy breeds. It was originally bred in Yorkshire, England for the not-so-glamorous job of keeping down the rats in the coal pits and cotton mills. It was also used by the miners as a sporting terrier in rat-killing contests. If this seems a far cry from the dainty, profusely coated dog of today's show ring, it should be remembered that this all took place in the mid-19th century, when the Yorkie was bred to do the work of a terrier and when it weighed in the area of 15 lbs. The breed made a big hit with the ladies and soon was in great demand as a pet.

Celebrity Owners
The late Audrey Hepburn owned a Yorkshire Terrier named Mr. Famous; and Justin Timberlake has two Yorkies named Bearlie and Bella. Venus Williams also owns two Yorkies: Pete, named after tennis great, Pete Sampras, and Bobby.