Yorkshire Terrier Breed description: Character & Co
| Alternate Name | Yorkie |
| Origin | UK |
| Life expectancy | 13 - 16 years |
| Care requirements | high-maintenance |
| Activity level | low |
| FCI group | Toy Terriers |
| AKC group | Toy Group |
| KC group | Toy Group |
Character
Usage
Origin
What are typical Yorkshire Terrier diseases?
Typical, breed related diseases of the Yorkshire Terrier are
- injuries of the kneecaps or
- patella dislocations.
- Various eye diseases are just as common among these dogs as
- hereditary bronchitis or
- Lymphangiectasia.
The so-called dwarfing is also a problem of the Yorkshire Terriers. Even smaller specimens are still being bred, as it is considered modern. However, this is called torture breeding, which is actually prohibited. So-called Mini-Yorkies, which were bred to be extremely small, also have a significantly lower life expectancy. Therefore, it is important that you put your trust in a responsible Yorkshire Terrier breeder.
What should be considered when breeding Yorkshire Terriers?
The most important thing is that only breeders that inform themselves abut the animals' genetics are allowed to breed dogs. Everything else is pure reproduction and has nothing to do with breeding.
Only healthy parents who have been tested for various hereditary diseases should be mated with each other. Also you have to pay attention to fresh bloodlines, because also inbreeding provides health risks for the four-legged friends. In general, the male must always be smaller than the female, otherwise dramatic complications can occur during birth.
What are the breed characteristics of a Yorkshire Terrier?
The most striking breed characteristic of the Yorkshire Terrier is its small size and light weight. They listed as a Terrier of group 3 by the FCI and as a Dwarf Terrier in section 4.
A dog from a good Yorkshire Terrier breeding has a very fine and long coat. This should hang down smoothly and evenly on both sides.
The body of these small dogs is compactly built, robust and well proportioned. The skull is flat and the ears are V-shaped. The eyes are medium sized and dark. The tail has a lot of hair and is carried above the backline.
Appearance and coat of the Yorkshire Terrier
The silky, straight and long hair falls down on their left and right side in a neat parting. It runs evenly from the tail to the nose of the animal. Especially at the muzzle, the coat should also be especially long. Often the hair is tied together with a bow on the head, so that the hair does not hang into their eyes. The coat of these dogs must always be silky sheen. Therefore, regular coat care is also of great importance. In addition to that, by providing them with an appropriate and healthy diet you can ensure that your Yorkshire Terrier always has a silky and shiny coat.
The typical coat colours of the Yorkshire Terrier are blue and tan, black and tan blue, gold and white and may show so-called black marks.
How big does the Yorkshire Terrier grow?
The male reaches a height of about 23 cm and bitches usually reach an average shoulder height of 20 cm.
How much does a Yorkshire Terrier weigh?
Yorkshire Terriers usually weigh a maximum of 3.2 kilograms. As these dogs are very cute and also like to beg, there is a high risk that you overfeed your Yorkie. Therefore, you should also supervise the nutrition of these small dogs regularly. Being overweight comes with enormous health risk, also for Yorkshire Terriers.
What is the average lifespan of a Yorkshire Terrier?
A Yorkshire Terrier will reach an age of 14 to 16 years if kept in a species-appropriate way, provided that it also comes from a healthy and responsible breeding. If you take in a Yorkshire Terrier home, you must be aware of this long-time responsibility.
| Fur length | medium |
| Fur | flat coated |
| Ear shape | Standing Ears |
| Tail | short |
| Anatomy | slim, square |
| Size | 16 - 17 cm |
| Weight | 3 - 4 kg |
| Size | 16 - 17 cm |
| Weight | 4 - 5 kg |
| Suitable For | Beginner, Seniors |
Colors
Other small dogs
Visit our blog for more fresh articles
You can find articles that might interest you in the dogbible blog to match your favorite breed.
Visit our magazine