Appearance of the Yorkshire Terrier
General impression
Long-haired, compact and agile dog, with evenly falling hair, parted from nose to tail. The body is strong and proportional. In the photo of the Yorkshire Terrier, the assertive and open character of the dog is immediately noticeable.
Head
The Yorkie's eyes are shiny, non-protruding, straight-set. Eye color – dark brown, with dark eyelids, expression – intelligent. Small vertical ears are not very far apart and are covered with intense red short hair. Scissor bite, with vertical, close-fitting canines.
Neck
Quite long, with flowing hair and even parting.
Torso
Compact, almost square, with a flat, strong back and a clearly defined loin.
Forelegs
With pronounced shoulders, straight elbows, evenly covered with golden hair. Red-brown color is allowed up to the knee joint.
Hind limbs
Straight in front, in profile the knees are moderately pronounced, the coat is long, with a lighter tone at the ends. The red-brown color, as on the front legs, should not extend above the knee. With round paws and black claws.
Tail
The tail is usually docked in the middle, or may not be docked. The dog carries it just above the line of the back. The fur on the tail is darker the closer to the end it is.
Movement
Free with a good pace, limbs do not twist, the step is even. The dog gives the impression of a nimble and swift animal bred for hunting.
Wool
The hair on the body is straight, thin, silky, without wave. The hair on the head and ears is long. The Yorkie has no undercoat and does not shed, because the hair, like human hair, grows from one bulb.
Color
Puppies' coat is usually black and brown. With growth, the black color degenerates into a steel-blue color, and the brown color becomes lighter. By the age of 1.5 years, the Yorkie takes on its usual color. Steel blue wool should be free of impurities. It is located on the back. The fur is reddish-brown in color, darker at the roots and lighter towards the tips. Occasionally, red-legged Yorkshire terriers are born - this happens when the puppy's coat does not become bluish-brown with age, but remains black-reddish. This is called "return". All of the listed Yorkshire Terrier colors are recognized by international standards.
Size
The height of a Yorkie is not stipulated by the standard; the main thing is proportions. But the weight is clearly indicated by the standard - up to 3.1 kg, but for breeding dogs weighing from 1.7 to 2.8 are preferred.
Description and Appearance of the Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier is one of the famous breeds.
The dog is not suitable for guarding or hunting, it is a companion pet. The head is small, slightly flattened. The muzzle is expressive, framed by elongated hair. The eyes are dark, covered with bangs. The look is smart, mischievous. Ears are erect, as if perked up to sound. The limbs are straight, the paws are round, with the toes pressed together. Yorkie's movements are nimble. The tail is set high and is usually docked at half. The coat is long and silky. The color of the back is dark steel color, the chest and head are golden. The puppy is born black and begins to lighten with age.
The height at the withers reaches from 15 to 18 cm. Weight - no more than 3.5 kg.
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The male is not much larger than the female.
Personality of the Yorkshire Terrier
Who is the Yorkie suitable for? The Yorkshire Terrier has a very friendly personality and gets along well with other animals and children. Miniature dogs are very attached to their owner, at home they enthusiastically protect the owner’s property, and on the street both the puppy and the adult dog vigilantly watch their leader and are very worried if they suddenly lose sight of him.
In winter, the Yorkie often freezes outside, so he walks in warm overalls, or goes to the toilet at home. York Terriers are very brave and curious dogs, real little hunters.
Character
Despite their small size, these dogs have a lot of energy hidden in them. They are distinguished by their curiosity and determination. Therefore, they need to be educated from the very beginning. Otherwise, they may begin to look for adventures and engage in bad habits - chewing furniture and shoes, digging up the garden, running after birds and small rodents, and so on.
On the other hand, Yorkshire Terriers are very smart animals. They are great for training and are wonderful companions for all family members, including children. Socialized Yorkies are friendly and playful, but remain mistrustful of strangers. They love to be in the fresh air; in good weather they can walk for 1 hour or more.
However, do not forget that Yorkshire terriers are miniature dogs. As the breed developed, they became more fragile, so they require quite careful and careful handling. However, their size does not prevent them from showing watchdog qualities. They warn about the appearance or approach of strangers with a loud bark. They also respond to intercoms and doorbells.
Yorkies are great for people leading an active lifestyle, as well as for children of all ages (with supervision). These pets infect their owners with their energy and will definitely not let them get bored.
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Education and training
Yorkshire terriers are smart, their training does not pose any problems, but they need to be trained from early childhood. Socialization of the pet plays a big role. Some owners don’t know how to raise him, are afraid to introduce him to other dogs and don’t let him get away with it. Such puppies subsequently grow into cowardly, hysterical dogs, frightened by every rustle. Gradually, it is necessary to expand the puppy’s horizons and geography of walks, introducing him to strangers and dogs, walking in unfamiliar places. If you gradually socialize your pet, he will grow up to be a balanced, well-mannered dog.
With teaching commands, the situation is somewhat more complicated due to the stubbornness and restlessness of the Yorkie. How to start raising and training a Yorkshire Terrier? You can contact an instructor or do it yourself. Yorkies willingly perform exercises, but training should be short, with mandatory rewards in the form of praise and treats, and then there will be no problems with learning commands.
How to stop a dog from being a bully? If you catch your Yorkie in the act of a crime - the puppy is chewing on a slipper, digging up a rose bush or tearing off the wallpaper - punish him immediately. If you decide to scold him a couple of hours after the hooliganism, the baby will not understand why you are unhappy with him. Be strict, but never resort to cruelty.
Yorkies love routine, so walking and feeding should be carried out according to a schedule. In terms of toileting, dogs are easy to train to a tray or diaper, which is very convenient for people who have difficulty walking their dog due to health or a busy work schedule.
Yorkshire Terriers often become anxious at the sight of moving objects, such as cars and bicycles. How to stop them from being nervous in noisy traffic? Only by immersion in such an environment. To do this, you need to visit crowded places with your puppy during walks. If your Yorkie is not taught to travel in a car or other vehicle from an early age, there is a chance that he will get motion sickness. This will cause inconvenience to both the owner and the dog himself.
Character and qualities
The Yorkshire Terrier is characterized by the following traits:
- Intelligence;
- Will;
- Energy;
- Courage;
- Tenderness;
- Stubbornness.
Thoroughbred individuals are smart, attentive, and curious. Intelligence and curiosity help in quick training. Dog training should begin at an early age.
Yorkies love to be independent. It is important to establish contact with the pet and make sure that it values the owner’s reputation.
The energy of the breed is manifested in its fast movements. Sometimes it's hard to keep track of them. They love to bark for any reason. The deficiency can be corrected by education and training in commands.
They courageously defend their territory and begin to mark its boundaries. They challenge other animals. They are wary of strangers.
The dog loves his owner and rejoices loudly at his arrival. Yorkies are not recommended for families with small children. The dog is small and fragile, a child is capable of involuntarily harming him. Families with school-age children can own this breed. A dog and an older child will become best friends.
All terriers stand out for their persistence. You cannot pamper or indulge the animal, otherwise the dog will become uncontrollable. Most of the negative reviews are due to the stubbornness of the breed. We need to start raising the animal on time. This problem can only be solved by training.
Yorkshire Terrier Health and Diseases
The life expectancy of Yorkies is 12-15 years. What are the most common diseases a small terrier can encounter during his life?
- hypoglycemia (low blood sugar);
- neurodermatitis (neurogenic-allergic skin disease that becomes chronic);
- cancer;
- injuries.
Small puppies are predisposed to hypoglycemia - a sharp drop in blood sugar. This is a very serious problem and the dog can go into a coma. Symptoms of hypoglycemia are drowsiness, weakness, convulsions, and a sharp drop in temperature. If you see at least one of these symptoms, you should immediately go to the veterinarian, after rubbing the dog’s gums with syrup or honey. By 4 months, puppies outgrow this threat; hypoglycemia is uncommon in adult dogs.
Cancer is common among Yorkies. According to research, it most often affects females over 10 years of age. To reduce the risk of cancer and give your dog a couple of years of life, it is better for her to have sterilization at 6-7 years old if she is being bred, and around the year if pregnancy, gestation and childbirth are not planned. Bitches come into heat once every 6-12 months.
Due to their size, Yorkshire Terriers have fragile bones. To avoid joint injuries, you should not allow your dog to jump from heights or exercise in uncomfortable and potentially dangerous places. In the apartment, you should take care of the correct arrangement of furniture and the removal of unstable, heavy objects.
Yorkies are susceptible to allergies and stress. The apogee of these conditions is neurodermatitis, which has a very negative effect on the coat. The first remedy in the treatment of neurodermatitis is a change in the environment and regime of the dog. In severe cases, doctors prescribe melatonin.
Yorkshire Terriers are temperature sensitive. In hot weather they easily overheat, and in cold weather they often freeze. In muddy and bad weather, it is better to pack the dog in waterproof overalls to make grooming easier.
Mini Yorkies (weighing 1.7 kg or less) are sicker than their standard counterparts. Their life expectancy is also shorter, only 7-9 years. Micro specimens weighing less than a carton of milk have an even shorter lifespan, 3-4 years. Yorkies are not prone to obesity, but if this happens, the dog will have to be put on a diet or low-calorie food and increase the amount of physical activity.
Ancestors of the Yorkshire Terrier and their skills
The term "terrier" indicates belonging to the hunting class. “Terra” is translated from Latin as earth, and “terrier” is interpreted as a burrowing dog. In the middle of the 19th century, Yorkies were real working dogs themselves, and bravely fought with rats. Great Britain has always elevated dogs to a special status; there were times when commoners were prohibited from owning large or hunting four-legged dogs. Early Yorkies were not subject to the ban, which was what farmers took advantage of. The breed was bred in the northern part of England, more precisely, in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. Owners of tireless hunters always took their pets on sea and foot trips, thus the breed spread throughout the state and throughout the world.
The fashion of carrying small four-legged animals in one’s arms also had a consumer motive. At all times, and even today, humanity has suffered from blood-sucking parasites. However, our contemporaries have the opportunity to swim, but in the 16th and even 19th centuries such a procedure was not available to everyone. Religion also served in favor of the “bloodsuckers”, instilling in people the idea that washing is shameful. Anyway, the little shaggy dogs were bait for fleas. Contrary to popular misconceptions, the need for flea-catching dogs existed not only among women, but also among men.
Features of feeding and diet
The most pressing questions that arise immediately when purchasing a puppy are what to feed and how to feed it.
An adult Yorkie usually has 2-3 feedings per day. Don't worry if there is food left in the bowl - the dogs themselves know how much to eat. Your veterinarian can tell you what food to feed, but it is better to choose high-class dry industrial food. You can also feed homemade food, but calculating the norms is quite difficult. Under no circumstances should you treat your Yorkie to fried and fatty foods, smoked meats, and sweets.
If you want to switch your dog from one food to another, it is better to do it gradually, replacing part of the portion with a new food, otherwise your picky Yorkie may refuse food altogether. The number of treats per day should also be limited.
Maintenance and care
When you take a puppy into your home, ask the breeder for some item from the mother's house - a diaper, a toy, a scrap. It will be easier for a baby separated from his mother and brothers to bear the separation if there is an object with the smell of home nearby.
Immediately you need to put the bowls and toilet in a permanent place. You need to put a sunbed in a warm place in the room. It is better not to take a puppy into your bed, no matter how pitifully he whines for several reasons:
- he will get used to sleeping with you, and it will be difficult to kick him out of bed in a week;
- the puppy is small, and you can easily injure him in a dream;
- he has not yet learned where the toilet is in the new house, and can use your bed as it;
- your bed is too high for your puppy; if he decides to jump off, he could break or dislocate his leg.
The puppy needs to be vaccinated.
The first vaccinations are done at the breeder. Before each vaccination, deworming is necessary - prevention against worms. The last rabies vaccination is given, and after it you can start walking with your pet. The first walks are best taken for 10-15 minutes, gradually increasing to 30-60 minutes. An adult Yorkie should be walked 2-3 times a day. Yorkies need to have their nails trimmed, ears and teeth cleaned regularly. Not all dogs like these procedures, so the owner must be persistent. If you cannot overcome the dog’s resistance, you can go to grooming salons, where haircuts are also done. Perhaps this is the most difficult part of caring for and maintaining a Yorkshire Terrier; otherwise, he is unpretentious.
Claws are trimmed once every 2-3 months as they grow. It is good to cut them after bathing, when they are softened. You cannot cut the claw at the root, as there are vessels nearby. Ears are cleaned as they become dirty. The oral cavity requires special attention. Yorkies' teeth are a weak point; without care, by the age of three they become loose, and a 5-7 year old dog may turn out to be completely toothless. This negatively affects the dog’s life and the functioning of the digestive tract. Therefore, teach yourself and your puppy to perform oral hygiene regularly, using special products from a veterinary pharmacy.
The fur of the Yorkshire Terrier is a special matter. If your Yorkie is long-haired, you need to bathe it weekly; short-haired ones can be bathed a couple of times a month. Brushing should be done at least once a day - this will help prevent the fur from becoming tangled.
Washing is carried out at a temperature several degrees colder than body temperature (in dogs it is about 38.5 degrees). In the bath, you need to make sure that the dog does not slip and that water does not pour into his ears. Pet stores sell special shampoos for Yorkie fur - it is better to use them to avoid allergies. After washing, you need to dry the dog with a towel and comb it. For hygiene purposes, you can trim the hair on the ears, around the paw pads and butt.
Tips for choosing a puppy
If you want to buy a healthy and beautiful Yorkie, you need to find a good nursery that engages in breeding. A good breeder will give advice on all issues, and will also take an interest in your living conditions: he does not care which home the puppy ends up in. There is a queue for a good breeder, and he is looking for the best hands for his baby.
The owner of the kennel must show you the mother and a photo of the father, or vice versa if the puppy is alimony.
The puppies already have puppy cards, a kennel mark (a tattoo of numbers and letters on the stomach or ear), and a veterinary passport with partially completed vaccinations, and their parents have RKF-FCI pedigrees or, in extreme cases, SKOR. If you plan to participate in exhibitions, it is better to take a puppy from the RKF kennel.
If you don’t know how to choose a puppy, ask the breeder to advise you. He will help you make a choice in accordance with your ambitions (whether you want to go to exhibitions or just need a companion). Yorkshire Terrier puppies from the same litter can vary greatly in price depending on what class each baby belongs to - pet, breed or show.
You should not look for puppies on free message boards - there are a lot of scammers and outbids who post other people's photos, sell puppies with fake documents, and it is not even a fact that these are Yorkshire terriers. Sometimes they are underfed in order to be sold at a higher price as Mini Yorkies. How can you spot a scammer?
- The puppies may have documents from federations registered in Moscow at Krasnobogatyrskaya, 2.
- The cost will be slightly lower than for puppies in trusted nurseries.
- The reseller will never show you the puppy's mother.
- He has many puppies of different breeds (more than five).
- The puppies themselves look unhealthy and are in poor conditions.
- Resellers answer your questions briefly and reluctantly.
It’s also not worth buying an animal from them because the puppies are often sick. Having saved on the purchase, you will then pay a large amount for the treatment of the dog, and it’s good if it stays alive.
Reasons for appearance
There are many reasons for the occurrence of an unpleasant phenomenon. Some of them are easy to eliminate.
For natural causes of trembling, unlike pathological ones, your pet will not require treatment.
However, there is a risk of a normal reaction turning into a pathological one if the provoking factor acts on the dog very often and its body stops reacting to it correctly due to overload.
Cold
The most common reason why a Yorkshire Terrier starts to shake. The dog, despite the abundance of hair, is frozen, like all miniature breeds.
The lack of dense undercoat makes the pet defenseless against adverse weather conditions..
In the fall, before the start of the heating season, when it becomes cold not only outside, but also in apartments, the animal freezes and trembles almost constantly if no measures are taken.
NOTE!
To solve the problem, while walking in the cold season, the dog must be dressed and wearing shoes. This is a prerequisite for maintaining her health.
If you do not pay attention to the effects of cold on your Yorkie for a long time, he may catch a cold and shiver from the elevated temperature.
In the fall, before the start of the heating season, the dog freezes indoors, so it needs clothes or a heater . It is better to dress up a Yorkshire Terrier at home not in overalls, but in warm sweaters.
They are more comfortable and, due to the lack of waterproof fabric, will not be stuffy.
Anxiety and stress
Excitement for small dogs is usually a strong mental burden, which they cannot always cope with . Because of this, muscle overtension develops, which provokes severe tremors.
As the anxiety passes, normal muscle tone is restored.
Stress is one of the pathological causes for trembling . With it, the dog cannot cope with its emotions for a long time, which is why it shakes violently for quite a long time.
Stress can be triggered by the appearance of strangers in the house, moving, loud noises, introducing a new pet, an exhibition or a trip to the veterinarian.
To speed up the restoration of a normal state, it is useful to give the dog sedatives, and the veterinarian will tell you which ones specifically..
Pregnancy
Pregnant dogs begin to tremble before giving birth.
Most often, the paws shake intensely, but trembling throughout the body can also be observed. This phenomenon is physiological. It is associated with the beginning of an active increase in the tone of the uterus and the appearance of pain.
The condition does not require intervention and indicates the beginning of the labor process.
Poisoning
Poisoning causes chills in the animal, which causes it to begin to shake. A dog can be poisoned not only by poisons, but also by food if it is spoiled.
Food poisoning in Yorkshire Terriers has symptoms similar to what happens in humans.
It is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The dog experiences weakness and chills.
Signs of poisoning by toxic substances depend on what kind of poison has entered the pet’s body.
Treatment is required urgently . It requires the help of a veterinarian. You cannot postpone a visit to a specialist.
Allergy
Allergic reactions in miniature dogs are not uncommon.
Skin itching and general malaise cause a sharp deterioration in the animal’s condition, causing it to begin to shake intensely.
Treatment should be carried out immediately as soon as a violation is noticed.
IMPORTANT!
The main causes of allergies are food and products used to care for the animal's fur and skin.
This problem cannot be cured without a veterinarian.
Diseases
Illnesses are often accompanied by trembling in the dog. Seeking treatment is necessary urgently, since some pathologies can kill the animal within a short period of time.
The following symptoms indicate that the Yorkshire Terrier is sick: trembling, more reminiscent of convulsions; Pet lethargy, loss of appetite, discharge from the eyes, ears or nose, and digestive problems .
Only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis.
How much does a Yorkshire Terrier cost?
The price of a Yorkshire terrier with all documents depends on the region, but the average cost is from 20,000 to 60,000 rubles. For puppies of titled parents, the seller can ask more than 100,000 rubles.
You should not buy a puppy without a pedigree, because the metric is not a piece of paper for exhibitions, but a guarantee that you will grow up a Yorkshire terrier with the correct exterior and character, as you imagine it from photographs and pictures on the Internet. If you want to buy a Yorkshire terrier inexpensively and are not going to make a champion out of your pet, it’s better to look in different nurseries; there are puppies with defective exteriors, for example, in color or bite, which will be given to you at the price of dubious dogs without a pedigree.
General characteristics of York
The main thing you need to know about the character of Yorkshire Terriers is that they are companion dogs.
This means that the pet strives to participate in all aspects of its owner's life.
Accompanies him everywhere and always, happily supports any games and entertainment.
Yorkies do not tolerate loneliness well and experience almost physical suffering when separated from their beloved owner.
These are cheerful, full of energy dogs, which, moreover, have intelligence, observation and the ability to capture the emotions and mood of a person, so they know exactly when and how to behave: try to cheer up the owner or simply lie next to them, quietly expressing support.
If there is a child in the family, then the Yorkie will easily find a common language with him and will become his best friend and companion in games, provided that the baby understands that this is not a toy, but a living creature.
Yorkies do not really like other people's children, regarding them as a source of potential danger.
