E & H Breeders Hiddenite N.C (828)352-9267 Copyright 2007
Yorkshire Terriers are terriers and are in the Terrier group of the American Kennel Club (AKC). They were originally bred to be something called a 'ratter.' This means that people used Yorkshire Terriers to hunt down (chase) and kill rats that were bothering people in their homes and neighborhoods.
Here is some Information that you would like to know...
This dog, also known as the Yorkie, was developed from mixed breeding (like many purebred dogs) of several other kinds of terriers. Now people are happy with Yorkies the way they are. They are the perfect little companion dog.
These days Yorkshire Terriers can do many different activities. They are not only good companions but they participate in obedience, rally, agility, conformation, go-to-ground (earthdog competitions), flyball, canine freestyle (dog dancing), tracking, and pet therapy. Yorkies also love to perform tricks.
Yorkies are very small dogs. They grow to be six or seven inches in height, and weight about 3 to seven pounds as an adult. It depends on how big both parents are.
At birth, the Yorkie's coat is black and tan, but that changes as the pup grows up. The black part of the coat will become a steely-bluish color! Notice how different the puppy on the right looks from the dog below.
The Yorkie's coat is very beautiful and luxurious. The hair on the back of the dog parts down the middle and covers his body very evenly. The hair, or fur, is very soft and silky. There is a lot of hair around the face, so many people tie it up into a bow to keep it out of the dog's eyes.
Yorkies love excitement. It doesn't take much coaxing to get them interested in doing fun things. They are smart and they have lots of energy, so giving them things to do is a very good thing and will keep your Yorkie happy and content, and out of trouble.
Yorkies enjoy hide and seek, fetch, games and other activities like agility, tracking, obedience, conformation, and earthdog competitions. Some even dance in what we call Canine Freestyle!
Spend lots of time with your new pup from an early age so he is comfortable with you. Roll him over, touch his feet, look at his teeth, and brush him gently. This will help him get used to being handled and he will be a better companion when he is older.
Like any small dog, the people in a Yorkie's life must treat him carefully and gently. Rough play with a puppy or even a full grown dog can be harmful.
Grooming Your Dog
You will need to groom your Yorkie every day with a brush and comb, or the hair will become tangled and matted. If your family can't groom him often, you may want to have a professional groomer do it, or even cut his hair shorter so that it's easier to handle.
Yorkshire Terriers don't need a lot of exercise,
but they should not lay around the house all day long.
but they should not lay around the house all day long.
Yorkie out for a walk wearing a sweater.
Adventurous Yorkies love a long walk once or twice a day. It's healthy for him to get out and move his muscles. Even if you have a yard, it's important to go for long walks. Exercise will keep your dog's heart strong so that he lives for a long time. Make sure he wears a leash, though, because some Yorkies like to chase things!
Adventurous Yorkies love a long walk once or twice a day. It's healthy for him to get out and move his muscles. Even if you have a yard, it's important to go for long walks. Exercise will keep your dog's heart strong so that he lives for a long time. Make sure he wears a leash, though, because some Yorkies like to chase things!
Going to a dog park, the beach, a mall, or to a friend's house is a great way to visit other dogs, and meet new people. This is called socializing and it helps your dog become a good citizen.
Know Your Breed
Having a tiny breed of dog is a big responsibility. Because the Yorkie is so small, he can be injured very easily. Things like falling, being stepped on, or bothered by other, bigger dogs can be a serious situation for such a delicate dog. Their bones can break easily.
Because Yorkies are so small, take care that he stays warm, and out of cold breezes. Some people like to put sweaters on their dog to help them stay warm.
The owner of a Yorkie has to make a commitment to be especially watchful and protective of their dog.
Yorkies are very brave and courageous, and they can be a little stubborn when they want something. They can act like a big dog in a small body. Starting obedience at an early age will help him become a good citizen, help him to have good manners, and keep him from getting into unsafe situations.
Yorkshire Terriers are lively dogs who sometimes enjoy barking. They think it's important to watch out for strangers and things that look and sound different. Your dog may need extra training so that he doesn't bark too much.
Because Yorkshire Terriers are small, they make great dogs for condos and apartments. They like to live in the city or the country.
Your Yorkie may be a little difficult to housebreak. But if you are kind, patient, and persistent, your dog will learn.
Yorkshire Terriers like to be social. That means that they like to spend their time with others: people or dogs. They get very lonely when left alone too much. Dogs that are left alone a lot can become destructive and bark too much. This is called separation anxiety. Try to make sure that your Yorkie has lots of company.
Feeding a Yorkie requires special care. Because he is so small, he can easily eat too much and gain weight. A dog that weighs too much will not be healthy.
It's a good idea to keep an eye on his teeth, because Yorkies can have dental problems if they don't get a nutritious diet.
What is a Teacup Yorkie? Is that just backyard breeder hype?
Yorkies according to history were always a small dog, but outcrossing in many cases has caused some larger dogs. There is speculation that some "breeders" have used Silky Terriers and registered them as Yorkshire Terriers. This could happen in kennels where they have more than one breed. They have been bred for 50-60 years as a toy dog which averages 4-6 pounds... there are occasionally 2-4 pounders and occasionally 7-9 pounders. Mice have been mice for thousands of years and therefore the size is more predictable.
Most breeders will not breed a female under 4.5 or 5 pounds because to do so would be cruel and probably cause a C-section or other problems with a crowded uterus, so those that are too small to breed are sold as Tinies... (not tea cups and not miniature... just tiny). Also, small males 2-3 pounds, make breeding a little more difficult, though possible, due to the size of the male in comparison to the size of the female, so most breeders settle on a 4-7 pound size as a preference. It is possible therefore, for pups in the same litter to mature anywhere from 3 to 8 pounds in the same litter. The terminology "tea cup" size came about in the 70's when the breed became more popular than the poodle which had three sizes, toy, miniature and standard. Poodle people would differentiate between toy and very tiny poodles by calling them tea cup meaning they could sit in a tea cup and were tiny. As this size differential doesn't exist in Yorkshires, the terminology is incorrect and seems to be used by some breeders to extract a higher price for the puppy as a "tea cup size." It simply means "tiny." I would venture to guess that legitimate, reputable breeders probably come up with 60% between 4-7 pounds at maturity and 20% under 4 pounds and 20% in the 7-9 pound range. Weight is a consideration but depending on the muscle and bone in a particular dog, they can weigh more or less than you think, i.e. a 12 inch at shoulders dog could be 7 lbs and be very skinny and fine boned, while a 9.5 inch at shoulders could also be 7 lbs. and look much smaller because it carries more muscle and bone.
Yorkies according to history were always a small dog, but outcrossing in many cases has caused some larger dogs. There is speculation that some "breeders" have used Silky Terriers and registered them as Yorkshire Terriers. This could happen in kennels where they have more than one breed. They have been bred for 50-60 years as a toy dog which averages 4-6 pounds... there are occasionally 2-4 pounders and occasionally 7-9 pounders. Mice have been mice for thousands of years and therefore the size is more predictable.
Most breeders will not breed a female under 4.5 or 5 pounds because to do so would be cruel and probably cause a C-section or other problems with a crowded uterus, so those that are too small to breed are sold as Tinies... (not tea cups and not miniature... just tiny). Also, small males 2-3 pounds, make breeding a little more difficult, though possible, due to the size of the male in comparison to the size of the female, so most breeders settle on a 4-7 pound size as a preference. It is possible therefore, for pups in the same litter to mature anywhere from 3 to 8 pounds in the same litter. The terminology "tea cup" size came about in the 70's when the breed became more popular than the poodle which had three sizes, toy, miniature and standard. Poodle people would differentiate between toy and very tiny poodles by calling them tea cup meaning they could sit in a tea cup and were tiny. As this size differential doesn't exist in Yorkshires, the terminology is incorrect and seems to be used by some breeders to extract a higher price for the puppy as a "tea cup size." It simply means "tiny." I would venture to guess that legitimate, reputable breeders probably come up with 60% between 4-7 pounds at maturity and 20% under 4 pounds and 20% in the 7-9 pound range. Weight is a consideration but depending on the muscle and bone in a particular dog, they can weigh more or less than you think, i.e. a 12 inch at shoulders dog could be 7 lbs and be very skinny and fine boned, while a 9.5 inch at shoulders could also be 7 lbs. and look much smaller because it carries more muscle and bone.