Yorkshire Terrier

Beautiful but Tough

The Yorkshire Terrier, also known as the Yorkie, is one of the smallest of the Toy breeds, weighing from five to seven pounds and standing about six or seven inches tall. Seven pounds is the maximum weight allowed by the breed standards of the American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club UK.

It is a very popular breed, owing to its friendly and energetic temperament and its ability to fit into any size household. In fact, the Yorkshire Terrier was the second most popular breed in 2006, according to the registration data of the American Kennel Club. Teacup Yorkshire terriers have a large and devoted following.

Yorkies are not really suitable for a family with very small children, who may not understand how fragile the dog is and that it can not withstand rough play and handling.

The coat is very long and silky and can grow down to the ground. Grooming is a frequent and time consuming task, particularly for show dogs. In a normal domestic situation, the coat is often trimmed shorter, to reduce maintenance and allow the dog more freedom of movement.

Yorkshire terriers make excellent watchdogs and can be aggressive to other dogs. They do not seem to realize how small they are and will often confront other dogs that are much larger than them.

Yorkies rate highly for intelligence and learning ability. They are adept at learning new commands, which makes them well suited for obedience and agility work and competition. However they have a very independent temperament, which can make them difficult to train, especially when it comes to housebreaking.

Yorkshire terriers are among the longer living breeds with an average life span of twelve to fifteen years.

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Here are the Breed Standards for The American Kennel Club

Here are the Breed Standards for The UK Kennel Club