Good points
- Affectionate
- Healthy and fearless
- Good watchdog
- Suits apartment living
Take heed
- Lengthy show preparation
- Needs weekly bath
- Difficult to determine pup's eventual size and colouring
The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular dogs of the day. It rivals the Chihuahua for 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 in a small dog's body; in fact it thinks it is enormous!
Size
Weight up to 3.2 kg (7 lb).
Exercise
The Yorkie is well suited to town and apartment living, but will prove tireless on a country walk.
Grooming
Many Yorkie owners are content for their pet to have a somewhat scruffy 'shaggy dog' look as long a they know that it is clean and healthy. The show aspirant, however, has a busy time ahead, for the Yorkshire Terrier is exhibited on a show box, which displays its immaculate coat to advantage, a condition that can be achieved only through endless grooming, shampooing and oiling. The show Yorkie spends much of its life, away from the ring, in curlers!
Feeding
Similar to that of other toy breeds, with four meals given in puppyhood, reducing to one meal at a year old, comprising of ½ can of branded dog food, or the bought meat equivalent (approximately 199-227g, 7-8 oz), lightly cooked and supplemented by biscuits. Lean meat scraps can be given, and bones are appreciated but never chicken bones.
Health care
The Yorkie has strong, terrier-type teeth, but it is as well to have them scaled by a veterinarian at regular intervals. Toy breeds tend to lose their teeth at an early age (sometimes as early as three), but the avoidance of tidbits will preserve them for as long as possible.
Origin and history
The Yorkie is similar in appearance to the Australian (or Sydney) Silky Terrier. It has been with us for little more than 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 Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier may also have contributed to producing this game little breed, which is renowned as a brave and efficient ratter.
