Yorkshire Terrier, also known as Yorkie or Yorkshire Terrier, originates from the northeastern part of Yorkshire, England. It was developed through the crossbreeding of Skye Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, and Maltese. Classified by the AKC as a toy breed, it was initially used for rat hunting. The Yorkshire Terrier is known for its small size, silky coat, and vibrant appearance. It became a fashionable pet during the Victorian era and is deeply loved by people of all ages. Yorkshire Terriers, along with Chihuahuas, are considered the world’s smallest dog breeds and are commonly used as companion animals.
Scientific Name: Yorkshire Terrier
Other Names: Yorkie, Yorkshire Terrier, Yorkshire
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
Species: Familiaris
Subspecies: Yorkshire Terrier
Distribution: Great Britain, United Kingdom
Size: Toy breed
Suitable Dog Food: Recommended natural food by WDJ
Use: Companion dog, toy dog
Lifespan: 12-15 years
3. Yorkshire Terrier Morphological Features
Yorkshire Terriers have a small stature, second only to Chihuahuas. Their heads are often tied up, and with smooth fur and playful personalities, they maintain a stylish appearance. Yorkshire Terriers were originally used for ratting but are now kept as watchdogs and family pets. They stand excitedly on the exhibition stand, attracting attention.
– Head: Small and flat, with a short nose and mouth.
– Body: Sturdy, symmetrical, with a straight back and moderate bone structure.
– Limbs: Straight, covered with thick fur.
– Feet: Not round, with black claws.
– Nose: Black.
– Ears: Small, V-shaped, erect, with a relatively high ear root and moderate spacing.
– Tail: Tail is docked in the middle, covered with long fur, kept lower than the back.
– Eyes: Medium-sized, dark, with a smart and alert expression.
– Coat: Long, extremely fine, shiny silky straight hair, with a dark blue-gray body and tail, and other areas in tan.
4. Yorkshire Terrier Personality Traits
Yorkshire Terriers are small toy dogs with a gentle and charming personality. They may show an indifferent attitude towards strangers but are very friendly towards their owners. While Yorkshire Terriers are kept as family dogs, they still retain the terrier instinct, enjoying walks and runs in their own yard. Even in a small apartment, with some toys, they can be active and happy.
5. Yorkshire Terrier Care Knowledge
Owning a Yorkshire Terrier with beautiful silky fur requires postnatal care. Besides regular cleaning of teeth, ears, and eyes, maintaining their coat is crucial for their appearance.
6. Yorkshire Terrier Feeding Tips
While Yorkshire Terriers are small, they are always excited and active. To keep them in good shape, daily care is needed not only for their fur but also in their diet.
Feeding Tips:
– Provide sufficient nutritious food, with a main focus on meat (approximately 200-250 grams per day) and some low-sugar vegetables.
– For puppies, avoid giving them snacks or hard food to protect their teeth.
– Train them not to bark excessively from a young age.
– Be cautious of their love for food to prevent obesity.
– Ensure access to clean water at all times.
– Feed adult Yorkshire Terriers once a day, and puppies 2-4 times a day.
– Gradually reduce water content when transitioning to dry dog food.
Note: Avoid using milk to mix with dry dog food; gradually reduce water content when transitioning to dry food. Regularly clean food and water bowls and provide sufficient clean water. For young Yorkshire Terriers, feed them three times a day, then reduce to once or twice a day as they grow. If feeding dry food, it can be left in the bowl all day, or you can choose high-quality puppy canned food.
If you feel that the dog’s fur is not soft and beautiful enough, you can also boil an egg for Yorkshire Terriers every three days. It is suggested not to feed the egg white, and the egg yolk is best fed three to four times separately. The main effect of egg yolk is to promote a beautiful coat.
