Tip of the Month
| 11/25/2009 |
Breed Spotlight - The Yorkshire Terrier
According to the AKC Registration Statistics, the Yorkshire Terrier was the 2nd most popular dog breed in the United States in 2008. The Yorkshire Terrier, also known as the Yorkie, is an energetic, friendly and determined companion. Although the Yorkie now belongs to the Toy group, he is a terrier by nature. He was originally used for catching rats in clothing mills in the nineteenth century. The Yorkie is well known for his big personality in a small package attitude.
The Yorkshire Terrier was named after the city of Yorkshire in England, where he originated. In the early years of the breed the Yorkie belonged to the Working Dog Group. Eventually the breed left the workforce and became a popular companion to families in European high society. Now we know the breed to be recognized in the Toy Group. The Yorkshire Terrier was first recognized by the AKC in 1885.
The Yorkshire Terrier is most known for his long silky coat. It was often times said that his coat was a product of the looms. This derived from Yorkies working in the clothing mills in the nineteenth century. In order to keep your Yorkie’s coat in good condition, it needs to be brushed regularly to avoid matting. You may even want to trim his hair if it drags on the floor to avoid any foreign items getting tangled in the coat. The Yorkshire Terrier coat should be fine and silky. It should be straight and not wavy. The Yorkie should be black and tan in color; however blue and tan is also acceptable.
An animal trainer may express that the Yorkshire Terrier can be both difficult and easy to train. Due to the dogs small size many owners let their Yorkies get away with bad behaviors other dogs would never be allowed to do. Some Yorkies will become demanding and overly confident, often times they will develop jealous or possessive behaviors with toys and food. They will even become overly protective of their owners. Some refer to this as small dog syndrome. If the owners do not give these small pooches boundaries and limitations they can become very stubborn, making it difficult to train in the long run. It is important, especially with a small breed, to keep up with regular dog obedience in order to ensure a happy life for you and your Yorkie.
If you are looking for a small dog with a big attitude and lots of heart, the Yorkshire Terrier is the dog for you. He requires minimal exercise and daily grooming. The Yorkie is well suited to many different living quarters because of his small size. The Yorkshire Terrier is a favored companion and will continue to be for years to come. |
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