Yorkshire Terrier

History of the Yorkshire Terrier breed

Yorkshire terriers have a pedigree from different types of Scottish terriers, and this breed owes its name to the area where it was bred – the county of Yorkshire. Terriers from Scotland, miniature but hardy dogs with a determined character and powerful jaws, were brought to England by Scottish workers who arrived in Yorkshire in search of earnings in the middle of the XIX century.

Before turning from a brave and merciless rodent hunter into a respectable elegant companion dog, the Yorkshire Terrier went a long way through genetic transformations. It is not known for certain which breeds of Scottish terriers became the progenitors of York, but in their current appearance the features of the Clydesdale Terrier, Paisley Terrier, Sky Terrier are clearly visible. Presumably among the founders of the breed were also Waterside terriers, dogs popular with Yorkshire peasants – hunters of foxes, badgers and small rodents. Some dog handlers suggest that at the final stage of the breed formation, they participated in the crossing maltese lapdogs , to which the Yorks allegedly owe their silky fur.

At dog shows in the UK, Yorkies began to be shown in 1861, first under the name "Rough and Broken-coated", "Broken-haired Scotch". In 1874, the new breed was officially named the Yorkshire Terrier. In 1886, the Kennel Club (the English Kennel Club) entered the York in the stud book as an independent breed. In 1898, the breeders adopted its standards, which have not changed today.

This breed began to penetrate the North American continent in the early 70s of the century before last. In the American Kennel Club (ACC), the first Yorkshire Terrier was registered in 1885. By the way, 100 years later York himself became the progenitor of a new, very rare breed – The Biewer Terrier, which was first called the Biewer Yorkshire Terrier.

The fame of these cute energetic dogs with a cheerful disposition reached its heyday in the Victorian era. Imitating Queen Victoria, who adored dogs, ladies from the aristocratic circles of Britain and the New World carried their pets everywhere, dressing them up and pampering them like beloved children.

It is believed that the first Yorkshire Terrier appeared in Russia in 1971. It was presented as a gift to the ballerina Olga Lepeshinskaya. The first York breeding nursery appeared in 1991 in Mytishchi.

And in our century, Yorkshire Terriers remain in the mainstream, entering the top ten most popular breeds in the world. For three years in a row, from 2006 to 2008, they held the honorable 2nd place in the AKS rating.

Video: Yorkshire Terrier

Appearance of the Yorkshire Terrier

This miniature dog is quite strong and portly. Her height from the floor to the withers is from 15.24 to 23 cm . The standard weight is from 1.81 to 3.17 kg (no more than 3 kg for exhibition copies).

The puppies' fur is colored in black and brown colors, which can be combined in different ways. As they get older (usually at the age of 5-6 months), the black color gradually begins to acquire bluish shades, and the brown color lightens. By the age of one and a half, the Yorkshire Terrier's coat from the nape to the base of the tail already has a dark bluish-steel color, and the muzzle, chest and paws are painted in a rich golden-fawn.

Housing

The Yorkshire Terrier is harmoniously built, its trunk has a proportional structure. He is quite muscular and elegant at the same time. The dog's back is quite short, horizontal. The height at the withers corresponds to the height of the croup. York's posture is proud, sometimes this crumb looks pathetically important.

Head

The dog's head is small, with a flat arch, the muzzle is slightly elongated.

Eyes

York's eyes are medium-sized, shiny, expressing curiosity and giving out intelligence.

Ears

The ears are miniature, V-shaped, erect, located not too far from each other, covered with soft short fur. The color of the coat is light golden.

Teeth

The Yorkshire Terrier is characterized by a scissor bite: the upper canines slightly cover the lower ones, and the incisors of the lower jaw are closely adjacent to the back of the upper one, forming a kind of lock.

Limbs

The forelegs of Yorkies should be slender, straight, without bulging of the ulna bones either inwards or outwards. The hind limbs, if you look at the dog from behind, should look straight, a slight bend is noticeable when viewed from the side. The claws on the paws are black.

It is customary to remove the dewclaws on the hind legs, on the front ones – at the request of the owners.

Movement

There is energy and freedom in the movement of the Yorkshire Terrier. Stiffness is not inherent in the dog.

Tail

The tail is traditionally docked to medium length. The cupping itself is not necessary. The tail is densely covered with hair, the color of which is darker and richer than the one that covers the body.

Wool

The pride of the Yorkshire Terrier is its finest, shiny, silky, perfectly straight coat, which is often called hair. In the classic version, it should be divided from the base of the skull to the tip of the tail and fall completely evenly and straight on both sides of the body, reaching the floor. To make such a handsome man or beauty always look immaculate, you will need to devote a considerable amount of time to them every day. This makes sense if York is a participant in exhibitions, a hero of TV shows or is invited to photo shoots. However, among the owners of such "super star" there are many people who are simply selflessly devoted to this breed of dog.

Most owners of Yorkshire Terriers prefer to cut them. There are several dozen models of haircuts: from simple to incredibly refined. Procedures take place in grooming salons or at home with the invitation of a master. Sometimes short-haired Yorkshire Terriers make a splash no less than their long-haired relatives, similar to aristocrats.

From time to time, a genetic leap happens in the nature of the Yorkshire Terrier. This is called the "return gene" or simply "return." In this rare case, the coat of your black-brown pet will not turn bluish-golden, as it should. The black color will remain that way, without any hint of blue, and the brown will turn into golden red. This York is called Red Legged Yorkies, literally – a red-legged Yorkshire terrier.

Yorkshire Terrier photo

Character of the Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terriers consider themselves the owners of the house, while experiencing the most tender feelings for their owner and needing his attention. Like all terriers, they are very energetic, hardy, have a good reaction. Yorkies are very brave dogs, ready to defend their home and owner without hesitation. They are smart, well-trained.

The Yorkshire Terrier's gait expresses self-confidence and even some arrogance. Walking without a leash, in the wild, he explores the world with curiosity, likes to sniff everything carefully, and listens to unfamiliar sounds with visible anxiety. Despite their ostentatious independence, Yorkies try to keep their master in sight, and if they do not detect him, they worry.

These cute dogs are very friendly and easily find a "common language" with other animals living in the house. In dealing with strangers, the individual traits and peculiarities of the upbringing of each Yorkshire terrier manifest themselves: some are ready to bark at any stranger, others are almost ready to "kiss" a dog that runs up to him, especially a relative.

Education and training

The intelligence of the Yorkshire Terrier is above average, and it is not difficult to teach him "good tone". You need to raise your pet from childhood, and first of all it needs to be socialized. To accustom York to household noises should be gradually: try to first speak in low tones in front of him, do not turn on the TV or receiver loudly, especially do not do it at the same time with a working washing machine or vacuum cleaner.

Do not attack your pet immediately with hugs and kisses – he should also get used to caresses gradually. When the dog gets used to your family and home, it will already be possible to introduce him to other people, take him to unfamiliar places, gradually expanding his horizons. If you do everything step by step, without giving the puppy cause for concern, he will grow up to be a confident, friendly and balanced dog, not experiencing shyness and timidity even when meeting with an impressive-sized fellow tribesman.

Some difficulties in teaching York to commands and order arise due to his stubborn, independent nature and restlessness, so training should be short-lived, and the dog should be encouraged for success. Choose a specific word or phrase for praise that you will always use. There should also be encouraging treats at the ready.

Yorkshire Terriers do not need to be specially trained for fun, sometimes they come up with plots for games themselves. But the ability of this dog to turn any household item into a toy should be controlled and his claims for things unsuitable for this purpose should be suppressed.

If a dog shkodit: nibbles slippers, wallpaper, is engaged in a popular business among terriers – digging wherever necessary – only the word "fu" and a harsh tone can be penance, physical punishment is unacceptable. Express your dissatisfaction only if you find the dog at the scene of the crime, otherwise he will not understand what, in fact, you want from him.

It is advisable to develop a daily schedule for the Yorkshire Terrier. Feed him and walk him at the same time. Set aside certain hours for playing games, taking care of him, sleeping. York will not object to the regime. On the contrary, it will allow him to feel safe and happy to expect another manifestation of attention to his own person. The Yorkshire Terrier is easy enough to get used to a home toilet, which is convenient for elderly people who find it difficult to walk the dog several times a day.

Like every little dog, Yorkshire Terriers have a panic fear of traffic, which they express in hysterical barking and fussy running. This creates problems during walks or car rides, but you can help him overcome this condition. Get out with your dog late in the evening for a walk along the sidewalk when the number of cars is minimal. When approaching a car, hold the leash tightly, reducing its length as much as possible, start a "conversation" with your pet in a confident and calm voice, distracting him from the noise. Keep walking slowly at the same pace, as if nothing is happening. At the time when the dog does not show a pronounced fuss when the car appears, treat her with a gift. In a month or two you will be able to walk with your York in any busy noisy place. By the way, in the car itself, it is better to carry these fragile passengers on a special removable dog seat.

Care and maintenance

As soon as you bring a Yorkshire terrier puppy into the house, immediately arrange places for him to eat and toilet. They must be constant, otherwise the dog will start to get nervous. Choose a warm zone for him in the room, and place there a small playpen with bedding and an improvised cozy crib.

The puppy must be vaccinated. The first vaccinations are made at the age of about 2 months. You can take walks only after all the necessary vaccinations have been made. At first, it is advisable to take the puppy outside 1-2 times a day in warm, but not hot weather for 10-15 minutes. Increase the number of walks and time in the air should be gradually. It is advisable to take an adult dog for a walk at least 3 times a day for half an hour.

Yorkshire terriers living in country houses spend much more time in nature, of course, and usually realize themselves when it's time for them to rest. But if you notice that your pet is overexcited and overexcited, take him indoors, give him room temperature water and try unobtrusively, with the help of a caress, to lure the dog into her rest area.

Yorkshire Terriers need regular clipping of claws, eye washing, brushing of teeth, ears and bathing. None of these procedures is complete without their whims, so you will need perseverance and confidence in your own actions.

The dog's claws should be cut every 2-3 months. It is better to do this after bathing. Use high-quality scissors designed specifically for this procedure. You should always have a hemostatic pencil or silver nitrate at hand. If you accidentally injure your pet, they will help heal the wound. Those who are not confident in their professionalism, it is better to contact a grooming salon. They will do everything efficiently and carefully.

In the morning and evening, clean the corners of the dog's eyes with a damp cloth or a special cotton swab. It is also suitable for cleaning ears. Take the cleaning of your pet's teeth with all seriousness, otherwise he will form tartar, caries develops. This threatens that by the age of three his teeth will be loosened, and by five he may remain completely toothless.

The Yorkshire Terrier needs constant and careful care of its extraordinary silky coat. Bathing, combing, haircut – for some reason, Yorks especially do not like these procedures. Long–haired dogs should be bathed once a week, short-haired dogs should be bathed once every 2-3 weeks, combed 2-3 times a day and once every two days, respectively. All this is not very difficult to do on your own, but if bathing is followed by a curly haircut, then you can entrust the whole range of work to a grooming master.

Before bathing the dog, it should be carefully combed, then placed in a bathroom with water at a temperature of 34-35 ° C. Put a rubber mat on the bottom of the bathroom so that the dog does not slip. It is better to wash the pet with a special "dog" shampoo. After the procedure, wrap York in a towel and take him to a warm room. When it dries a little, it should be combed again and, armed with sharp scissors, cut off the constantly growing hair in the area of pillows and anal opening (for hygiene), carefully shorten the hairline on the tip of the ears. If your Yorkshire Terrier is long-haired, distribute his combed hair proportionally on both sides and shorten their tips just above floor level. The advantage of Yorkies over many other dog breeds is the fact that they practically do not shed.

The Yorkshire Terrier has its own attitude to food. It is quite typical for him not to lick the dishes with food to the bottom, as most dogs do, but to eat exactly as much as he sees fit.

York can be fed with homemade food or buy food in specialty stores. Homemade food should include beef and chicken (raw, but scalded with boiling water), offal, buckwheat, rice. Among fermented dairy products, and their Yorkshire terriers are not very welcome, kefir, cottage cheese, ryazhenka are recommended. A treat for these dogs are vegetables and fruits, both raw and boiled.

There are a number of products that should be excluded from the diet of the Yorkshire Terrier. Among them are fried, fatty, smoked products, semolina and oatmeal porridge, muffin, sausage, fat cheese, butter, mushrooms, cabbage, chocolate, citrus fruits, nuts.

Yorks often suffer from a lack of appetite. The desire to eat in a dog can disappear completely if for some reason you have drastically changed the composition of the food. Do not cancel the usual food immediately, just gradually, in small portions, replace it with other ingredients. It is better to feed the Yorkshire Terrier 2-3 times a day, not counting symbolic treats that you can treat him for decent behavior.

Health and diseases of the Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier, like any other breed of dog, is susceptible to certain diseases – congenital or acquired. These dogs have a predisposition to some diseases. So, already at a very early age (from birth to 4 months), York can expect such a dangerous and common ailment among this breed as hypoglycemia – a rapid decrease in blood sugar. Its symptoms are drowsiness, trembling, vague behavior, convulsions, weakness, and a decrease in body temperature. The puppy may fall into a coma. As soon as you notice at least one of these symptoms, stabilize the dog's condition by rubbing the puppy's gums with honey, and immediately contact the veterinarian. Hypoglycemia also occurs in adult dogs, but much less frequently.

Yorkies, like all terriers, are predisposed to many cancers (especially cancer of the blood, stomach). Studies have shown that bitches older than 11 years get cancer most often. On average, Yorkshire Terriers live up to 12-15 years.

These tiny dogs have fragile bones, which increases the risk of injury to the neck, hip and knee. Genetically, they are also predisposed to retinal dysplasia.

Another unpleasant disease is neurodermatitis, which threatens to spoil the luxurious coat of your pet. The sick dog continuously licks himself, as a result of which the hair begins to fall out. This condition can be caused by stress, nervousness or extreme boredom. To begin with, change the home environment, change the lifestyle of the dog. In some cases, the veterinarian prescribes melatonin.

Yorkies easily overheat in the heat, after which they feel bad. In cold weather, they will need protection. In frosts, it is better to dress them up in warm clothes, which can be purchased in specialized stores.

Owners of Yorkshire terriers belonging to the category of "mini" (or "toy"), whose weight is less than 1.8 kg, need to be prepared for the fact that they are more painful than standard-sized dogs, since their immune system is weakened. The life span of such Yorks is 7-9 years.

Some owners are worried that their pet is too big. This may be due to both the broad bone of the dog and obesity, although the latter is rare. If a Yorkshire terrier weighs more than 4.3 kg, it is better to contact a veterinarian so that he correlates his weight and proportions.

If it's still a matter of obesity, your York will have to "go on" a diet. The amount of food should be left the same, but replace some of the high-calorie foods with vegetables (broccoli, carrots). You can buy special foods with a low calorie content. All changes in nutrition should occur gradually. At the same time, you need to increase the amount of physical activity. For example, if the dog is used to walking for 20 minutes, increase the duration of the exercise to half an hour.

How to choose a puppy

Despite the fact that there is no shortage of ads on the Internet for the sale of Yorkshire terriers, it is not prudent to choose puppies from photos. To acquire a healthy cheerful yorkie with a real pedigree, you need to make sure of everything personally by going directly to the kennel, to the breeder. It is not so easy to find a professional, responsible breeder right away. It will be better if he is recommended to you by a veterinarian whom you trust, or by friends who have already used his services. You can also get acquainted with the breeder at the dog show.

Arriving at the kennel, first of all make up an idea of the dog breeder himself. If you have a person in front of you who is ready to answer any of your questions in detail and with knowledge of the matter with undisguised enthusiasm, there is a genuine love for animals in his speech, he himself is interested in what conditions his pet will live in – you can safely start choosing a puppy.

Actually puppies at the age of 2.5-3 months are not much different from each other, so take a good look at his mother, who should be nearby. If she evoked a sense of beauty, look at the photo of Dad. Both parents must have documents issued by the Russian Cynological Federation, where their pedigree is confirmed, and at least three generations of ancestors are represented.

If everything is in order with the documents, watch the Yorkshire Terrier puppies themselves. You need an active strong man who shows interest in everything that surrounds him. He should move confidently, while his back should remain straight. The nose should be black, cold and moist (warm if it has just woken up), the gums should be juicy pink. Check the tummy – there should be no bloating in the navel area. Wool should be straight, black with brown-golden markings, its texture should already feel silky.

After examining your chosen one, you will only have to make sure that the puppy has a brand. As a rule, it is located in the groin area or on the inner surface of the ear and consists of letters and six digits indicating in which kennel he was born and under which number he was registered in the club. The stamp number should appear in the dog's documents. Also, the puppy must have a veterinary passport with notes on the complex of vaccinations that it is supposed to have by his age.

You need to be especially careful when buying mini-yorks. Most of the frauds happen with these puppies. Under the guise of a mini-york, they often sell just unhealthy little dogs, and unscrupulous breeders specially underfeed some puppies. Such babies can only be bought from dog breeders whose reputation you are absolutely sure of.

Photos of Yorkshire Terrier puppies

How much does a Yorkshire Terrier cost

The cost of a Yorkshire terrier with a pedigree and all the necessary documents in Russian kennels is from $140 to $300. Prices vary in different regions.

A puppy of famous parents with championship titles can cost you $600.

Responding to the offer "buy a Yorkshire terrier cheap", you will be able to buy a puppy for a price from $40 to $120, but whether he is a real Yorkshire terrier, you will find out only when the dog grows up.