Yorkie: Strictly a House Pet

The Yorkshire terrier is known for its distinguished blue/black and tan coat, which, if allowed to grow, will reach floor length. The Yorkie is usually small and needs to be inside and kept safe. This is a very brave dog that thinks he or she is a bigger dog. This little soldiers were breed to kill rats in small places and will do the cats job for him! This can be a problem if you have other smaller animals in the home. One of my Yorkies chased down and killed a baby duckling in less than two minutes. If it runs, the yorkie will chase, and probably catch it. The smallest Yorkie ever on record was only 2.5 inches long and weighed only 4 ounces! Unfortunately, it died before it's second birthday.

By breed standards the Yorkshire Terrier should have a small, strong, athletic build suitable for an active life. It is considered a toy dog usually weighing 4- 7 pounds. Tails are docked. She has no undercoat. A quality Yorkie coat will be silky, smooth and straight. The hair grows continuously and they do not shed. Yorkies are a good hypo-allergenic pet. Grooming is fairly easy but should be started from a young age as they tend to dislike having their legs messed with. A good brushing every 2 or three days unless there are tangles or burrs in the coat should be sufficient. They should be bathed no more than once every 2-3 weeks. They tend to have sensitive skin prone to itching and other problems.

They have big, round and sparkling brown eyes that give them an angelic look. It is easy to spoil this affectionate pet but beware, if given full reign they will try to run the home! So let this little fellow know that you are the "pack leader" from the beginning. These are very sweet little dogs that need strong leadership. The Yorkshire Terrier brave, intelligent, self important and yes, stubborn. They also are good watch dogs. They will give chase to small animals like squirrels outside and will need supervision. She can get cold very quickly and is only to be an inside pet. Tricia Nixon kept a Yorkie at the White House.

This breed of terrier is naturally confident but she will become clingy and very demanding if she is pampered too much. I have owned three Yorkies and I find that they are not really lap dogs. They prefer to stay close at your heels or sit at your side or feet, rather than on your lap. They enjoy outings as a chance to show off. Also, the Yorkie has an excellent memory for commands, but tend to be a chore to train because of their Independence and stubbornness. They have a few health issues related to the digestive system, so they need a regular diet. Also, they are prone to some genetic disorders, milk fever, and skin conditions. In five years, we have taken our Yorkies for only one vet visit other than regular visits for immunizations and such. She will make a wonderful pet with leadership, patience and a warm, loving home indoors.

Sources:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_Terrierwww.westminsterkennelclub.org/breedinformation/toy/york.htmlwww.martycrisp.com/yorkies_go_down_in_history.htm