Yorkshire Terrier profile

Yorkshire Terrier at show

I love Yorkies,or Yorkshire Terriers. I was about 12 or 13 when we got our little Yorkie. His registered name was Woodbury of Blackwell. I don’t exactly remember why that was his name, although I do know it had to do with his dam and sire. We called him Woody for short.

Woody was really my mom’s dog.  He was the perfect watchdog.  We lived out in the country, and my mom was home alone most of the day while my dad was at work and my brother and I were in school. Woody barked at anything unusual, and with his barking would alert my mother to visitors, wanted or unwanted.  Because we lived out in the country, we didn’t get a lot of ‘drop-in’ visitors.  Visitors we knew were coming usually came in through the side door; we very seldom used the front door.  So, if the doorbell rang, my mom would scoop Woody up in her arms and carry him with her to answer the door.

Because Woody was so small and cute, people would generally comment.  But, if the visitor was a stranger and happened to extend a hand, either to pet Woody or reach for my mother, they were sure to take their hand back minus some skin and a little bloody to boot.

Yorkies by nature are protective. Other traits include assertive, mischievous, and fearless.  Because of their size, they have to be fearless.  Yorkies can also be stubborn, friendly,  independent, and very energetic.

Yorkies usually weigh no more than 7 pounds, and are generally 7 to 9 inches tall.  Their coat is long and silky, with steel blue coloring on body and tail, with tan face and legs.  The tail is docked.  Their body is solid and well-proportioned. Yorkies have a 12 to 15 year life span.

Because of their long coat, Yorkies need to be groomed regularly, including a daily combing.  Most owners will secure a Yorkie’s facial hair to the top of the head with a ribbon or a band.  This allows the dog to eat and see without obstruction.

Yorkies are great dogs for apartment-dwellers because of their size, but they do need to be walked frequently if there is not a yard.  These little dogs are not well-suited for homes with small children, as Yorkies cannot tolerate the constant sudden movements. They can also be easily injured with rough handling.

Many Yorkies are prone to bronchitis, early tooth decay and delicate digestion. Yorkies should be fed primarily dry dog food, with some canned food mixed in, if desired.  Chewing the dry food will help maintain their teeth.  Regular cleanings by your veterinarian are recommended as well.

Yorkshire Terriers were bred in 19th century England from a mixture of Scottish Terriers.  The dogs were used by miners of Yorkshire to catch rats that were infesting the mines.  Yorkies were also used as hunting dogs,  to chase and catch small, burrowing animals.

Photo credit: Alexandrab @ http://it.wikipedia.org

August 7th, 2009 by Beth VanHoose | Posted in Breeds and Breeding | Comments (0)