It seems likely that selective breeding resulted in the small size of the Yorkshire Terrier, but someone apparently forgot to tell this little guy that he's a scaled down version of a terrier. Indeed, the Yorkshire Terrier is a brave soul, tending toward fierceness if he feels he or his territory is being threatened.
The Yorkshire Terrier ? or Yorkie, as he's commonly called ? developed in England only a little more than a century ago. With roots that new, it should be easy to trace the lineage but this is one dog that has defied efforts to pin down the origins. As it happens, it was miners who developed the Yorkshire Terrier in an effort to find a tenacious dog that could kill the rats in the mines. The miners required that the dog be able to fit into small places in order to catch the rats, but be tenacious enough to not fear the rats. Though the Yorkshire Terriers the miners came up with typically weighed only a few pounds more than the rats they chased, they were game little dogs who went after their prey with a vengeance.
It was only over the past few decades that the Yorkshire Terrier became a companion dog treated with all the elegant favor of the rich and famous. Today, many Yorkshire Terriers are pampered pets, though not only for the rich. The behavior of these dogs can become a problem if they are pampered too much. The natural tendency for some people to ?baby? an animal of this size should be curbed to some degree. These are active little dogs that need to romp, play and show off their tenacity.
As a general rule, a grown Yorkshire Terrier will weigh six to eight pounds, though seven seems to be a very common average. ?Teacup? or miniature versions of the Yorkshire Terrier occur fairly often, usually weighing five pounds or less. These smaller Yorkies sometimes have increased health risks and many seem to be snappish, shy or exhibit other undesirable traits that are not overly evident in their normal sized counterparts.
As a rule, the Yorkshire Terrier is Remember that his ancestors were selected for their ability to run into the dangerous mines in search of vermin. The Yorkies of today need that same sense of duty and challenge. Today, it typically comes in the form of play, but the Yorkshire Terrier's need for challenge shouldn't be ignored. New tricks and commands are a good way to occupy some of this dog's time, but he also needs some plain old playtime where he's encouraged to run and romp. If presented in a way that doesn't attract the Yorkie, new things may seem like orders and this dog may not take orders well. That includes ? but isn't limited to ? housetraining.
Remember that for all the terrier tenacity, these are small dogs. They have little bones and won't generally survive kicking or excessive roughness. Discipline and play has to be done with the size of this little guy in mind. After all, the Yorkshire Terrier may have forgotten that he's living in a little body, but the people who care for him can't.
They usually grow being small and light varieties. Hence, owners do not mind having their pets on their lap almost all day. Moreover, this usual bonding activity usually transforms this lap dog into a bright, playful, and loyal companion pet.
The following are some of the basic facts breeders would really love to know about Yorkies:
Category: Toy (Terrier)
Living Environment: indoors (highly recommended); outdoors (fenced yard)
Coat: silky, glossy, long and fine; no undercoat
Colors: black when young but they attain the colors tan and blue as they mature . Height: between 8 and 9 inches
Weight: between 3 and 7 pounds
Temperament:
Naturally,
?they are territorial and like their privacy to be respected ?they are intelligent and fearless ?they are assertive and independent
When properly trained,
?they develop close affinity with older children ?they become really playful and lively ?they become extremely affectionate ?they do not mind having other pets at home ?they focus much of their attention and affection toward their owner
Breeders should note of the following health issues:
? Alopecia, or losing hair ? Cataract, or loss of transparency of one or both lenses of the eyes ? Cryptorchidism, wherein testicles do not descend into the scrotum ? Dwarfism ? Entropion, a disorder with the eyelid; lashes on the eyelid that irritate the eyeballs could lead to other complications ? Glaucoma, a condition that causes an increase pressure within the eye ? Hydrocephalus ? Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or the reduction of tear production ? Low blood sugar ? Patellar luxation, a disorder in the kneecap ? Portosystemic shunt, or the accumulation of blood toxins in the liver ? Urolithiasis, an infection of the urinary tract leading to the formation of bladder stones.
Care and Exercise: ?They require daily grooming. ?Ears and eyes must be cleaned and checked regularly. ?Dental hygiene must be regularly maintained. ?They are fit only for short strides. ?They should have a regular play time while lying under the sunbeams, chasing shadows, and joining tug-of-war.
Origin/History:
In the 19th century, a number of weavers from Scotland migrated to England and brought with them different terriers that were bred to hunt rats. Through time, these terriers were crossed and terriers with "broken hairs" were produced.
In 1870, a "broken-haired Scotch terrier" was named as a Yorkshire terrier by a reporter. He argued that the breed should be called as such because his types were bred in a town called Yorkshire.
Though the Yorkies were originally bred as working dogs, they became fashionable pets is England in the latter part of the Victorian era. In 1972, Yorkies were brought to the United States and became the country's favorite pet.
You can say that the Yorkies developed into tough breeds because of their ancestors' reputation as rat-hunters. However, their size, and playful and bright character have actually captured the attention and affection of most pet owners. Most proud owners would boast that they have the great giants inside the bodies of these little dogs. If you want a small but terrible breed of dog, grab a Yorkie now! Just a friendly reminder, they would really need your attention and companionship than any other terriers.
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