Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is a small, toy-sized breed of dog originating in Yorkshire, England. They are known for their long, silky coat and their characteristic blue and tan coloring. They are lively, affectionate and intelligent.

General details

Yorkshire Terriers are small dogs, usually weighing between 1 and 4 kilos and measuring between 17 and 20 centimeters at shoulder height. The average lifespan of a Yorkshire Terrier is 12 to 15 years. According to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), they belong to category 3, which groups Terriers.

Breed history in brief

The Yorkshire Terrier is a small breed of dog that originated in Yorkshire (England) in the 19th century. It was originally bred to hunt rats in textile mills and mines, and weighed up to fifteen kilos. The breed developed from several small terriers, such as the Scotch Terrier and the Skye Terrier. Around 1870 it was decided that its name would be Yorkshire Terrier, replacing Scottish Terrier, because that region was where most of the breeding took place. In that decade the dog was already very similar to the current one. The Yorkshire Terrier became popular in the United States at the end of the 19th century and is now one of the most popular small dog breeds in the world.

Breed characteristics

The Yorkshire Terrier has a small, compact body with a level back, short legs and a long, loose tail. They have a wedge-shaped head with a distinctive black nose, large dark eyes and small, erect ears. The coat is one of the defining characteristics of the breed and is long, silky and soft to the touch. The preferred color for the breed is blue and tan, with blue being a steel blue color covering the body, and tan appearing on the face, legs and chest. Yorkshire Terriers are known for their lively and affectionate personality, playful and affectionate, and make excellent companion pets for both families and individuals. They are intelligent and eager to please, making them easy to train. The cheerful, alert face contributes to their charming personality.

Common health problems

Like all dog breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier is susceptible to certain health problems. Some of the most common health problems in the breed include portosystemic shunt, tracheal collapse, hypoglycemia, Legg-Perthés disease, retinal dysplasia, patellar luxation and cataracts.