Yorkshire Terriers: breed standards, character, varieties and content

The Yorkshire Terrier needs no special introduction - it is one of the most popular dogs in the whole world, and among decorative breeds, perhaps even the most in demand. Despite the fact that such dogs are bred everywhere and are in the top of the most recognizable breeds, even the owners cannot always answer all questions regarding their pets. If you are just thinking of getting such a beast, you should first figure out what it is and how to properly care for it.

Despite the exquisite attractiveness of such a dog, the Yorkshireman has a very indirect relationship to ancient times and beautiful ladies - he appeared relatively late. Moreover, many researchers are inclined to believe that the Yorkie has a "proletarian" origin: its main ancestor is allegedly the Waterside Terrier - a typical peasant dog that should have been of sufficient size to bark loudly, scare and chase rodents, but not enough to cause significant harm to the fields of noble people.

Waterside was in demand in the 18th-19th centuries on the territory of Yorkshire, in northern England - there and in neighboring Lancashire, and the ancestors of the beloved breed appeared. There is also a version that another breed that has been popular for several centuries, the Maltese (Maltese lapdog), took part in shaping the modern look of the Yorkshire people.

It is believed that industrialization, which took place from the second half of the 18th century, also played a role in the breeding of Yorkshire terriers. Then workers from neighboring Scotland began to arrive en masse in Yorkshire, and with them - varieties of the Scottish Terrier. Some of these varieties have never been recognized as a separate breed and have been lost today, however, they are credited with some participation in the breeding of modern Yorkshiremen.

The last probable ancestor of the breed in question is the Manchester Terrier. At first, he was not remarkable for anything, however, over time, breeders managed to get individuals with increased softness and silkiness of a longer coat. In this form, the Manchester people could also take part in the creation of a new, especially attractive hybrid.

At that time, many weaving factories were opening in Yorkshire, and it was their employees, who well understood what the ideal wool could be, who started breeding the future new breed. Initially, the doggie had a long silky coat of a somewhat unusual color for our time - it had a bluish-steel hue and varied with golden brown markings.

Those dogs were somewhat longer and larger than the current ones - 6-7 kilograms were considered their normal weight. The new breed turned out to be so much better than the existing ones that for several decades it ousted its either ancestors or colleagues from the homes of the British. In 1886, the Kennel Club, a leading British canine organization, officially recognized the Yorkshire as a new breed of dog, and in 1898 the first club was founded.

Curious that these dogs got abroad quite early, and already in 1878 this breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club - earlier than at home... Although in the second half of the century before last, new dogs were extremely popular, the first half of the last century was a period of calm for them. They were practically not mentioned by the media, and in the same England the herd book was replenished annually with only 250 new individuals.

After World War II, popularity began to revive - in the same country in 1949, about a thousand new purebred dogs appeared, and in 1960 - more than 4 thousand. In the same period, the rise began in the States, and by the mid-2000s, Yorkshire dogs were the second most popular breed in the country, quantitatively second only to Labradors. Yorkies appeared in Russia rather late - it is believed that the first copy was imported in 1971 and belonged to the ballerina Olga Lepeshinskaya.

Before the collapse of the USSR, only a few Yorkshire specimens were present in the country, only in large cities. The first nursery on the territory of the country was founded in 1991 in Mytishchi, near Moscow, where people first came from Spain and England, and a little later - from France. To date, about 75 nurseries are officially registered in Russia, however, only one in five is located outside of Moscow and the Moscow region.

According to the standard, the Yorkshire Terrier breed is one of the smallest in the world - the maximum weight of an adult cannot exceed 3.2 kilograms, but the smallest height or weight is not indicated at all. The official characteristic prescribes a long coat, strictly straight and flowing down in even strands. Parting runs along the entire length of the body, from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. Despite its modest size, the dog looks very aristocratic - this is facilitated by a proud and confident posture.

Unlike many other dogs, Yorkshire dogs lack an undercoat. This means that, on the one hand, they do not shed, on the other hand, they freeze quite easily in cool weather.Yorkies' fur is often compared to human hair in the sense that it grows continuously, and individual hairs fall out mainly when exposed to intense exposure.

Regardless of whether it is a boy or a girl, the dog is decorated with beautiful red-brown hair of a special golden hue growing on its head - even individual gray or black hairs are not allowed here. This color no longer extends to the neck - from the cervical tubercle to the beginning of the tail, a deep steel-bluish tone is considered the standard, which in most cases does not strike the eye, because the dog in this place is traditionally cut rather shortly. Here, on the contrary, blotches of such colors as bronze, yellow-brown and any other dark will be completely superfluous.

The limbs are characterized by the same color as the muzzle, but here the hairs are darker at the roots, and as they move away from the body, their ends brighten. This color is allowed only in that part of the limbs that is located below the knees, above the hair is bluish-steel, as on the body. The cover on the tail is of the same shade, and here it is distinguished by a greater darkness, which intensifies towards the end.

The Yorkshire Terrier is not so much a pet as a new member of the family, since he considers himself to be the owner of the house. Such a beast, despite its modest size, is distinguished by increased cheerfulness, he loves to rush back and forth, has endurance and an excellent reaction. At the same time, the dog loves its owners very much and is ready for everything for them - in particular, it has a desperate courage that allows it to protect its people and home even in the face of a noticeably superior enemy.

Already the gait of the representatives of this breed says a lot about the nature of such dogs - they are not afraid of the environment, they always feel confident masters of the situation, do not expect any danger or are emphatically dismissive of it.

Release your pet from the leash - and he will enthusiastically begin to explore the surroundings in order to understand where he got to. At the same time, unfamiliar noise, especially loud and with an incomprehensible source of origin, can lead the dog into a stupor - she is brave, but not without the instinct of self-preservation, therefore she does not know how to behave. Besides, york only pretends that he is completely independent - in fact, he tries not to lose sight of the owner during a walk, and if he suddenly gets lost, the dog starts to get noticeably nervous.

The Yorkshire Terrier is cute not only on the outside - he behaves as cute as he looks. The word "benevolent" will help to describe his temper, because usually Yorkies do not seek to be at enmity with household members, and if there are already other animals in the house that are not hostile towards the newcomer, then the dog will not provoke a conflict with them.

As for the relationship with someone outsider, then this trait is considered to be brought up - they say, everything depends on a particular individual and what she was taught to. The sweetest and kindest Yorkshireman, when meeting a stranger, can suddenly show the skills of a guard dog and raise a real hubbub. Other individuals are fundamentally friendly towards everyone and will gladly make new acquaintances with both people and animals.

The development of a Yorkshireman from birth to becoming a full-fledged adult usually takes about a year, and experienced owners usually advise paying maximum attention to caring for the puppy during this period, since mistakes made at this stage can no longer be corrected. In this case, the development of the baby is uneven. At the age of one month, the Yorkie seems disproportionately long and with a too large head, his paws look too short, and his ears hang unusually.

Only closer to 6 weeks of age, the little dog acquires a full set of milk teeth, and at 3 months another feature typical for an adult individual appears - the ears rise and finally take a standing position. By the age of 4 months, the chest as a whole is formed, but the puppy continues to grow - for another month its body will increase in length, and after 7 months there is an accelerated growth in height due to lengthening of the legs. By the same 7 months, the replacement of milk teeth with permanent ones is completed - the dog goes through this stage in about a month and a half.

Teeth are a separate topic - their growth must be carefully monitored. The fact is that the main teeth grow in Yorkshire people either in front or behind the milk ones, but not instead of them, and therefore, for the correct bite, you need to contact a veterinarian who will ensure their removal. The roots of the incisors are usually located quite deep in the thickness of the jaw, therefore these teeth never fall out on their own - if they were still not removed before 8 months of age, this should be done right now.

In the same 8 months, the Yorkshire Terrier acquires the color characteristic of an adult of its breed - the head becomes golden, and the body receives a steel sheen. At the same time, the puppy acquires the size of an adult dog, although much depends on individual characteristics. With weight, it is still less evenly, and although there is a table of how much a dog can weigh at a given age, these are only indicative data. Don't worry if your pet is out of order. So, the average Yorkshire puppy weighs in different ages:

• 1 day - 110-125 grams;
• 1 month - 450-575 grams;
• 2 months - 825-890 grams;
• 3 months - 925-1200 grams;
• 4 months - 1.3-1.5 kilograms;
• 6 months - 1.5-2 kilograms;
• 8 months - 2.1-2.5 kilograms.

If you often and carefully observe Yorkshire Terriers walking along the street with their owners, then you must have noticed that the strict description from the standard discussed above is not always followed so strictly. The declared breed characteristics are very accurate, while babies are often born with certain violations of the standard. At the same time, many of them, even if by the properties of their appearance they cannot be admitted to the exhibition, they still remain rare beauties, therefore they are dearly loved by people.

Varieties that have not strayed too far from the standard usually differ from it only in color tone. For example, that part of the dog that, according to the requirements, should be yellow-brown, is excessively lightened, or, on the contrary, acquires a dark chocolate color. Similar changes are possible in the part of the body that is covered with bluish-steel wool - here the cover can have a silvery-gray or even completely black color.

At the same time, experts have repeatedly noticed that the color of the coat directly affects the features of its structure - apparently, this is due to the presence of an increased proportion of the genes of the ancestors of a certain original breed. So, the "correct" Yorkshireman is different perfectly straight and smooth coat, but representatives of darker varieties cannot boast of such - their cover is characterized by increased curliness, they seem to be fluffy instead of having a smooth surface.

The shade of dark steel for the coat on the dog's body is considered the reference both in terms of color and in terms of the structure of the coat - it creates the most positive impression from the dog, but it is it that is more difficult to get than everyone else. Moreover, in recent years, most breeders have focused on the structure and silkiness, and not on the shade, which is why on the streets you can see various color varieties of the Yorkshire Terrier.

A real Yorkshireman is not cheap, so it is not surprising that the owner of such a dog wants to get a truly thoroughbred animal for his money, which can be transported to exhibitions and used for breeding. For this reason, the first advice that experienced dog breeders give is - never rely on photos in online ads, but always personally come to the nursery and look at potential pets in person.

The chances of unpleasant surprises will be less if you know the breeder well as a responsible person, but a beginner who chooses a York for the first time is unlikely to have one. Again, do not believe the advice handed out on the Internet by strangers - ask for recommendations either from your friend's veterinarian, or from friends or acquaintances who have already acquired just such a dog. Another place where you can find a decent breeder is Exhibition, because there you can immediately draw conclusions about the work of such a person.

Choosing a puppy, be sure to pay attention to the one who grew it. They do not become breeders under duress - a really good specialist will surely turn out to be "crazy" in his favorite hobby, he will be able to answer any of your questions about the breed, the peculiarities of caring for it, some secrets without difficulty and evasion. For such a specialist, all his kids are like his own children, in the process of communication it becomes obvious that he loves them very much.

He will not give the puppies to just anyone and anywhere - he will be interested in who gets it and in what conditions.

Babies are usually taken apart at the age of 2.5-3 months, but at this stage of their life path they differ very little from each other. For this reason, experienced people advise you to pay attention to your mother - she should at least look attractive.

Attention is paid to dad only in the second place, and often he is not around, so you have to be content with only photography. Both parents must have documents on the pedigree, in which at least 3 generations of ancestors were purebred Yorkshire. On the territory of Russia, similar documentation is issued by the Russian Cynological Federation.

It's time to choose one puppy from the brood, so pay attention to each individual baby - you need an active and curious strong man who behaves in the same way as an adult dog - that is, shows curiosity and demonstrates aristocratic grace. The nose of a healthy baby is necessarily black, moist and cool (it is warm in a newly woken up dog), the gums are strictly deep pink. Any swelling in the navel area may indicate health problems, so there should not be any.

If everything is in order with the appearance of the dog and its documents, check whether the papers were really issued for this particular animal. This is determined by the stigma, which in Yorkies is usually located near the groin or on the inside of the ear. A code of letters and 6 numbers allows the specialist to understand the place of birth and registration number of a particular individual - the same numbers should be in all documents. By this time, the puppies should have already received some vaccinations, so the baby must have his own veterinary passport with the marks on the passage of the mandatory procedures.

If you need not a simple Yorkshireman, but a mini-York, be doubly careful - you should buy such dogs only from people whom reputable people have recommended to you. Scammers disguised as a miniature dog sell less healthy puppies or do not specifically feed ordinary Yorkshire terriers.

As soon as the baby enters the house, immediately designate his sleeping and toilet areas - the sooner he gets used to the established order, the better for the owners. In the future, it is undesirable to change the location of the usual infrastructure - Yorkshire people get nervous from such perturbations... A newcomer should be settled in a warm corner of the room; for convenience, it is worth buying a pet a special playpen or a crib for animals.

If you took the baby very early, the matter is not limited to one purchase - a two-month-old puppy must be vaccinated, because without this, walking down the street is out of the question. At the same time, fresh air is good for the baby - knowledgeable people advise take it outside every day at least once for 10-15 minutes, provided that it is warm there, but not very hot. A young dog is not ready for long walks, however, their number should be gradually increased.

If the pet initially lives in a country house, then there he largely determines how much he will walk, the endurance of such a pet is slightly higher. At the same time, the owner must still monitor the situation - the animal must not be allowed to overwork, therefore the animal that has played too much must be taken into the room, given water at a comfortable room temperature and carefully lured into the recreation area, so that the pet thinks that he himself wanted it.

Caring for a cute dog is quite difficult, and the pet itself is not always happy with it, but this duty cannot be ignored. After bathing, once every 2-3 weeks, you will have to trim your nails - at home, you should stock up not only with good scissors, but also with silver nitrate or a special styptic pencil in case the dog is injured. If you are not sure if you can handle it, contact a grooming salon.

The corners of your pet's eyes need to be cleaned twice a day with a damp cloth or cotton swab, the latter is also good for cleaning ears. Insane resistance can be caused by an attempt to brush a baby's teeth, but he must be taught to do this from an early age, otherwise, already at 3 years of age, the teeth will begin to wobble, and by five they may completely fall out. Since Yorkies have a long and beautiful coat, it needs constant grooming.

Long-haired individuals will have to be washed quite often - literally every week, and even combed 2-3 times a day. A haircut greatly simplifies the task, because washing is required only once every 2-3 weeks, and you can comb your pet every other day.

Bathing is a special task that requires compliance with certain rules. To begin with, the dog is carefully combed and only then put into water at a temperature of 34-35 degrees. There must be a rubber mat at the bottom of the vessel, otherwise the dog will slip, get scared and will be opposed to hygiene procedures. You should use dog shampoo for washing - human shampoo can provoke unforeseen consequences, some Yorkies shed from it.

The ransomed animal should be wrapped in a towel and taken to a warm room, and when the pet dries up a little, do the combing. This is the best time to cut your hair where it is definitely not needed - on the pads and near the anus. Ears can also be placed right there, giving them a shape thanks to the correct curly trimming of wool. If your dog has an impressive head of hair that you decide to constantly shorten on your own, Comb the parting of the coat and trim it slightly above floor level.

Yorkshire Terriers are good because they are more difficult to overfeed than representatives of many other dog breeds - this animal will not eat too much and will be able to stop in time.Like most other pets, the dog can be fed either with specially produced food, or you can make a special menu from natural products. Everything is clear with feed - the higher the class, the better, especially if they are released specifically for small dog breeds. It is a little more difficult with a self-composed menu, because not every owner is able to balance it correctly.

The main product, as befits a predator, is meat. Chicken and beef, cut into small pieces, are best suited for this role, so that the animal does not have to spend time and effort chewing them. You do not need to boil the meat - you can give it raw, only follows in advance scald food with boiling water to soften the fibers and kill bacteria. Instead of meat itself, you can also give offal, however, in this case, it is better to give preference to dietary chicken or veal.

This is not very typical for dogs, however, Yorkshire terriers love vegetables and fruits - for them it is a real delicacy, and not only raw, but also boiled. It probably shouldn't be overused, but giving regularly is simply necessary, since they contain a large amount of useful vitamins and minerals. Representatives of this breed do not particularly favor fermented milk products, but it is also useful for their body. Experts advise to include in the diet cottage cheese, kefir and fermented baked milk.

As is often the case with pedigree dogs, many types of food that people find tasty and healthy are not suitable for feeding the animal at all.

Many other products fall under the category of fatty - both butter itself and many types of hard cheese. If a Yorkshireman digests buckwheat and rice normally, then oatmeal or semolina porridge will not lead to anything good, the same applies to any baked goods. Despite the fact that the beast loves vegetables and fruits, it is contraindicated for him to give cabbage, citrus fruits, nuts and mushrooms. It is also not customary to feed the dog with sweets, first of all, chocolate is unacceptable.

The appetite of the pet of this breed is a very fickle phenomenon, and it will definitely disappear if you suddenly decide to radically change the animal's diet. If such a need arises, do it gradually, gradually replacing the usual ingredients with unfamiliar ones, increasing the dosage of new food step by step.

The normal diet for Yorkshire food is 2-3 times a day. If the dog is learning something, it should be rewarded for success with small portions of treats, however, keep in mind that they should be of a purely symbolic size, so as not to knock the tiny animal out of a measured rhythm.

Yorkshire people are smarter than many other dog breeds, so training is usually not particularly difficult. If you start at an early age, the task will be extremely simple. The first thing to prepare a dog for is the existence of various loud sounds. At first, you should not even speak too loudly or turn on music "to the fullest" - let the dog get used to the existence of noisy people, technology and metropolis gradually.

The same goes for too close contact with people. Although you want to immediately cuddle the baby and throw out all your tenderness on him, you should not do this. Let your pet get to know the world around you gradually, and only when he is completely comfortable at home and gets used to all household members, start showing him the world around him. The correct training order allows you to raise a confident dog that is not afraid of any challenges.

You can train an animal to toilet at home in the same way as representatives of other breeds.The dog usually experiences urges shortly after eating, the willingness to go to the toilet is expressed in a certain fussiness and slight nervousness, so watch your pet, and as soon as he begins to show such activity, immediately grab him and carry him to where you equipped the tray. It is important to take care of its arrangement even before the arrival of the puppy - then the training will take place more quickly.

Do not forget that you need to praise the four-legged for doing the right things by treating him with something tasty. To avoid unpleasant surprises in the early stages of training, you can dress up the animal in a diaper, which, however, will have to be changed after each time, even if the baby correctly understood where his toilet is.

Despite the fact that the dog is smart and understands commands well, the problem with its training is the pet's restlessness - it is too active and cannot concentrate on training or any other task for too long. To quickly convey to the ward that you are happy with them, decide in advance on a word or phrase that is a universal expression of approval. The dog will quickly remember it and will understand that its actions cause a positive.

Yorkshire people are able to entertain themselves on their own - they easily come up with games for themselves, which is generally good. Another thing is that in their amusements they are often inclined to use objects and things that are completely not intended for this.

The master's task is to suppress such inclinations in time. Physical punishment is unacceptable - only a harsh tone and a hail "fu" are suitable, and even then only immediately at the "moment of the crime", and not ever later. For the Yorkshire Terrier, it will be very useful to accustom him to a certain schedule according to which he will eat, walk, swim, and so on.

Most owners characterize the Yorkshire Terrier as a real four-legged happiness - this is a very cute and kind dog. If you raise him correctly, there will be no problems with him - he will find a common language with the household, and with other pets, and with guests, and with strangers. Neither a working vacuum cleaner nor the busy traffic of a large metropolis will be a problem for him. Such a companion is equally good for both young people and the elderly, because the aristocratic dog has a rather calm disposition and usually does not cause the owner unnecessary problems, and his independence is in many ways indicative and pretended.

Criticism of such dogs is relatively rare and comes mainly from those people who did not understand what they were doing. A Yorkshireman is not a mongrel that does not require care at all; he will have to be carefully looked after, not only feeding and walking, but also bathing, trimming and training the pet.

You will learn interesting facts about Yorkies in the next video.