Knowing The Yorkie

Is A Yorkie Right For You

A breed of dog that has enduring popularity is the Yorkshire Terrier. Originating from northern England, Yorkies (as they are known) are pleasant, full of life and quite smart. They are considered a toy breed, due to the fact that at maturity they typically weigh between four and seven pounds. It is widely thought there to be some variations of Yorkshire terriers, known as teacup or miniature, they are smaller, growing to about 3 pounds at maturity. But this is NOT true, there is no such thing. Smaller Yorkies as these, are merely the smaller puppies of a litter. Any yorkies puppies regardless of their size is to be admired.

But with their hunting background and severe loyalty to their masters, there is nothing diminutive about them. Yorkies were originally bred to hunt vermin in the clothing mills of northern England. They were owned by the personnel at the mill, who found their faithfulness and steadfastness made for a wonderful companion. In the beginning considered a variety for every day workers, their magnificence and personality soon made them fashionable with the upper crust in England. The breed is still known for its devotion, and a Yorkie can be known to be sternly protective of its owner. The Yorkshire Terrier bonds quickly, and loves nothing else than to end the day in the lap of its master.

Yorkshire terriers are known for their long, sumptuous coat. As a puppy, the yorkies puppies coat is brown and black, but as the dog grows, the coat becomes brown and a beautiful bluish grey. The coat is like human hair, and will keep growing unless trimmed. Their hair can obscure their eyes, and it’s common to see a yorkie with a bow on top of its head to keep the hair out of the way. Because of the silky hair on a Yorkie, regular brushing is an absolute necessity. But with appropriate care, the Yorkshire terrier’s coat can be the most striking feature of the dog.

Teaching of the Yorkshire terrier can be simple, due to the breed’s intelligence. The Yorkie craves attention from the master because of its loyalty, so training must involve lots of praise and positive reinforcement. A good time for Yorkies to be trained is at younger ages, to give the puppy an outlet for its creative energy.

Because of the Yorkshire terrier’s intellect, they also make incredible show dogs. Their long, silky coat is a show stopper in the ring, and their intellect and desire to please makes for a owner’s dream. Yorkies also do well in obedience and agility. There is a community of breeders of show dogs in the United States. These types of breeders are truly the best resource for purchasing a pet Yorkie puppy, as show breeders devote vast amounts of time and effort on researching and striving for those perfect Yorkies, that not only look great but that are healthy and will live long lives. One such outfit is Artistry Yorkshire Terriers (www.artistryyorkies.com).

These breeders have grown to love raising Yorkshire terrier puppies, as the Yorkie’s devotion to their family becomes a breeder’s dream.

How Do I Know Where To Buy My Yorkie Puppy

With their popularity, you don’t have to look far to find a Yorkshire Terrier puppy, but to find a healthy one that represents the breed the way it should, you should choose your Yorkie breeder carefully. To do this, you will have to be able to tell a good Yorkshire Terrier from a bad Yorkshire Terrier, also you will have to be able to tell a good breeder from a average breeder. Everyone wants a good looking healthy pet. Looks and without doubt health is crucial and partly hereditary.

No breeder can assure a dog will live a prolonged and healthy life, but you can undoubtedly increase the likelihood of this by choosing a good quality breeder. Don’t be afraid to ask about you Yorkie puppy’s pedigree which would have your puppies ancestors. With yorkshire terriers there seems to be conditions that they are predisposed to; Legg-Calve’-Perthes, patellar luxation, portosystemic shunts, tracheal collapse and bladder stones. Preferred breeders have their dogs tested for these conditions before breeding them. No line of dogs is perfect, so don’t pass over a line with some problems further back, besides a lot of breeders may not be as honest in disclosing problems.

Let’s not forget about the importance of good temperament. You want a Yorkie because of the loving and very confident, self assurance they posses, which is part of what makes them such a great companion. Extremely shy Yorkies may come for genetically shy stock or from socially isolated environments, both of which can make them more difficult to shape into confident adults. Yorkie puppies from parents with terrific temperaments and a outgoing personality increases the fact that your Yorkie puppy with also have these traits. Also look for how much time is spent on puppy socialization from the yorkies puppies breeder.

And last but certainly not at all least is appearance! Part of the allure of the Yorkie is the petite size, glorious coat, intriguing color, and alluring expression on such an adorable face. Show breeders concerned with breeding for conformation competition are the most likely to produce Yorkie puppies with the appearance that drew you to the breed! Examine your potential Yorkie puppies’ pedigree to check to be sure that close relatives have confirmation championships from AKC (American Kennel Club). The closer these relatives with AKC championships are to your puppy the better (the closest being the puppy’s sire and dam). Get to know the Yorkshire Terrier standard and look up AKC champion Yorkies online to look at them. Show exhibitor breeders always have pet quality puppies available that are not quite show quality, but nonetheless are often so close to being show quality that only an expert could tell. Such dogs have the advantage of being raised with the best of knowledge and care as far as yorkie breeders along with great looks.