Types of Yorkshire Terrier
Hello, Yorkie lovers! Today we are going to see what types of Yorkshire Terrier we can find, as well as their main characteristics. If you thought that there were no types of Yorkshire Terrier you were wrong!… and although all types of Yorkshires have a similar appearance, there are several types or variants of this beautiful and beloved breed.
The type of coat, the size, the origin… all these are important factors when determining and establishing the different variations of the Yorkshire Terrier and we are going to discover them… Go ahead! Types of Yorkshire Terrier.
How many Yorkshire Terrier Breeds are there?
The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular breeds among those living in urban areas and small flats. Its compact size, moderate energy and affectionate nature make it an ideal candidate for indoor living. But can a Yorkshire really live happily in a flat? In this article we provide an in-depth answer, looking at the pros, cons and practical tips for Yorkshire flat living. Why does the Yorkshire adapt well to flat life? The Yorkie has a small and adaptable size. The Yorkshire Terrier, at an average weight of 2 to 3.5 kg, is ideal for small spaces. It …
Yorkshire breed standard
The Yorkshire Terrier type
Before knowing the different variants of Yorkshire that we can find, we are going to see how the standard of this beautiful breed is.
The standard Yorkie has long hair, which hangs evenly on both sides of the body, and has a line that divides it from the tip of the nose to the tail. This coat is compact and neat, which gives him an air of importance, and the impression of having a vigorous and proportionate body.
The Yorkshire has a cheerful character, always alert, and is very intelligent, as well as lively and balanced.
As for his head, he has a small, flat skull, without being very prominent or round. Its muzzle is small, ending in a black nose.
These dogs have an even, regular and complete scissor bite. This means that the upper incisors are just in front of the lower incisors. They have level jaws.
Their eyes are of medium size, dark in colour and bright. They always have an intelligent expression in their gaze. In addition, the eyes are not very prominent and the rims of their eyelids should be dark.
The Yorkshire’s ears are small and V-shaped. They are covered with short hair, not set wide apart, and are erect, of a very intense dark tan colour.
He has a long reaching neck and a compact body, with a level back, well supported loin and moderately sprung ribs.
In the past, it was a tradition to amputate the tail, but fortunately this custom is now extinct. If the tail is docked, it should be of medium size with long hair, darker blue in colour than the body and carried a little higher than the level of the back. In the case of an undocked tail, it should have the same characteristics as the docked tail, but should be as straight as possible to maintain a good appearance and good balance.
We move on to the limbs of the Yorkshire. The front legs should be straight, covered with golden tan hair, with a lighter shade at the root not reaching beyond the elbow. The hind legs should be straight when viewed from behind, moderately sloping at the knee and covered with the same coat pattern as the front legs. The Yorkie should have well sloping shoulders and round feet with black toenails.
Our friend will have a free movement with plenty of drive, keeping the movement of the legs straight and the level of the back straight.
The coat should be moderately long all over the body. It should not be wavy, but should be completely smooth, glossy, fine and silky, of an intense golden tan colour, darker on both sides of the head, at the base of the ears and on the muzzle.
On the chest it will have an intense and brilliant tan colour, while on the rest of the body the colour will be a dark steel blue, without becoming silver, and without being combined with other tones.
Finally, the standard weight of our furry friends is set at 3’1kg.
We already know what the Yorkshire standard is like. Now, let’s see the variants that we can find. So, now we talk about the types of Yorkshire Terrier:
Yorkshire Mini
Also known as Yorkshire Toys, this variant is not officially recognised, as they suffer from many health problems due to their small size. Breeding such small dogs is considered bad practice and is frowned upon.
Yorkshire Mini’s do not exceed 2kg in weight and are smaller than normal. They are usually obtained by breeding undersized dogs, which increases the risk to the mother at birth.
Each time this type of dog is crossed, a weaker, more fragile and premature specimen is obtained, which will be transformed into genetic and congenital diseases.
Health problems of the Yorkshire Mini
Due to its size, our pet can suffer from various diseases. Some of these are:
- Patella luxation, hypoglycaemia or convulsions due to its dwarfism
- Dental problems as it has little space in its mouth. To prevent this, feed them dry feed and take care of their oral hygiene to avoid tartar and accumulated dirt
- Herniated disc due to their physical weakness.
They also have a longevity of about 10 years. As this is a species bred from undeveloped specimens, we are not in favour of buying and selling them.
By not buying a Mini Yorkie, you will not be contributing to the inhumane breeding of this variety and you will be protecting the purity of the Yorkshire Terrier.
White Yorkshire
Also known as Parti Yorkie, is recognised mainly for its tricolour coat in which white predominates, making it a beautiful and elegant variety.
The American Kennel Club, the organisation in charge of pedigree registrations in the USA, has officially recognised this variety of Yorkie.
As mentioned above, the main characteristic of these dogs is the colour of their coat. The rest of the characteristics do not differ too much from the standard. Their eyes also stand out: small, striking, dark, bright, in short, beautiful.
They are lively, playful and energetic dogs, so be sure to play with them and give them a good walk to release that pent-up energy.
Breeding of the Parti Yorkie
A particular characteristic must be met in order to obtain a white Yorkie puppy. That particularity is that the sire and dam carry a special recessive gene. If both carry that gene, their puppies will have a 25% chance of being born as a White Yorkshire. The rest will be born as a standard Yorkie, but keeping that special gene.
If one of the two parents does not have the necessary gene, we will not be able to get nice Parti Yorkie puppies.
Biewer Yorkshire
This variation is also characterised by its tricolour coat, where white again predominates, and is combined with tan and gold patches.
The difference with the Parti Yorkie lies in the symmetrical spots on the face.
Its origin goes back to the 80’s, where the Biewer family, dog breeders, got a very nice puppy with the recessive gene to breed this new breed.
From then on, the Biewers started selective breeding for new puppies, which they achieved in the late 80’s. It was then that they officially registered this new breed. It was then that they officially registered this new breed in Germany.
Features of the Biewer
- As we have already mentioned, its main characteristic is the colour of its coat, which is white on the chest, abdomen and legs. On the head it can also be white, a dark colour, or a golden brown.
- The coat is very fine and silky, becoming a little longer than that of the Yorkshire Terrier, and can reach down to the ground.
- They can measure up to 25cm and weigh up to just over 3kg, being slightly larger than the standard Yorkie.
- They have a docile and affectionate character, with a lot of energy. They are also loyal, intelligent and very sweet, which makes them an ideal dog for small flats and children.
Black Yorkshire
This black variety of Yorkie is one of the most special and rare. As the name suggests, these dogs maintain a completely black coat when they reach adulthood.
The causes of the black coat can be due to two things:
- That the Yorkie bitch has been crossed with a non-Yorkshire male.
- The sire or dam has previously been crossed with another breed.
Apart from the black colour of the coat, the coat is harder and coarser and does not have the silky sheen of the standard. Being stiffer and coarser, it may not have the same sideways fall as a Yorkie Terrier, and will have poorer coat growth.
Badly marked Yorkie
This name refers to the markings and colour of the coat, as it does not have the colour of the standard breed. This may be due to a mutation or a crossbreeding with another breed.
Within this variety, the mismarked Yorkies can be classified as: Golden Yorkshire, Chocolate Yorkshire, Silver Yorkshire and Red Yorkshire, all of them being uncommon.
Designer Yorkie
These small furry dogs are born by crossing a Yorkshire with another breed, the most popular being the Chorkie, the Yorkipoo and the Morkie, which are a mix of Yorkshire with a Chihuahua, a Poodle and a Maltese, respectively.
These dogs will inherit the temperament of their mother, and the physical appearance of their father.
Morkie
He was born in the 80’s from crossing a Yorkie with a Maltese, he can grow up to 31cm and has a life expectancy of 13 years.
You must give him affection and attention so that he does not feel abandoned or create anxiety. You should also take care of his weight and diet, brush his coat every day and bathe him every month.
Chorkie
Tienen su origen en los años 90 al buscar una raza tan adorable como el Chihuahua y el Yorkie, pero más
They originated in the 1990s in search of a breed as adorable as the Chihuahua and the Yorkie, but healthier.
They tend to have a soft coat, which can be straight or curly, and a beige, black, golden, brown or grey tone.
They can weigh up to 4kg and measure up to 23cm, and have a life expectancy of up to 15 years.
Yorkie Poo
It originated less than a decade ago, but has quickly become very popular. It can grow up to 38cm, depending on the size of the parent Poodle.
To care for him you should brush his coat daily, exercise him more than 20 minutes a day, and monitor his weight and diet.
