Yorkies

Yorkies, or Yorkshire Terriers are the second most popular dog breed in the United States according to the latest statistics from the American Kennel Club. Labs are still in first place, for now, but I think that will change.

Yorkies are a bright and energetic breed. If you have owned one you know how brave, determined, and investigavtive they are. These dogs have blue and tan coats. I call it black but technically the color is blue. Their coats are long and luxiours.

This dog is great for small apartments and traveling in cars and RV's. One good thing about this toy dog is it requires very little exercise, so if you are older or just don't like walking the dog, then this dog is for you!

This dog has a "little dog syndrome." You have to be careful when they are around bigger dogs. The might actually try to fight with them! Keep them on a leash and you should not have a problem. These dogs only weight about 4 to 7 pounds to you can see how tiny they really are. Please visit my blog for more info: Yorkie Care.

Yorkies can trace their origins back to England. In fact they are named after the town of Yorkshire. The Waterside Terrier is a small dog that was bred with the English Terrier to get the dog we know today. Most Terriers came to England from Scotland.

Scottish people would migrate to England looking for work and would bring their dogs with them. The Yorkshire Terrier first appearance in a dog show was in 1861 and was known back then as the "broken-haired Scotch Terrier". It wasn't until 1871 that it got its name.

Terriers were used mainly for a sport called ratting. Where dogs would compete to see which dog could kill the most rats in set amount of time. Also they were used to control the rat population in general, which is a major spreader of disease. Remember the plague?

In 1972 the first Yorkie was born in the United States. If you wanted to show a Yorkie there were two classes to choose from, under 5 pounds, and over 5 pounds. Today there is only one class offered.

I think my two Yorkies are great. If you want to learn more about these dogs visit my blog at: Yorkie Care

Did you know the Yorkie first became fashionable in the Victorian Era?

Did you know the Yorkie used to belong to the working class of dog? I was in the weavers class. People often joke that its silk coats if from the looms. (It is not a toy breed)

Did you know the original name of the Yorkshire Terriers was the Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier? It was called this when it debuted inn 1861 at a dog show in England.

Did you know they were named after the town of Yorkshire because a reporter in 1870 said that the breed was so improved there it should be named after the town?

Did you know that one of its ancestors was the Waterside Terriers also called a weaver dog?

Did you know classes for the Yorkie has been offered since 1878 in America?

For more "Did You Knows" visit my blog at: Yorkie Care.

It seems all the rage these days is trying to make new and interesting dog breeds by crossing to breeds together and seeing what comes out. I don't know if people are curious or these are just breeders trying to make even more money of gullible dog lovers.

Three Yorkie hybrids that I'm aware of include the Morkie (Maltese), the Yorkie-Poo (Poodle), and the Yorkie Pin (Minasture Pinscher).

It thing there is a Shih Tzu and Yorkie mix as well. Come to think of it, I'm sure breeders have crossed every toy breed dog out there with each other and that you can buy them right now for hundreds even thousands of dollars.

One of the most famous dog mixes was a Labradoodle. The guy who did this actually had very good intentions. He wanted to make a hypoallergenic guide dog for disabled people with allergies.

The first one worked great, but most of the following puppies were not hypoallergenic, which goes to show you that you have to be careful when dealing with Yorkie hybrids because you never know which ones you will get.

I actually posted more about Yorkie hybrids on my blog at: Yorkie Care.

Although I don't show my dogs, and I probably never will. I don't think I'm that type of guy? I do find it interesting to at look at what a perfect Yorkie does look like.

Here are some interesting requirement from the AKC:

General Appearance:

The long hair should be parted on the face and all the way back to the tail. The hair should hang evenly from both sides and be straight. The dog should give an appearance of "vigor and self importance"

Head

The nose is black, the eyes dark in color, the ears are v-shaped.

Feet: Black toenails

Tail: Docked to a medium length.

Coat: Hair is glossy, fine, and silky in texture. Perfectly straight, not wavy. Can be trimmed to floor length.

Weight: Must not exceed seven pounds

Disqualification: Any solid color other than blue or tan. Also any white markings other than the one on the chest. But even this must not be bigger than 1 inch in any direction.

For more of my musings on Yorkies please visit my blog at: Yorkie Care.