All about Yorkshire Terriers: breed description, care, character, nutrition

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Lifehacker talks about the characteristics of the breed, care and character of the dogs.

general information

• Breed name: Yorkshire Terrier (York).
• Country of origin: United Kingdom.
• The weight: up to 3, 2 kilograms.
• Height at withers: 18-20 centimeters.
• Average life expectancy: 12-13 years old, sometimes up to 15 years old.
• Average price: from 5 to 60 thousand rubles and more.

What Yorkshire Terriers look like

Yorkies are one of the smallest dogs and surpass many other dogs in popularity. The breed got its name in the 19th century in England. The ancestors of modern Yorkshire terriers hunted rats on farms and in mines.

Yorkies have a miniature proportional body. The head is small, slightly flattened on top, the ears are erect. The tail is usually docked in half.

Yorkie's coat is of medium length, straight, silky, shiny, fluffy, and resembles human hair in structure. The color from the back of the head to the tip of the tail is dark steel, on the chest and legs it is golden brown. There is no undercoat, so the dogs practically do not shed. Due to this feature, Yorkshire Terriers are less likely to cause allergies than many other breeds. Although they are not completely hypoallergenic. For example, dog dandruff can cause a reaction in the human body.

What is the character of Yorkshire terriers

Yorkies are very sociable, they love to be in the spotlight and are not averse to playing pranks. Despite their diminutive size, they are very daring and always strive to protect a person. They will not be stopped by the superiority of the opponent, even if it is a large dog. And sometimes Yorkshire terriers are not averse to just starting a fight with a neighbor's cat or dog.

These dogs are quick-witted and lend themselves well to education and training. They learn new commands quickly. But if you let everything go by itself and do not take care of the pet at all, the Yorkie can turn into a naughty and uncontrollable tomboy.

How Yorkies get along with adults

Yorkshire Terriers are sincerely attached to people and are very kind to them. They can feel the mood of the owner and are always ready to “cheer up” him. These dogs are loyal companions, ready to protect the person and enjoy communication with him.

How Yorkshire Terriers get along with children

The playful Yorkie will easily find a common language with the smallest family members and will willingly take part in their fun. Although, if you have very little ones, it is better not to take such a dog until the children grow up. A child may simply not calculate his strength during the game and, through negligence, injure a rather fragile dog or hurt him, trying to hug and stroke.

It is also not worthwhile to completely trust children in raising a pet, although there are exceptions to any rule. Without a certain amount of severity and perseverance, a dog can grow up simply uncontrollable.

How Yorkies get along with other pets

Miniature dogs can normally coexist with cats and other dogs. Usually, there are fewer problems if the animals appear in the house at the same time. When one of the pets enters the territory of the other, it will take a while for them to get used to each other. How much is difficult to predict.

What conditions of keeping are required for Yorkshire terriers

Be sure to give your dog a corner where he can spend time alone with himself. For example, equip him with a cozy couch or house in a place where there are no drafts. The Yorkshire Terrier also needs separate bowls for food and water, and a litter tray or diaper. If the puppy will be left unattended for a long time, you can also arrange an aviary for him.

Toys, for example, made of rope or latex, will help to make York's leisure time more interesting. Do not give your pet your worn-out shoes and other things to be torn apart, otherwise he will gnaw everything, making no distinction between the old and the new.

Yorkshire Terriers are active animals, they like to run and walk. To provide them with physical activity, at least an hour of daily walks and outdoor games are needed. If you do not give out the energy of these dogs, they will find entertainment for themselves in the apartment and will frolic with furniture or shoes.

When collecting for a walk, it should be borne in mind that miniature dogs do not tolerate cold very well and can get sick from hypothermia. Therefore, in rainy or frosty weather, it is better to dress them in special overalls and boots. You need to choose clothes and shoes for dogs of a suitable size, otherwise things will cause discomfort.

How to feed Yorkshire terriers

There are different options for the Yorkie's diet. The easiest one is ready-made balanced feed, which is dry and wet. They contain useful and nutrients that the animal's body needs. When choosing such foods, it is better to prefer special lines for small dogs. You can also choose options for a specific age and recommended for pregnancy, lactation and various diseases.

An alternative to store-bought food is natural food, that is, a thoughtful diet that will provide the dog with everything it needs.

It is worth remembering that ordinary food from the human table (for example, leftovers from dinner) is not suitable for dogs. And some of the dishes we are used to, including fried, smoked and spicy ones, are simply dangerous for animals.

How to care for Yorkshire terriers

The beautiful coat of Yorkies requires careful grooming. These dogs are usually brushed every day or a little less often, while the coat should be dry.

To make the procedure faster and easier, you can use a special spray. In terms of tools, quality dog combs and massage brushes with natural bristles and metal teeth, which are available from pet stores, are preferred.

They bathe Yorkshire terriers once a week or two. In this case, it is better to use shampoos and conditioners that will provide the coat with proper care.

Immediately after the bath procedures, the dog's hair can be greased with a special oil, and then dried with a towel and a hairdryer. A wet pet should not be left in a draft or let out into the street, this can harm its health.

The long hair of Yorkshire Terriers, which participate in exhibitions, is lubricated with oils and wrapped around hair curlers. This helps to maintain a beautiful appearance and protects against tangling and felting. It is necessary to accustom to papillotes from puppyhood, otherwise the dog will try in every possible way to get rid of incomprehensible accessories. For ordinary pets, this procedure is not necessary, and besides, their hair can be shortened.

As for the Yorkies' haircuts, they are different. So, hygienic involves shortening the hair on the ears, paws, in the groin area and under the tail. This haircut is done about once every two weeks, including to dogs that participate in exhibitions. Pets who don't enter the ring can also get creative model haircuts. But for exhibitions it is still better to adhere to classical standards.

Another mandatory procedure is claw trimming. If they grow too long, the dog can injure itself. It is easy to understand that the time has come for a dog's manicure: if, when walking on the floor, a Yorkie taps his claws, it's time to take on the nail clipper.

Also, Yorkshire Terriers need to clean their ears and wipe their eyes with special lotions. Attention should be paid to brushing the dog's teeth, especially if he participates in exhibitions.

What are Yorkshire terriers sick with?

This breed has a predisposition to certain diseases. This does not mean at all that every dog will necessarily have all the listed health problems. But for any incomprehensible symptoms and even changes in habitual behavior, it is better to immediately contact a veterinary clinic.

• Perthes disease (aseptic necrosis of the femoral head) is a disease of the hip joint and femur that causes lameness and muscle atrophy in the injured limb.
• Dislocation of the patella - leads to lameness and inability to step on the paw when walking.
• Hypoglycemia is a decrease in blood glucose. Most often, this problem is observed in puppies (juvenile form) against a background of nervous tension, improper feeding, helminth infection and more. Due to errors in the selection of the diet, it also happens in adult dogs.
• Tracheal collapse is a pathology in which the dog has difficulty breathing due to the narrowing of the trachea caused by the softening of the cartilaginous rings.
• A hepatic (portosystemic) shunt is an abnormal connection of vessels that connect the systemic circulation and the hepatic portal vein. As a result, the liver does not fully perform its function.
• Progressive retinal atrophy is a disease that causes degeneration and death of retinal cells, ultimately leading to blindness.

Also Yorkies can suffer from problems with the genitourinary system, teeth, as well as skin, heart, colds and other diseases.

Smile at your pet?

Dogs have been proven to be able to distinguish between our emotions

What to look for when buying a Yorkie

You can choose a future pet through a website with ads, in a kennel or at a dog show. Of course, the prices for puppies from breeders are higher, but the risk of getting a sick animal with such a purchase is less. In addition, an experienced specialist will continue to help you with advice if you need it.

The class of the future pet largely determines its value. The most budgetary option is "home", that is, dogs for the soul that cannot claim exhibition titles. "Breed" - animals that are well suited for breeding. And finally, "show-class". The dogs that belong to him have all the makings of future champions.

When making a choice, it is worth checking the registration plate of the kennel and documents for the puppy's parents, and also see in what conditions he grew up. This is especially important when buying a potential exhibitor.

The puppy itself also needs to be carefully examined before making a final decision. He should be healthy, alert, active and mobile, with clean eyes and normal breathing without wheezing. Severe thinness, lethargy, and passivity can be signs of health problems and improper grooming.

Together with the puppy, you must be given a purchase and sale agreement, a veterinary passport with marks on the mandatory vaccinations, a metric (puppy card), which is then exchanged for a pedigree, and a certificate of chipping (if it was done). Please note: dogs from kennels are also branded, it allows you to identify the animal.

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