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my handsome yorkhire terrier

20 11:38:57

Question
I am the proud owner of a almost 2 year old yorkshire terrier. When i purchsed him the lady assured me that he was a full-breed yorkshire terrier. It has recently come to my attention that my dog is extremly big for his breed. he weighs appx. 15 pounds. i am very curious to know how his structure allowed him to grow that big and is that an indication that he is now a full-breed yorkshire terrier?

Answer
Kirby,

He is probably a full breed Yorkshire Terrier even though he is 15 pounds.  There is a lot of discussion on the topic of what size a Yorkshire Terrier should be.  They are classified as belonging to the "toy" breed.  I do not know when in history the breed was introduced to larger dogs but obviously at some point it occurred.  I have known about the larger yorkies for the last 28 years and I am sure they were around a long time before that.  What they were originally bred and used for was to hunt rodents and small furry animals.  What I would assume to have happened (I have no proof of this) is that they were originally 15 pounds but as people started to have dogs as pets instead of using them to hunt rodents the yorkie was bred down to the smaller size we see today.  Of course if someone out there knows the real reason for the size difference I would love to know about it.  Either way since you love your yorkie it doesn't matter much what size he is right?

Just for your information I have detailed below, what the American Kennel Club describes as the breed standard.

General Appearance

That of a long-haired toy terrier whose blue and tan coat is parted on the face and from the base of the skull to the end of the tail and hangs evenly and quite straight down each side of body. The body is neat, compact and well proportioned. The dog's high head carriage and confident manner should give the appearance of vigor and self-importance.

Head

Small and rather flat on top, the skull not too prominent or round, the muzzle not too long, with the bite neither undershot nor overshot and teeth sound. Either scissors bite or level bite is acceptable. The nose is black. Eyes are medium in size and not too prominent; dark in color and sparkling with a sharp, intelligent expression. Eye rims are dark. Ears are small, V-shaped, carried erect and set not too far apart.

Body

Well proportioned and very compact. The back is rather short, the back line level, with height at shoulder the same as at the rump.

Legs and Feet

Forelegs should be straight, elbows neither in nor out. Hind legs straight when viewed from behind, but stifles are moderately bent when viewed from the sides. Feet are round with black toenails. Dewclaws, if any, are generally removed from the hind legs. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed.

Tail

Docked to a medium length and carried slightly higher than the level of the back.

Coat

Quality, texture and quantity of coat are of prime importance. Hair is glossy, fine and silky in texture. Coat on the body is moderately long and perfectly straight (not wavy). It may be trimmed to floor length to give ease of movement and a neater appearance, if desired. The fall on the head is long, tied with one bow in center of head or parted in the middle and tied with two bows. Hair on muzzle is very long. Hair should be trimmed short on tips of ears and may be trimmed on feet to give them a neat appearance.

Colors

Puppies are born black and tan and are normally darker in body color, showing an intermingling of black hair in the tan until they are matured. Color of hair on body and richness of tan on head and legs are of prime importance in adult dogs, to which the following color requirements apply:
Blue: Is a dark steel-blue, not a silver-blue and not mingled with fawn, bronzy or black hairs.

Tan: All tan hair is darker at the roots than in the middle, shading to still lighter tan at the tips. There should be no sooty or black hair intermingled with any of the tan.

Color on Body

The blue extends over the body from back of neck to root of tail. Hair on tail is a darker blue, especially at end of tail.

Headfall

A rich golden tan, deeper in color at sides of head, at ear roots and on the muzzle, with ears a deep rich tan. Tan color should not extend down on back of neck.

Chest and Legs

A bright, rich tan, not extending above the elbow on the forelegs nor above the stifle on the hind legs.

Weight

Must not exceed seven pounds.

Disqualifications:

Any solid color or combination of colors other than blue and tan as described above. Any white markings other than a small white spot on the forechest that does not exceed 1 inch at its longest dimension.  

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