The Yorkie, a Small Dog in a Dressy Package

Surprisingly, the Yorkshire Terrier, known for its fine “furnishings” and silky long coat, began it’s history as a scrappy rat catcher. Its most likely antecedents are a mixture of various Scottish and Welsh terriers, including the Skye terrier, the Clydesdale terrier and even perhaps the Dandie Dinmont.

Selective breeding through the years miniaturized the Yorkie. It is the second smallest dog in the American Kennel Club registry, (the Chihuahua being the smallest). Selective breeding also improved the texture and length of the coat. The Yorkshire Terrier is noted in the show ring today for its silky coat, characteristically of a steel blue color along the back and sides, gradually blending into a beautiful shade of “autumn orange”. The long hair on the top of the skull may be pulled back and fastened with one bow on the back skull or two bows on either side between its ears.

The coat care of the Yorkshire is extensive. The long silky coat does require a daily grooming. Those who do not have the time for such a chore would do well to take this dog to a groomer on a regular basis or else keep the coat trimmed to a manageable level. The length of the coat in an adult reaches the floor. Also, the facial hair around the eyes and the whiskers below the chin and on the moustache can collect a considerable amount of food mess and need regular combing out. Shampooing of the Yorkie is certainly easy, a kitchen sink with a sprayer attachment works well! The shampoo should not be a “human” shampoo, the dog shampoos that are also conditioners work well, and if the shampoo does not have conditioner in it, then extra conditioner should be applied. The coat should be brushed while slightly damp, it is preferable to have a hair dryer gently blowing the coat as you brush, since this helps to “separate” the hairs. Do not brush a “dry” coat, this will break the ends. If the dog has not been bathed, then spray the coat with fine mist as you brush. As with any breed of dog, and most especially a breed that is and “indoor” dog, its toenails also need to be kept trim on a regular basis. Every six to eight weeks is the norm.

The temperament of the Yorkshire is well suited to fashionable pampering. It seems that this little dog truly enjoys being “decked out” and beribboned. Most owners of Yorkies remark that their pet enjoys nothing more than a session of getting “dressed up” in its Sunday best to go out walking. However, a Yorkie who is not groomed from the beginning of its life as a puppy will NOT appreciate the attention of brushing and so on, and these little characters can present many a problem for a groomer who is not ready for a battle. If you have trained the dog to stand on a grooming table you will find that the job is relatively easy, especially if the grooming table is adjusted to your height.

The Yorkshire terrier possesses a loving and loyal temperament, but like most small dogs often has a difficulty with house-breaking. Although it most likely has lost its “ratting” instinct, it has maintained a lively and inquisitive temperament and is extremely well suited as a companion and pet. The lively character however can certainly lead to mischief and a Yorkie who is ignored can get into a lot of it!

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Pet Care