Do you want to add a pint-sized pup with a ton of personality to your household? Then a Yorkshire Terrier might be the perfect pooch for you! Growing to be only about seven inches tall, the Yorkie is a toy-sized terrier with silky, golden fur.
Feisty, brave, and a tad bossy, the Yorkie is an excitable and energetic dog brimming with a big-town attitude. A great pet for both homeowners and apartment dwellers, the Yorkie will provide you with love and companionship for her entire lifetime.
Wondering what type of Yorkie you should get? While there are several different types of Yorkies, all of them make amazing pets for people of any age.
1. Parti Yorkies
While all Yorkies are social butterflies, a Parti Yorkie, or particolor, is definitely the life of the party! These Yorkies are different from your standard blue and tan, gold and black, or blue and gold Yorkie because they’re actually tri-colored. This means that they have three colors to their coats. If you adore eye-catching dogs, the Parti Yorkie is sure to please!
2. Teacup Yorkies
While Yorkies are tiny dogs to start with, the teacup variety can actually fit inside your pocket. Teacup Yorkies will grow to weigh no more than seven pounds and can live for up to 15 years. Despite their long lifespan, Teacup Yorkies are prone to numerous health issues, including dental problems, patellar luxation, collapsing trachea, and liver shunts. Be prepared to take this compact dog to the vet for regular wellness checkups to catch a potential problem before it can become more serious.
3. Designer Yorkies
Designer dog breeds are all the rage these days. Also called “hybrid’ dog breeds, designer Yorkies are dogs that come from two different parent dog breeds. For instance, a Chorkie is a designer Yorkie variation that was developed by breeding a Yorkie with a Chihuahua. Designer Yorkies are different from mutts in that the parents were intentionally bred to produce a mixed dog. When you get a designer Yorkie, you’re getting the best of both worlds and can enjoy the best personality traits from two different breeds!
4. Black Yorkies
While most Yorkies have two colors to their coats, all-black Yorkies do exist. While extremely rare, black Yorkies are no less loyal or loving than standard-colored Yorkies.
5. Mismarked Yorkies
The American Kennel Club (AKC) has four recognized color combination standards for Yorkies, including black and gold, blue and tan, black and tan, and finally black and gold. Any other markings on these dogs are considered to be mismarked colors. For example, if a Yorkie has a white spot on her chest, she is considered to be a mismarked Yorkie by the AKC. While not extremely valuable or rare, mismarked Yorkies still make excellent pets.
6. Biewer Terriers
The Biewer Terrier is a gorgeous little dog that got her foundation from the Yorkie. This breed got its start as a particolor Yorkshire Terrier with liberal random markings covering the traditional breed standard coat pattern. Today, the Biewer Terrier is recognized as a purebred dog using “scientific means.” These are DNA markers that indicate a dog’s heritage and parentage. Added to the Foundation Stock Service of the American Kennel Club in 2014, Biewer Terriers can compete in the Toy group after they are officially recognized.
Conclusion
Whether you decide to scoop up a black, teacup, or designer Yorkie, you can rest easy knowing that you’re getting an amazing little dog. Smart, friendly, and devoted, Yorkies are great dogs for nearly everyone.
Featured Image Credit: Piqsels
Nicole is the proud mom of Baby, a Burmese cat and Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts’ knowledge with pet lovers across the globe.
