All About The AKC Yorkshire Terrier Standard

Could that little perky dog in the local animal shelter actually be a purebred Yorkshire Terrier? Most likely, yes. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that twenty-five percent of all animals given up to shelters are purebreds. One of the advantages of getting purebred dogs is that their physical and personality temperaments can (for the most part) be predicted. You will also be aware of the needs for the dog in order to happy and healthy.

Knowing the Yorkshire Terrier breed standard can help you determine if the dog in your shelter is indeed a Yorkshire Terrier. Keep in mind that no dog can live up to the breed standard. A breed standard is the written description of a perfect representation of the breed. Just see if your shelter dog compares for the most part to the breed description. Odds are it will likely be off in only a few physical features.

The personality of a Yorkshire Terrier is pretty consistent, even though you will find some differences in individual dogs. There is a temperament goal in the Yorkshire breed standard that ethical breeders try to get their dogs to copy. Yorkshire Terriers are the benevolent Napoleons of the canine world, needing to be in charge of every little thing in their territory. They are bossy, vocal and need to be fussed over.

The breed standard lists Yorkies as alert, vivacious and full of "self importance". (That's putting it mildly). Yorkies are one of the few dog breeds that can be picky eaters. They make very good watchdogs. They do not do well in a home with pet rodents, as they were bred to kill rats. However, they do well in homes with elderly or small children. In a home with other dogs, don't be surprised if the Yorkie becomes the alpha dog very quickly.

Yorkshire Terriers pointed ears are more V-shaped than a tight point. Their noses are supposed to be always black. Their eyes are bright and alert. The Yorkshire Terrier should seem as if he thinks he's better than everyone else and carry himself like he's the biggest dog in the world. Their backs are level and they should stand squarely. They shouldn't have an overbite or an undershot jaw like a bulldog.

Some common faults in a purebred Yorkshire Terrier include floppy ears as an adult, being just too big to be in the show ring, having an undocked tail (all show dogs have tails docked at two or three days of age) or dewclaws (which are removed from all show dogs). Another fault is if they are over seven pounds, which happens often, even in purebreds, since the Yorkshire Terrier ancestor was well over seven pounds. Another fault is if they don’t have the right color.

Susan Bailey has interviewed dozens of owners, trainers and vets about Yorkshire Terriers. A Yorkshire Terrier is best only for a specific type of person. Many articles can be found on the Internet that contain lots of Yorkshire Terrier information.