Characteristics
Origins
Morphology
Psychology
Nutrition and treatment
Fragility

Yorkshire Terrier dog characteristics

Yorkshire is a small dog , belonging to the terrier family, and is one of the small pets. It is native to the United Kingdom but is widespread almost everywhere, considered a valuable breed .

Origins of the Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire was bred in the English region of the same name in the mid-1800s. This breed had been shown to hunt mice in mines. Initially the name this little dog was Scotch Terrier with broken hair as the ancestor was of Scottish descent.

After 9 years and the refining of the breed it takes the name of Yorkshire. Over time, the size has reduced up to the present day. It has also lost its function as a terrier hunting dog, becoming a simple companion dog.
 

Yorkshire morphology

Yorkshire is a small dog that can reach 3 kg , and a height of up to 22 cm. Although so small, it maintains the characteristics of a terrier that make it an agile, fast and robust dog.

It has a medium-long coat of mélange color , dark steel and reddish brown, well divided on both sides. It is soft to the touch.

The coat on the muzzle is also long and is often tied to leave the eyes free. The nose is black. The skull is small and flat, the muzzle elongated, the eyes black and lively. Particular are the V-shaped ears, close together and carried straight above the head. The morphology of the body is well proportioned between the back and legs. The tail is carried high. 

Yorkshire Psychology

The Yorkshire is a lively and intelligent dog, which needs to move often throughout the day. He has a docile and sociable character , but very independent. It is important during imprinting to educate him about noise and socialization, as he tends to bark a lot in the face of unexpected events . He has a playful character and is easily attached to children.

Yorkshire nutrition and care

The diet of the Yorkshire must take into account the small size but also its energy, so it must be well balanced and varied in terms of seasonality and physical activity. 

Its coat and skin need hydration , as they tend to dry out. Washing must also be promoted with neutral and delicate products.

The coat must be brushed daily to prevent knots and cut constantly because it grows progressively. It has no undercoat, so it is very easy to manage around the house. 

Fragility of Yorkshire

The Yorkshire turns out to be a very delicate breed , subject to various pathologies: despite its small size and low weight it can show hip problems that lead to lameness. He can be a victim of retinal dysplasia, up to blindness.

Another typical Yorkshire disease is portosystemic shunt , characterized by an alteration of the blood supply to the liver, with difficulty in filtering the toxins, which leads to inappetence, jaundice, muscle weakness.

The yorkshire can be prone to dislocation of the patella , which involves rotation out of the joint and for which surgery is needed.