The Yorkshire Terrier breed standard specifies that the dog should have a compact build and hold itself in an upright manner, conveying a confident and self-assured demeanor (a reflection of its temperament). The Yorkie's appearance should be one of spirit, intelligence and vigor. In dog shows, a Yorkie that appears sullen or lifeless will be penalized. Underneath the Yorkie's silky coat, its body is athletic and sturdy, designed for an active life. When trotting about, the Yorkie has a free, jaunty gait, with both head and tail held high. For Yorkies, toy stature does not mean frail or fragile.
Coat and Color
Yorkshire Terriers are a long-haired breed with no undercoat, which means that they do not shed. Rather, their hair is like human hair in that it grows continuously and falls out rarely (only when brushed or broken). This makes Yorkies one of the best breeds for allergy sufferers. Additionally, since Yorkies carry less dander on their coat, they generally do not have the unpleasant "wet dog" odor when wet. Yorkie puppies are born with a silky-soft black and tan coat and normally have black hairs mixed in with the tan until they are matured. The breed standard for adult Yorkies places prime importance on coat color, quality and texture. The hair must be glossy, fine and silky. From the back of the neck to the base of the tail, the coat should be a dark steel-blue (not silver-blue), never mingled with fawn, bronze or black hairs. Hair on the tail should be a darker blue. On the head, chest and legs, hair should be a bright, rich tan, darker at the roots than in the middle, shading to still lighter tan at the tips. There should be no dark hairs intermingled with any of the tan. Many Yorkies do not conform to the standard for coat color; the tan may range from a very light blonde to a darker brown, while the body may be black or silvery gray. The Yorkie’s nose, lips, eye-rims, paw-pads and nails should be darkly pigmented.
For show purposes, the coat is grown-out long and parted down the middle of the back, but may be trimmed to floor length to give ease of movement and a neater appearance. Hair on the feet and the tips of ears should also be trimmed. The traditional long coat is high maintenance and requires daily brushing. To maintain the long coats of show dogs (between exhibitions), the hair may be wrapped in paper, after a light oiling, which prevents the hairs from being broken easily and keeps the coat in condition. As a more practical alternative, many Yorkie-owners opt to keep the dog's coat trimmed to a shorter all-over length.
Build and Proportions
The Yorkshire Terrier has a small head, which, according to the breed standard, should be rather flat and not too round. The teeth should have either a “scissors bite” or a “level bite” . The Yorkie’s dark eyes are not too prominent, but should be sparkling, with sharp intelligent expression, and placed to look directly forward. The small, V-shaped ears are set high on the head, not too far apart, and should be carried erect.
The breed standard dictates that a Yorkshire Terrier should weigh no more than seven pounds, though some pets do. The compact body of a Yorkie is well proportioned. The back should be level, with the same height at the base of the neck and the base of the tail. The tail is carried slightly higher than the level of the back. In a standing position, the Yorkie’s front legs should be straight. The back legs should be straight when viewed from behind, but moderately bent when viewed from the side.
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