Typical Fur Coat Colors for Yorkies

Origin

• Yorkies are said to be the result of breeding among many kinds of terriers from Scotland brought to Yorkshire, England by Scottish miners and weavers in the 1800s. It eventually arrived in the U.S. and was one of the first 25 registered breeds of the American Kennel Club.

Temperament

• Yorkies might fool you into thinking otherwise, but these small dogs (officially in the toy group, weighing only 5 to 7 pounds) are big dogs at heart. They are independent, feisty, potentially aggressive, highly intelligent, bold and not very patient. This temperament makes them ideal watchdogs who are also loyal, affectionate, loving, focused and responsive. This breed enjoys attention and being with their owners. They are a good choice for singles and adults but are not recommended for small children because Yorkies tend to be snappy when not handled properly.

Coat

• Yorkies are hypoallergenic dogs born with black and tan coats that turn tan and steel blue. They have true hair, not fur, and no undercoat, which means they shed less and are relatively easy to groom. Owners who raise Yorkies for show have to keep their dogs' coat long, flowing, silky, straight and dandruff-free. This requires a lot of time and attention, so noncompeting owners mostly choose to give their Yorkies puppy cuts, trimming the hair on the face as well as on the bodies, to make their Yorkies easier to feed, play with and clean.

Bathing

• Purchase shampoo that is specifically formulated for a Yorkie's coat. This shampoo is supposed to be gentle, with the right pH balance for your dog, and may be found in pet care stores along with other things you may need to care for your Yorkie --- such as conditioner, grooming kits, a good brush and a dog dryer.

  Start bathing your Yorkie early so your dog will get used to water at a young age. Bathe your pet regularly, about once a month or more as necessary, but not too much because frequent bathing washes away the natural oils of their silky coats. Use warm water and shampoo your Yorkie from the head, working your way to the tail to avoid getting shampoo in its eyes. Afterwards, apply conditioner to ensure the silkiness of your Yorkie's coat. Work from the head to the tail and rinse thoroughly. Then towel dry or use a dog dryer. You may also use a regular blow dryer but set it to warm, not hot, and keep it at a safe distance from your dog because regular blow dryers can easily burn a Yorkie's skin.

Cutting

• Yorkie coats require regular cutting. If you want to groom your dog yourself, this may even be something you and your pet can enjoy and bond over. Grooming kits are available in pet stores and the tools that come with these are supposed to ensure that they are safe even in nonprofessional hands. There is no right cut for a Yorkie so you can look at pictures for ideas or experiment and find which cut you like best that suits your dog mos. However, there are some styles their extra fine hair might not achieve. Keep your Yorkie's hair long during cooler months because they have low tolerance for the cold.