Yorkshire Terriers - Care

The owners of Yorkshire Terriers should supply their pets with necessary care. Basic care includes regular check ups. Clean the eyes of your Yorkshire Terrier every morning. Hairs between the toes of the dog should be removed every two weeks. If the nails are too long, trim them with special scissors. A neat pad should resemble that of the cat.
As for washing, it is advised to wash the Yorkshire Terrier once in two weeks. A show dog may be washed more often. Pay attention to the ears and teeth of the dog. Yorkshire Terriers change their teeth at the age of 4-6 months.
Yorkshire Terriers live for about 12-14 years provided they are appropriately cared for. Breeders and owners of Yorkshire Terriers should be well aware of health problems the breed is prone to. Thus, the Yorkshire Terrier is prone to patellar luxation, teeth problems, and can suffer from allergies. These dogs do not bear vaccines and some other medication. Besides, they cannot stand cold and should wear special clothes. Some Yorkshire Terriers can suffer from low blood pressure.
Generally, health issues of the Yorkshire Terrier are the concern of many responsible breeders and breed clubs. There are a number of tests that Yorkshire Terriers should undergo. It is advised to test the breeding stock for PRA. It is one of the most common diseases in Yorkshire Terriers.

Yorkshire Terrier Clubs and Foundations

The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America
All club enquiries to the Secretary:
Mrs. Shirley A PattersonPO Box 271St Peters, PA 19470-0271USA

The Yorkshire Terrier Foundation, Inc.
This was founded by The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America
to do research on health issues relating to Yorkies.
A newsletter is published every three months.
A contributions is required to receive newsletter.
$20 for individuals - $40 for families-$50 for businesses
obtainable from the Treasurer: or from the Vice President:
Donald Quinn PO Box 10582 , Rock Hill , SC. 29731-0582

And for a great list of rescue groups
check out NET PETS!

The Yorkshire Terrier

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England.

SPECIAL SKILLS: Historically a rat-catcher but nowadays usually a family pet.

WEIGHT: The weight is about 2 - 3kg (4 1/2 - 6 1/2 lb).

COAT: This breed has very long, silk-like hair, colored golden-brown with steel grey. As puppies the grey hairs are black.

CARE REQUIRED: The Yorkshire Terrier needs intensive daily grooming with brush and comb. If you do not have the time or the inclination to do this, you should have the coat trimmed by a professional. The hair is normally kept out of the eyes with a rubber band or a ribbon tied in a bow. Show dogs' coats are usually protected to keep their condition by being rolled up on curling papers. Check the ears regularly and remove loose hairs from the ear passages.

CHARACTER: This is a lively, intelligent, sometimes too-brave dog, which is loving, vigilant, and becomes attached to its family. Yorkshire Terriers are very alert and bark whenever they sense danger.

TRAINING: The Yorkshire Terrier is a fairly quick-learning pupil. Provided you are consistent in your approach and ensure the lessons are positive, enjoyable and varied, it will soon learn to obey.

SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: Provided children do not treat them as a toy and do not invade their territory, these dogs will not cause any problems with them. Some of this breed can be rather foolhardy in their courage towards other dogs but usually get along very well with cats and other household animals. Strangers will always be announced by loud barking.

EXERCISE: This breed adapts its exercise needs to the family circumstances and the dog can readily be kept in an apartment.

SPECIAL REMARKS: The beautiful long hair of this breed is much admired at dog shows but to keep such a coat in good condition requires considerable work. Most Yorkshire Terriers which are kept as pets go through life with shorter clipped coats. Although purists may find this upsetting, it is better for the dog than an unkempt coat with tangles which hurt and bother the dog.

Yorkshire Terrier News: Yorkshire Terrier Allergies

Yorkshire Terriers are going to need to see a vet at least once a year. Most dogs visit more than once a year. Vet bills are to be expected when you bring home a Yorkshire Terrier. They are prone to some illnesses like luxating patella. However, they are not as prone to allergies as some other breeds. Yorkshire Terrier allergies are almost the same as for other breeds. The only exception is that they don't handle anesthesia as well as other breeds.
One of the advantages of getting a purebred dog is that you know in advance what medical conditions the breed is prone to. One of the most common aliments in all dogs is allergies. The good news is that Yorkshire Terriers are not prone to allergies more than most other breeds, or even mongrels. The bad news is that this breed does have a difficulty when handling anesthesia, which may be considered a Yorkshire Terrier allergy.
Although Yorkshire Terriers are difficult candidates for anesthesia, successful operations happen on Yorkies everyday. They just need more supervision during the operation than the average dog. So choose a vet for your Yorkshire Terrier that knows about this need and for other Yorkshire Terrier allergies. If you are getting your Yorkie from a local breeder, ask for that breeder's recommendation. If you have friends and family with Yorkies, as them for recommendations.
Signs of allergies in Yorkshire Terriers include scratching to the point of baldness or bleeding, excessive diarrhea or vomiting, problems breathing and sometimes changes in behavior much like giving a hyperactive child a handful of sugar. The good news about these allergies is that they are all usually treatable. The bad news is that it usually takes a while to determine what it is they are allergic to.
Yorkshire terrier care is difficult enough without having to add the care of a dog with Yorkshire Terrier allergies. But if you start getting into the habit, taking care of a Yorkie with allergies becomes easy and part of the daily routine.
The good news is that Yorkies like to be fussed over, so getting them to take a pill or wear an Elizabethan collar is not too difficult. Most of the treatment for Yorkshire Terrier allergies is done at home, not at a vet.
Finding out the cause of the allergen takes a lot longer than treating the actual allergy. You will usually have to do a lot of trial and error experiments. Food allergy diagnosis takes the longest, but there are commercial foods now available for dogs with food allergies.
If your dog's condition improves, then you know that changing your cleaners will cure your dog. With food allergies, this trial and error method can take a long time. You must be patient. Fortunately, there a lot of new commercially available dog foods made especially for dogs with food allergies.

Marysville Washingtion Yorkshire Terrier makes it to Times Square

Yorkshire Terrier Dog News. Many folks have been to New York City and marveled at Times Square, but how many can say their face was shown on a big screen in what is billed as the busiest intersection in the world? Sassy the Yorkshire Terrier can say her photograph was shown there. So can her owner, Dayna Culbertson of Marysville Washington.
Sassy, a 2-year-old Yorkshire terrier, won the Purina Dog Chow "Picture Your Dog in Times Square" Sweepstakes grand prize trip. It included a five-day stay in New York -- with spending money.
Ten years ago, Culbertson, a passionate animal lover, began researching breeds she could train as therapy dogs. She said she fell in love with Yorkshire terriers and became an advocate for the breed.
The mother of a grown son volunteers for Delta Society and visits senior care centers where residents get to hug a Yorkie. "Every time I see what a dog can do for others in need, it just makes my heart smile," Culbertson said. "They bring out conversations. The first time we were at Regency Care Center at Monroe, a lady talked who hadn't talked in three months."
As director of the Washington and Oregon Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue organization, she both fosters and owns Yorkies while finding good homes for rescued dogs. Culbertson said she entered her dog to put the spotlight on Yorkies (Yorkshire Terriers).
When Culbertson, her husband and Sassy the Yorkie went to New York, Culbertson's parents watched the house and the other dogs.
The trip included a limo ride from the airport and dinner at a Bobby Flay (Food Network star) restaurant in New York. Culbertson, and her husband, Geoff, who works at the Boeing Co., were front and center with Sassy when her picture flashed in Times Square. "Seeing Sassy on the big screen was very exciting," Culbertson said. "It was a lot to take in."
More than 9,000 dogs entered into the contest had pictures splashed on the Reuters/NASDAQ Digital Tower Billboards in Times Square.
Viewers couldn't detect that Sassy was born with a malformed front leg. Culbertson adopted the 6-week-old puppy in Portland, Ore.
"Sassy has become vivacious and her disability never once slowed her down," said Culbertson, 45. "She has touched the hearts of many with her personality and unconditional love she gives to everyone. If a person was to watch Sassy run, they wouldn't even realize she uses only three legs."
At Sassy's house, Bear, a black Labrador and chow mix, is part of the canine gang. He was the only survivor from a dozen puppies born in Portland, Ore. All the others died 11 years ago from canine parvo disease.
They share the couch with Bailey, a 6-year-old Yorkie, and Baxter, a 3-year-old Yorkshire terrier with a doll face.
"Baxter has attitude," Culbertson said.
The other dogs seem oblivious to Sassy's stardom. In New York, her picture flashed every eight minutes for 24 hours.
"Wow," Culbertson said about watching the screen. "There we are again."
All of her dogs seemed to be equal apples of her eye, but she has competition.
"Sassy is daddy's girl," Culbertson said.