| If you are looking for a dog that weighs only | | | | |
| a few pounds with a big spirit, the Yorkshire | | | | The Yorkshire terrier is a very popular breed |
| terrier or Yorkie may be just for you. The | | | | in the United States. Two very excellent |
| background of the Yorkie goes back to the | | | | breeders who raised and showed Yorkies in the |
| 18th century. During the Industrial | | | | 1950s, 1960s and 1970s were the sisters Joan |
| Revolution in England, Scotsmen left their | | | | Gordon and Janet Bennett of the Wildweir |
| country and headed south looking for work in | | | | Kennels. Their English import Ch. Little sir |
| England. They brought their families and | | | | Model was the first Yorkie to win an |
| dogs. Their dogs included Skye Terriers, | | | | all-breed best in Show. |
| Paisley Terriers and Clydesdale Terriers. | | | | |
| The breeds ranged in size from 6 pounds to 20 | | | | At the present time the breed places in the |
| pounds. They were all fairly heavily coated. | | | | top ten breeds in popularity of the AKC |
| Some had a silky texture to their coat. All | | | | breeds. It continues to hold a number-one |
| carried blue-tan or gray coat colors. A | | | | ranking as a Toy dog in America. Throughout |
| common breed in Yorkshire, England at the | | | | all time the Yorkshire terrier has remained a |
| time was the Waterside Terrier. | | | | favorite of the public. |
| | | | |
| The present-day Yorkshire Terrier is a | | | | Every breed of dog registered with the |
| combination of these four breeds. The | | | | American Kennel Club (AKC) has an official |
| beautiful long-coated dog with a silky steel | | | | standard to help breeders and fanciers to |
| blue and tan coat is prized as one of the | | | | understand the characteristics that define |
| smallest dogs in the world and the most | | | | the particular breed. The standard tells us |
| popular toy breed. | | | | what makes the breed different from every |
| | | | other breed. A Yorkie's coat is blue and tan |
| By the 1850's, Yorkies were being shown in | | | | and floor length. There is a standard set |
| England. The standard weight fell anywhere | | | | for the Yorkie's ears, muzzle and tail to |
| between 5 and 18 pounds. By 1886, the | | | | look a certain way. These characteristics |
| English Kennel Club recognized the breed as | | | | are sought out by breeders, as well as the |
| the Yorkshire terrier and placed it in the | | | | Yorkie's typical temperament and personality |
| newly formed Toy Group. Currently the Yorkie | | | | as described in the standard. The standard |
| reigns in the top ten breeds in popularity in | | | | for the Yorkie as compared to other breeds is |
| Britain. | | | | short. The largest section is on the coat, |
| | | | which is very important for the breed. If |
| The first recorded Yorkie whelped in the | | | | one is going to show a Yorkie, the correct |
| United States was in 1872. At first, the | | | | coat and color are of most concern. |
| American Kennel Club divided the breed | | | | |
| classes by weight: Under 5 pounds and over 5 | | | | Connie Limon raises Shih Tzu Puppies. She |
| pounds. The larger weight class had few | | | | owns Little Guys Dog Clothes Shop. Purchase |
| entries. Therefore it was decided to have | | | | designer dog clothes for your Yorkie and |
| one weight class for all Yorkies, specifying | | | | other toy breeds at: |
| weight range between 3 and 7 pounds. Today, | | | | |
| the American Kennel Club breed standard for a | | | | This article is FREE to publish with resource |
| Yorkie is 7 pounds. | | | | box. |