Characteristics of a good dog breeder:

1. A good breeder will be full of helpful information about the breed. You should do research prior to talking to the breeder, go in with a list of questions (see below), and ask the breeder to clarify anything you are unclear about for the breed you’re considering. The breeder should be able to tell you something that you were not aware of.
2. A good breeder should be able to provide you with as many references as you ask for. If she can’t provide references, she might have something to hide.
3. A good breeder should provide you with all necessary paperwork to register your dog with the AKC.
4. A good breeder should not seem “pushy” or anxious to sell you the dog. The breeder should be 100% interested in finding the best home for the dog, not just the most profit.
5. A good breeder should keep the puppy with it’s mother until it is at least 6 weeks old, althought 8-12 weeks is better.
6. A good breeder should provide the following for each puppy:
   • Companionship, affection, interaction, and attention.
   • Quality food and clean water.
   • Clean, comfortable shelter.
   • All required immunizations and preventive health care.
   • Vet records.
   • Adequate grooming.
7. A reputable dog breeder should belong to their breed’s kennel club.
8. A reputable dog breeder should offer some type of guarantee.
9. If the dog is not “show quality” the breeder should encourage spaying / neutering the dog.
10. A good dog breeder should be available “after the sale” should you ever have any questions or concerns.
11. A reputable dog breeder should ask you lots of questions about you, your lifestyle, your schedule, your children, your home, etc. This screening process is typical for every reputable breeder.
12. A good dog breeder should strive to make the breed better.
13. A good dog breeder never sells their puppies to pet shops, puppy brokers, or outlets.
14. A good dog breeder is proud of the parents, and should be willing to introduce you to the parents.
15. The best dog breeders will present their dogs at competitions.

You should have a series of questions to ask the breeder when you visit. Here are some questions to get you started:

1. What is the breeders history?
2. How long has the breeder been breeding purebreds, and how many puppies have they sold?
3. What is the health history of the parents?
4. What is the health history of the puppies?
5. What is the temperament of the breed? The parents? The puppies?
6. Does the breeder offer a guarantee / refund?
7. Can the breeder recommend a vet which is familiar with the breed?
8. Will the breeder be available throughout the life of the dog should you have any questions or concerns?

Just because a breeder can supply “papers” for their dogs doesn’t mean they are the best dog for you. When considering a purebred dog, you must research the breed and the breeder. This is an investment, and friendship, that you’ll be responsible for for years to come. Do your research, ask lots of questions, go with your gut instinct, and you and your new dog should be happy for a long, long time.

Keep this in mind. This really only matters if you are breeding your yorkie. If you’re just looking for a great pet, don’t put so much emphasis on the AKC guidelines. Yorkies are the best pets I have ever owned. I own 2, and one of them is show quality. The other is not. But they are both great yorkies.

Here is the Official Breed Standard for the Yorkshire Terrier from the AKC:

Yorkshire Terrier’s General Appearance
That of a long-haired toy terrier whose blue and tan coat is parted on the face and from the base of the skull to the end of the tail and hangs evenly and quite straight down each side of body. The body is neat, compact and well proportioned. The dog’s high head carriage and confident manner should give the appearance of vigor and self importance.

Yorkshire Terrier’s Head
Small and rather flat on top, the skull not too prominent or round, the muzzle not too long, with the bite neither undershot nor overshot and teeth sound. Either scissors bite or level bite is acceptable. The nose is black. Eyes are medium in size and not too prominent; dark in color and sparkling with a sharp, intelligent expression. Eye rims are dark. Ears are small, V-shaped, carried erect and set not too far apart.

Yorkshire Terrier’s Body
Well proportioned and very compact. The back is rather short, the back line level, with height at shoulder the same as at the rump.

Yorkshire Terrier’s Legs and Feet
Forelegs should be straight, elbows neither in nor out. Hind legs straight when viewed from behind, but stifles are moderately bent when viewed from the sides. Feet are round with black toenails. Dew claws, if any, are generally removed from the hind legs. Dew claws on the forelegs may be removed.

Yorkshire Terrier’s Tail
Docked to a medium length and carried slightly higher than the level of the back.

Yorkshire Terrier’s Coat
Quality, texture and quantity of coat are of prime importance. Hair is glossy, fine and silky in texture. Coat on the body is moderately long and perfectly straight (not wavy). It may be trimmed to floor length to give ease of movement and a neater appearance, if desired. The fall on the head is long, tied with one bow in center of head or parted in the middle and tied with two bows. Hair on muzzle is very long. Hair should be trimmed short on tips of ears and may be trimmed on feet to give them a neat appearance.

Yorkshire Terrier’s Colors
Puppies are born black and tan and are normally darker in body color, showing an intermingling of black hair in the tan until they are matured. Color of hair on body and richness of tan on head and legs are of prime importance in adult dogs, to which the following color requirements apply: BLUE: Is a dark steel blue, not a silver blue and not mingled with fawn, bronzy or black hairs. TAN: All tan hair is darker at the roots than in the middle, shading to still lighter tan at the tips. There should be no sooty or black hair intermingled with any of the tan.

Yorkshire Terrier’s Color on Body
The blue extends over the body from back of neck to root of tail. Hair on tail is a darker blue, especially at end of tail.

Yorkshire Terrier’s Head fall
A rich golden tan, deeper in color at sides of head, at ear roots and on the muzzle, with ears a deep rich tan. Tan color should not extend down on back of neck.

Yorkshire Terrier’s Chest and Legs
A bright, rich tan, not extending above the elbow on the forelegs nor above the stifle on the hind legs.

Yorkshire Terrier’s Weight
Must not exceed seven pounds.

Approved April 12, 1966

Yes, there are yorkies that are very small (under 3 lbs.), but there is no official weight variety called a Teacup Yorkie. A yorkie is a yorkie is a yorkie. Period.

The average yorkshire terrier size is 3.5-7 lbs. Where did the terms Teacup Yorkie, Tiny Toy Yorkie, etc. come from? These are terms created by irresponsible breeders who are trying to get as much money from you as possible. These smaller yorkies can often cost 50% to 100% more to buy than normal size yorkies.

These extra small yorkshire terriers are very adorable. Therefore, people emotionally fall in love with their size, not realizing that these little tiny creatures are typically not as healthy as their larger relatives.

Think about it… a larger yorkie is a sturdier yorkie. Smaller yorkies are more fragile. Their bones are more brittle. Their mouths mouths don’t grow as large, so forming healthy teeth is more difficult. Their organs can be weak. They can’t jump as high which means they will need ongoing help to climb onto things. They simply don’t live as long as larger, sturdier yorkies.

I own 2 yorkies. One weights about 6.5 lbs. The other weights about 4 lbs. Although both are very healthy, the smaller one simply doesn’t have the same strength and agility as the larger yorkie.

If you are looking for a yorkshire terrier puppy, don’t get caught up in the “teacup yorkie” fad. Instead, look for a yorkie who will live a long, healthy, happy life because he is strong and healthy. Responsible breeders will breed healthy dogs and try to avoid the much smaller runts at all costs. You should do the same.

Yorkshire Terriers are excellent pets. Use wisdom when you choose yours.

Many people are tempted with the newspaper ads or internet ads saying, “Yorkie Puppy for Sale.” But choosing a great yorkshire terrier puppy is the most important first step in becoming a yorkie owner. So how to you choose a good yorkie puppy for your family?

You Should Choose a Yorkie- Don’t Let the Yorkie Choose You.

When I was first married, a read numerous books about how to choose the right dog for my family. Each book suggested that I choose the puppy in the litter who comes directly to me and seems to like me more than the others. Apparently, that meant I would have the best bond with that puppy. I did that with my first 2 dogs and it turned out to be a disaster for this uneducated new pet owner. Both of those dogs were so hyper that I couldn’t control them and ended up giving them to other families.

Obviously, this is not always the case, but my experience shows that it is usually the case when choosing a new puppy. Today, I have enough knowledge to train a hyper dog, so I’m sure it would work out. But, if you don’t have the patience to deal with a hyper dog, here’s what I suggest…

Choose the yorkie who sort of hangs out in the crowd. The patient ones tend to be gentler and easier to train as a household pet. The ones that are full of energy at the breeders could turn out to be the ones that drive you nuts at home.

Unless you’re looking for a high-energy dog, don’t automatically assume that the yorkie that chooses you is the yorkie you should choose. Take a close look at each yorkie puppy in the litter and get to know him or her as much as you can. You’ll know which one is right for you.

Remembering that you probably don’t want the most hyper dog, you also don’t want to choose the most bashful dog. Here’s a good tip when looking at a litter of yorkshire terrier puppies: If the yorkie is very shy / bashful as a puppy, he will probably be shy / bashful as an older yorkie.

If the entire yorkie litter, or most of the litter, is shy / bashful, you probably don’t want any of them. When you see a group of puppies like this, chances are those puppies are genetically shy or timid.

However, one of my yorkies is very shy. He almost seems as if he has no confidence. But he will not run and hide around strangers. He will simply roll over to every person he meets and give them his belly to show that he is not a threat. It’s quite cute, actually.

The bottom line for choosing a yorkie (based on temperment), is to choose one that is middle of the road.

• Not too bossy.
• Not too submissive.
• Not too aggressive.
• Aggressive enough to hold his own with the other yorkie pups.
• Doesn’t bite excessively
• Doesn’t mind nibbling on your finger or a toy.
• Alert and confident.
• Not nervous and afraid.

Finally, when evaluating a yorkie’s personality, spend some time alone with each puppy that you’re interested in. See how he behaves when he’s alone with you. How does he behave when he is away from his brothers and sisters? Does the yorkie’s personality change at all? Is he more relaxed? Is he more timid? Is he more excited or hyper?

Hopefully, this article will help you decide how to choose the best Yorkie puppy for you and your family. Stay tuned for the upcoming article about how to determine the size your yorkie will grow up to be. Ever hear of a teacup yorkie puppy or teacup yorkshire terrier puppy? Do you think they are a real breed? You’ll find out in the next article.

The #1 most popular dog is still the Labrador Retriever, but the Yorkie has overtaken the well known German Shepard and Golden Retriever.

Yorkshire Terriers are gaining more popularity as families are finding the convenience of a smaller dog more suitable to their lifestyle. A small, portable dog like the Yorkie is suited very well to a fast-paced lifestyle.

Yorkies are quite popular, not simply because of their size, but because of their loving nature, the distinctive look, lack of shedding and dander, and loyalty. The Yorkshire Terrier breed makes an excellent watch dog. Although they’re not as strong and tough as larger dogs, they are certain to alert you to any strange behavior.

The Yorkies exciting personality and family friendly attitude make this small dog breed a more popular pet as time moves on.

Visit the American Kennel Club at www.akc.org

Yorkie History and Origin

The Yorkshire Terrier originated from Yorkshire, England around the middle of the 19 century. With the Industrial Revolution in England in the time, many workers came to Yorkshire to find work. Some of them brought their dogs (various types of terriers) to catch rats. The crosses between those dogs produced the original Yorkie. At first, the Yorkshire Terrier was a much bigger than today’s Yorkie, but by selectively breeding the smallest individuals, the dog was gradually miniaturized over the years. They were made into a toy dog. The Yorkshire Terrier appeared fist time on a dog show in 1870. In 1874 the first the Yorkies were registered in the British Kennel Club stud book.

Yorkie Temperament and Personality

Yorkshire Terriers are alert, playful, charming and clever. They don’t need a lot of exercise but do like to run and play. Despite its little size the Yorkie is fearless, saucy and always eager for challenges. They defend their territory and are excellent watchdog.

Yorkie Size and Appearance

The Yorkshire Terrier is a long-coated small-size toy dog, probably not weighing more than 7-8 lbs. Yorkies typically grow to about 6-7 inches tall. The long body coat is glossy, fine, silky and straight.

Caring for Yorkies

The Yorkshire Terrier’s long hair needs daily combing and brushing. Most pet Yorkies have their coats trimmed short or shaved for convenience. The Yorkie coat does not shed. They’re a great dog for people with allergies because they don’t have dander like some other dogs. The average life span of Yorkies is about 12-15 years.

If you’re considering getting a small dog, I hope you’ll seriously consider a Yorkie. They can be a little expensive compared to other breeds, but the price of Yorkies is irrelevant when you consider the years of love and joy they’ll give you and your family.

Do you have a great photo of your small dog? We know there are thousands of photos out there of small dogs, and we want you to send those photos to us. We’re compiling a prize package for the best small dog breed photos in the world.

The contest will run through November 2007. All entries must be received BEFORE December 1, 2007. Winners will be announced on or before December 8, 2007.

As the contest progresses, we will be posting some of the best photos on our site.

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Let’s see, I’ve owned a Peekapoo, Poodle, Dalmation, Boxer, Labrador Retriever, and several mutts. Now, I own 2 Yorkies (Hank & Rex). They are the best dogs I’ve ever owned. Why are they the best? Because they fit my family and lifestyle better than any of the others.

Of course, I had these other dogs before I knew how to train and properly care for a dog. But the bottom line is, the yorkies just seem to “fit.”

I had the Peekapoo and Poodle when my 2 children were very young, and they didn’t seem to like the children handling them and “loving” them so much.

The Dalmation and Boxer were a little more than my children could handle comfortably.

The Labrador Retriever was desperate to play fetch with the neighbors and he would jump our fence every day. He ended up moving to a farm.

So finally, we settled down with our awesome little yorkies. I wish someone would have taught me years ago how to pick the best dog for my family, children, and lifestyle.

I’ve stumbled across a simple guide which will help you not make the same mistakes I did before I found the right dog. It originally sold for $24.95, but I believe you can get it for $9.95 for a limited time. If you’re considering adding a new dog to your family, you should definitely read this book first. In one evening of reading, you’ll be comfortable with going out to get the perfect dog for you.

Click here to learn How to Choose the Best Dog for Your Children and Family