Breed Characteristics

Physical CharacteristicsThe Yorkshire Terrier Breed Standard(British Kennel Club)
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Long-Coated, coat hanging quite straight and evenly down each side, a parting extending from nose to tail. Very compact and neat, carriage very upright conveying an important air. General outline conveying impression of vigorous and well proportioned body.

CHARACTERISTICS: Alert, intelligent toy terrier.

TEMPERAMENT: Spirited with even disposition.

HEAD AND SKULL: Rather small and flat, not too prominent or round in skull, not too long in muzzle; black nose.

EYES: Medium, dark, sparkling, with sharp intelligent expression and placed to look directly forward. Not prominent. Edge of eyelids dark.

EARS: Small, V-shaped, carried erect, not too far apart, covered with short hair, colour very deep, rich tan.

MOUTH: Perfect, regular and complete scissor bite. i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Teeth well placed with even jaws.

NECK: Good reach

FOREQUARTERS: Well laid shoulders, legs straight, well covered with hair of rich golden tan a few shades lighter at the ends than at roots, not extending higher on forelegs than elbow.

BODY: Compact with moderate spring of rib, good loin. Level Back.

HINDQUARTERS: Legs quite straight when viewed from behind, moderate turn of stifle. Well covered with hair of rich golden tan a few shades lighter at the ends than at roots, not extending higher on hindlegs than stifle.

FEET: Rounds; nails black.

TAIL: Customarily docked to medium length with plenty of hair, darker blue in colour than rest of body, especially at the end of tail. Carried a little higher than level of back .

GAIT/MOVEMENT: Free with drive; straight action front and behind, retaining level topline.

COAT: Hair on body moderately long, perfectly straight (not wavy), glossy; fine silky texture, not woolly. Fall on head long, rich golden tan, deeper in colour at sides of head, about ear roots and on muzzle where it should be very long. Tan on head not to extend on to neck, nor must any sooty or dark hair intermingle with any of the tan.

COLOUR: Dark steel blue (not silver blue), extending from occiput to root of tail, never mingled with fawn, bronze or dark hair. Hair on chest rich, bright tan. All tan hair darker at the roots than in the middle, shading still lighter at the tips.

SIZE: Weight up to 3.1 kgs (7lbs)

FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.


This diagram illustrates the skeletal parts of the Yorkshire Terrier, together with the conformation points.

	SKELETON 1.) Skull 2.) cervical vertebra 3.) Thoracic vertebra 4.) Rib 5.) Lumber vertebra 6.) Coccygeal vertebra 7.) Pelvis 8.) Femur 9.)Patella 10.) Fibula 11.) Metatarsus 12.) Tarsus 13.) Tibia 14.) Sternum 15.) Phalanges 16.) Radius 17.) Ulna 18.) Humerus 19.) Scapula	CONFORMATION POINTS A.) Occiput B.) Forehead C.) Stop D.) Muzzle E.) Shoulder F.) Elbow G.) Forearm H.) Pastern I.) Hock J.) Stifle K.) Thigh L.) Loin M.) Tail N.) Back O.) Withers

RECORDED IN GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS

According to the Guinness Book of World Records a Yorkshire terrier holds the distinction of being the smallest dog in history. This matchbox-sized Yorkie, when fully grown at the age of 2, stood 2 ½ inches at the shoulder, measured 3 3/4 inches from the tip of its nose to the root of its tail, and weighed 4 ounces. Owned by Arthur Marples of Blackburn, Great Britain, this elfin dog died in 1945.