Yorkshire Terrier Yorkie Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ]

[admin]

Choosing A Yorkie: One or More?

You can choose to have just one Yorkshire Terrier. He will, eventually, be spoiled. But that's okay!

If you are planning to have more than one Yorkie in your family, it's best to get them at the same time. That way, they will not have territorial issues of a new animal coming into the house. Also, if you have two or more puppies, they are able to take care of each other and help each other growing up. When they are home alone, they will have a play mate and will not be as lonely. Leaving on a TV or radio can always help make them feel more at home.

If you choose to add a Yorkie with one already grown, it's advisable to choose a puppy as the 2nd Yorkie. That way, the older one can help the puppy grow. Just remember not to take away any "rights" of the older Yorkie. Retain the first Yorkie's rights and do still pay attention to it. That will help the transition for the older Yorkie as the new Yorkie comes into your lives.

To choose the sex of the Yorkie, remember that if you have one male and one female, they will want to mate, especially when the female is in heat. If you are not trying to breed, you can get two of the same sex, either two boys or two girls. That will avoid this problem.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...hoosing+yorkie

[admin]

How do I transport my Yorkie?

If you are planning to take your Yorkshire Terrier somewhere via car, it is advisable to put him in a pet carrier, either soft or hard. While your Yorkie may growl for attention or try to escape the carrier, it is the safest position for it. While you may see many owners let their big dogs roam around the car while driving, it is dangerous. While you may be the safest driver in the world, not everyone else is. If someone rear ends you or you need to suddenly brake hard, your Yorkie could end up flying, which may result in serious injury or even death for your pet if it is not in a carrier of some sort. If your Yorkie is in your lap while driving, the force of an airbag deployment may also be potentially fatal.

I prefer to put my Yorkie in a soft carrier with his blanket and a "comfort item", such as one of my tee shirts or one of his toys. You can also keep your Yorkie occupied with a bone or other treat during the trip. I also put the carrier on the floor of the car, as putting the carrier on the seat could still lead to injury as most carriers are not able to be fastened in via a seat belt. I usually angle the carrier and position the front seat (if I do not have a passenger besides my Yorkie) so that the carrier is snug and will not roll. Early on in being a transport, I have accidentally made the carrier roll in the front seat area due to braking too hard.

Remember safety first, as you will not want to know later on that you could have prevented an accident. Please be careful out there!

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59

[admin]

How do I start my training my Yorkie?

Reward. Reward. Reward. Be sure to vocally praise your Yorkie when they do something good. It's best to start off training with only one commander. That way your Yorkie will grow accustomed to one voice, and that will bring less confusion. When your Yorkie comes when he is called, praise him. You may want to give him a little treat, some kind of food will work. Once he relates the treat to being obedient, he will learn.

Also, be patient. Training is not a one-time thing. You will need to put aside perhaps 30 minutes or an hour each day for a few weeks to teach your Yorkie.

When your Yorkie does something bad, do scold him. Never hit your Yorkie, a loud clap of your hands, or make a loud noise (like using the cardboard part of a paper towel roll) will be sufficient. You can also "quarantine" your Yorkie or leave him alone in the bathroom, or put him in a high area (make sure he won't jump). Don't quarantine him for too long, perhaps 10 or 15 minutes.

Yorkie: Starting Training - YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community

[admin]

What about traveling with your Yorkie on an airline?

Check ahead with the airlines first, the charge will be $75 to $100 per way for your Yorkie to travel with you.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5998

[admin]

Why does my Yorkie continue to hump our other pets in our household even though she/he has been spayed/neutered?

Your Yorkie is showing not a sexual behavior but that of dominance. Normally when there is more than one pet in the family and even if all of them are spayed or neutered, one or more of the animals will need to show "who is boss" or dominance over the other(s).

If you begin to see this behavior constantly between your pet(s) or begin to notice this behavior on you or your children a stern "no" should be given to show that this behavior is not allowed. If they are humping your child or a visitor's leg, that should definitely not be tolerated. Try shaking coins in a tin can when they show such behavior to scare them into not humping.

[admin]

What can I do in an emergency with my Yorkie (such as bumping their head real hard, limping because of wrong landing after a jump, bleeding or cuts, constantly vomiting and diarrhea) besides going to emergency vet. I mean if it's the middle of the night or just in the meantime BEFORE I can go to the vet?

Most emergency vets are open 24 hours, however first aid attention might need to be given before hand. If you feel your Yorkie needs immediate attention prior to going to the vet the following can help. It is best to prepare for an emergency before hand with your veterinarian's emergency phone number at hand. Also, it is very helpful to have a prepared first aid kit including a photocopy of emergency numbers and first aid instructions in it. Your first aid kit should include:

- Rectal thermometer (normal temps are 101.5-102.5 F)
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Sterile gauze dressings
- Self-adhesive bandage (such as Vet-Wrap)
- Karo syrup or Nutrical
- Instant cold compress
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Ophthalmic ointment
- Soap
- Antiseptic skin ointment
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Clean sponge
- Pen light
- Syringe (12 cc curved tip is very handy)
- Towel
- First aid instructions
- Veterinarian and emergency clinic numbers

If your Yorkie has fallen, hit their head, or possibly has a limb fracture, attempts to immobilize fractures with splints tend to do more harm than good, so it's best to keep the Yorkie still and cushion the limb from further trauma without splinting.

If your Yorkie is bleeding, if possible to do so elevate the wound site and apply a cold pack to it. Do NOT remove impaled objects. Cover the wound with a clean dressing and apply pressure. Don't remove blood-soaked bandages; apply more dressings over them and leave them even after bleeding stops. If the wound is on an extremity, apply pressure to the closest pressure point. For a front leg, press inside of the leg just above the elbow; for a rear leg, press inside of the thigh where the femoral artery crosses the thigh bone; for the tail, press the underside of the tail, close to where it joins the body.

For abdominal wounds, place a warm, wet sterile dressing over any protruding internal organs and cover with a bandage or towel. Do not attempt to push organs back into the dog.

For head wounds, apply gentle pressure to control bleeding. Monitor for loss of consciousness or shock.

If your Yorkie has vomiting it may or may not indicate a serious problem. Vomiting after eating grass is usually of no great concern, but the following circumstances require veterinary attention as soon as possible:
- Projectile vomiting, or vomit containing blood or anything resembling fecal matter or coffee grounds (which is how partially digested blood looks)
- Repeated vomiting could indicate that your Yorkie has eaten spoiled food or undigestible objects or has a stomach illness.
- Vomiting immediately after eating could indicate an esophageal problem.
- Sporadic vomiting with poor appetite and generally poor condition could indicate internal parasites or a more serious internal disease.

If your Yorkie has diarrhea, diarrhea medication is often helpful. You can use one for human babies or children; avoid any containing salt. A bland diet consisting of rice, tapioca, or cooked macaroni, along with cottage cheese or tofu for protein, can be given. Try giving your Yorkie fresh water so your Yorkie does not become dehydrated.

Remember this is just for informational purposes only, please see an emergency vet for the best course of care for your Yorkie in case of an accident.

[admin]

What's the distinction between a Silkie and a Yorkie besides size (if any)?

Yorkies have a shorter muzzle, larger eyes and a domed head. The Silkie's head is more solid with small eyes and flatter skull. The Yorkie’s color must be a dark gray with rich tan.The Silkie may be almost any shade of gray with tan legs and silver or fawn topknot. An adult Silkie will occasionally "Brown out" the coat will become a Champagne or tan color. Also, the Silkie's coat does not continue to grow long like a Yorkie and both are non-shedding.

Some breeder's have said that the Yorkie has a true "toy dog" temperament and the Silkie more of a low keyed Terrier temperament

[admin]

What's a silky Yorkie coat and what's a cottony Yorkie coat?

A silky coat is glossy and fine in texture. It will be perfectly straight and not wavy. The cottony coat can be wavy and appear wooly in texture. It normally has wave to it and does not lay perfectly straight.

[admin]

What are the different types of colors of Yorkies, and how do you define them (steel blue, tan, etc.)?

Although Yorkie pups are born black and tan, their color changes as they mature. The ideal coat color for adult Yorkies is blue (actually a deep, steel gray; no silver, black, or bronze mixed in) and tan. The AKC also recognizes black instead of blue and gold instead of tan. Your Yorkie can be any of these color combinations: blue and gold, blue and tan, black and gold, and black and tan.

On the body: Blue or black from the back of the neck to the tip of the tail.
On the head: Golden tan or gold on the fall, with a richer tan/gold on the ears and muzzle.
On the chest and legs: Tan or gold on the chest. On the legs, the tan/gold should go no higher than the elbow on the front legs and the stifle on the hind legs.

Toy Breed Puppy Growth Chart (created by YT member feminvstr), you may visit the char at her Web site here:

Yorkshire Terrier Puppy Growth/Weight Chart

Here is a picture of an ideal olor and coat from the AKC.

[admin]

How big will my Yorkie get? Is there a growth chart?

Toy Breed Puppy Growth Chart
convert your puppy weight to ounces 16oz equals 1 pound
This chart will approximate your puppy's weight at different ages up to 18 months

NOTE: an example; 10 week old puppy current weighs 2.2 lbs
conversion 16 X 2 + 2 = 34 ounces
next find puppy's current age to the left then follow along until you find 34;
next follow to the bottom of that column estimated adult weight is 5lbs.
*Remember this is a gauge*. *Most babies will slow weight gain after six months of age*.

Birth 2.5 oz. 2.75 oz. 3 oz. 3.5 oz. 4 oz. 4.25 oz. 4.5 oz. 5 oz. 5.5 oz.
1 week 3.75 4 5 5.50 6.50 7 8 9 9.50
2 weeks 5 5.50 6.50 7 9 10 11 12.50 13.50
3 weeks 6 7 8 9 11 13 14 16 17.50
4 weeks 7 8 9.50 11 13 15 17 19 21
5 weeks 8 9 11 13 15 17 19.50 22 24
6 weeks 9 11 12.50 15 17.50 20 22 24 27
7 weeks 10 12 14.50 17 19.50 22 24.50 27 30
8 weeks 11 13 16 19 21.50 24 27 29 33
9 weeks 12 15 17.50 20 23 26 29 32 35
10 weeks 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 38
11 weeks 14 17 21 24 27 31 34 37 42
12 weeks 15 19 22 26 30 33 37 41 45
13 weeks 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 49
14 weeks 17 22 26 30 34 39 43 47 52
15 weeks 19 23 28 32 37 41 46 51 56
16 weeks 20 25 30 34 39 44 49 54 59
17 weeks 21 26 31 36 41 46 51 57 62
18 weeks 22 28 33 38 43 48 54 60 65
19 weeks 23 29 34 39 44 50 56 62 67
20 weeks 24 30 35 41 46 52 58 64 70
21 weeks 25 31 36 42 48 54 60 66 72
22 weeks 25 32 37 43 48 56 62 68 74
23 weeks 26 33 38 44 50 57 64 70 76
24 weeks 26 33 39 45 51 58 65 71 78
25 weeks 27 34 40 46 52 59 66 72 79
26 weeks 27 34 40 47 53 60 67 73 80
18 Months 2 lbs 2.5 lbs 3 lbs 3.5 lbs 4 lbs 4.5 lbs 5 lbs 5.5 lbs 6 lbs

---
Sorry, this text doesn't look so great here, but please download the Toy Breed Puppy Growth Chart:

Toy Breed Puppy Growth Chart in Microsoft Word Document Form

[admin]

What should I expect when raising a puppy?

See this thread below by xtine on what one should expect from a puppy.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16052