Defining Characteristics
When you look at a Yorkshire terrier, you should see a small, compact dog covered in a silky coat of long, straight hair. The ears should stand up straight and not be rounded at the tips. The eyes should be attractive and not seem to pop out of the head. Weight should be less than seven pounds. No height is specified, but approximately seven inches is a good average. Size and coat are the two hallmarks of the breed.
The only other breed with which you might confuse a Yorkie is the silky terrier. Though similar in coloring and size, the silky displays far less coat than the Yorkie — the silky's coat never reaches the floor. There are other differences as well, but this is the obvious one.
The All-Important Coat
Everything about the coat is crucial — texture, length, straightness, and color. The main part of the body is a rich, dark steel-blue, and the markings on the head and legs are a deep golden tan. The hair on the head is often pulled up into a topknot or two side knots. For show, only the feet and ears are generally trimmed. Though the breed is heavily coated, it is not a major shedder. To keep it in order, however, the coat should be groomed daily.
Yorkshire terriers bred and trained for sport or show are generally the only dogs that display the full floor-sweeping coat. Pet dogs are often trimmed every so often so that the hair does not become dirty, matted, or tangled. If a Yorkie's long coat is not meticulously maintained, it can become a health and/or safety hazard for the dog.
When you see Yorkshire terriers outside the show ring, you may see anything from a dog cut down like a schnauzer, to a dog with a moderate-length coat, to a floor-sweeping full show coat. If you are not planning to show your dog, the full glory of the coat becomes less important. You can accept a dog with a slight wave to the hair (a fault in the show ring) or some tan hairs mixed into the black (another fault). Neither of these imperfections will keep a Yorkie from looking or behaving as a member of the breed should — except under the sharp eye of a judge.
The Head
The top of the head should be flat rather than rounded. There is a definite drop from the head to the muzzle, and the eyes are not set too close together in this space. The eye shape isn't specified, but most appear round. The muzzle is fairly square, and the nose is black. Both the eyes and the eye rims are dark. The nose and eyes contrast nicely with the golden tan of the head.
The standard allows for either a level bite (with the bottom edge of the top teeth meeting the upper edge of the bottom teeth) or a scissors bite (meaning the front teeth of the lower jaw align just behind the front teeth of the upper jaw when the mouth is closed). A scissors bite is actually preferable because it tends to help keep teeth a little cleaner.
The ears will not look like Yorkie ears unless they're trimmed. For a Yorkie with untrimmed ears, the weight of the hair could drag the ear tips down into a lop position. For the correct look, the top third should be trimmed so the ears can stand upright. If you were to extend the lines formed by the inside edges of the ears, they should meet in a V approximately at the muzzle. Hair hangs plentifully from the ears, both sides of the head, and the chin.
The Body and Tail
Though the standard describes the body as “very compact” and the back as “rather short,” most Yorkies are rectangular rather than square. The measure from shoulders to tail is slightly longer than the measure from floor to tops of shoulders. The top of the dog should be very straight, neither dipping nor rising. Looking at a Yorkie, you should get the impression of a strong, sturdy build. The coat should shine as well.
Don't expect to see the adult coloring of steel-blue and tan when you go to look at puppies. Puppies are born black and tan, and their coats continue changing for up to two years before they reach the final adult coloring. For this reason, many people who plan to show their dogs prefer to buy adults instead of puppies. This way they already know how the dog's coat will look.
The tail is docked while puppies are very young. Generally a couple of inches are left. The tail can be held anywhere from pointing straight up to just above the line of the body. The hair on the tail is darker and falls to the floor. If you keep your dog in full coat, you must be careful to keep this tail hair clean.
The Legs and Feet
With a dog in full coat, you won't see the legs and feet unless you really look for them. As with many of the terriers, the front legs should be straight and swing freely from the shoulder. The back legs, viewed from the side, should reach back behind the body and then angle so that the lower leg is perpendicular to the floor. Viewed from behind, the back legs should be straight.
The feet are round and compact, but they are covered with and surrounded by hair. Trim the hair around the feet, on the bottoms, and between the pads to avoid matting.
Attitude
Though the breed standard doesn't mention temperament, show dogs are expected to “sparkle.” This word is used often with regard to show dogs. The Yorkshire terrier should carry herself with self-assurance and attitude. However, too much attitude can be a big turn-off for a judge. If a dog tries to assert authority over her handler, the judge, or another show dog, this will reveal that the dog is neither well trained nor well mannered. These displays could result in a penalty or even disqualification, depending upon the offense.
