Canis lupus familiaris – Yorkshire Terrier

Family : Canidae

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Text © Pietro Paolo Condò – Giudice Enci-fci

 

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English translation by Mario Beltramini

 

From den dog to

From den dog to "small sericeous wonder with silver and gold shades" © Mazza

Its origins are not noble at all, in fact, it has been selected as a den hunting dog and then, during the Industrial Revolution, as companion of the workmen employed in the wool industry of the county bearing the same name.

Its beauty has soon rendered it one of the most loved companion dogs, even defined as “a small wonder, a muff of silky hair with soft tints of lead, silver and gold”.

The Yorkie is a small dog, very compact and well proportioned.

Its head is rather small, with a not too long muzzle, black truffle, medium-sized and dark eyes expressing a lively intelligence, small “V” shaped ears, carried upright, of an intense reddish colour. The neck has a good extension and is elegant, the thorax is solid and the dorsal spine is straight-lined.

The forelimbs are well perpendicular and are covered by an intense gold reddish coloured hair; perfectly aligned to the conventional lines of perpendicularity are also the hind limbs, seen from the back, and well covered by intense golden reddish hair, the feet are rounded.

The tail, which, time ago, was cut at half of its length, is now left entire, covered by abundant blue hair, darker than the remainder of the body.

The hair of the body is moderately long, perfectly straight (and not undulated), bright, with thin, silky texture and not woolly; it is long on the head, of an intense golden reddish colour, more important on the sides of the head, at the base of the ears and on the muzzle. Also here the hair is very long, dark steel-blue, extending from the occiput to the starting point of the tail, never mixed with reddish, dark or bronze hairs; on the chest it’s of a brilliant and intense reddish colour.

The weight must not exceed the 3,175 kg (7 pounds); the ideal weight standing between 2 and 2,9 kg.

It is an intelligent and obedient dog, but with the liveliness and the courage of the Terrier; sweet in family, easy to be educated, capable to adapt to its master’s rhythms, excellent playful companion for the children and a good alerter.

 

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