🐾 Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier

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Who it is

• Scientific name: Canis lupus familiaris
• Family & relatives: A small dog breed, part of the same species as every pet dog, and related to other little terriers like the Maltese and the Silky Terrier.
• How to spot it: A tiny dog with long, silky blue-gray and tan fur, perky ears, and a bright, confident little face.

Its body & abilities

• Size: About 18 to 23 cm tall at the shoulder and roughly 20 cm long in the body.
• Weight: Usually about 2 to 3.2 kg (4 to 7 lb).
• Body & adaptations: Its coat grows like human hair and can reach the floor, and its small jaw once helped it grab quick prey.
• Top speed: Quick and lively, it can dash at about 16 km/h (10 mph) for its little legs.
• Strength: Small but very brave, it is bold and full of energy far bigger than its size.
• Senses: Sharp hearing and a keen nose make it a great little watchdog that notices everything.
• Growing up: Puppies are born tiny and dark, open their eyes in about two weeks, and grow up by around one year.

Where it lives

• Habitat: Homes and apartments, where it loves warm laps and cozy indoor spaces.
• Where in the world: Kept as a beloved pet worldwide, first bred in Yorkshire, England.
• Territory: Its territory is simply its home and yard, which it guards proudly for its family.

What it eats

• Diet: A meat-eating pet fed dog food, with fresh water always in its bowl.
• Favorite foods: Good-quality dog food, small meaty meals, and healthy treats given by its owner.
• How it hunts: Its ancestors were used to chase rats in clothing mills; today it plays and chases toys instead.

How it behaves

• How it moves: Trots and prances happily on short legs and loves to run and leap during play.
• When it is active: Active by day, full of playful bursts, then curls up to nap in a soft spot.
• Family life: Very friendly and attached to its people; a group of dogs is called a pack.
• How it talks: Communicates with barks, wagging, whines, and happy body wiggles to share how it feels.
• Babies: After about a 63-day pregnancy the mother has a small litter of two to five tiny puppies she nurses with care.

Its place in nature

• Role in nature: A loving companion animal; as a pet it has no wild predators and is cared for by its family.
• Conservation: A domestic breed, so it is not a wild animal in need of conservation; it is popular and well cared for.
• Dangers: Being small and delicate, it needs gentle handling and care to stay safe and healthy.

Life & legacy

• How long it lives: Often lives about 13 to 16 years, a nice long life for such a little dog.
• In our culture: A famous fashion and lap dog, once a Victorian favorite and still loved as a stylish little friend.
• Where to see it: In many homes, at dog shows, and in parks where owners walk their friendly pets.
• Fun fact: Despite its dainty looks, the Yorkshire Terrier was first bred as a tough little rat-catcher for busy factories.