The Yorkie is a toy variety of dog, weighing in at less than 7 pounds when fully grown. Black and tan as a puppy, the Yorkshire terrier’s body coat eventually becomes a rich, glossy blue and tan shade, giving him the distinctive coloration as he matures. The only recognized coloration of the Yorkshire Terrier is this variety, so beware of any trying to sell you dogs that are parti-colored or any other variety.

The Yorkie’s coat should ideally part down the center, from head to tail, with their hair falling to each side in a straight, silky mantle. Exhibitors of show dogs are allowed to trim their Yorkies’ hair so that it is floor level, though most pet Yorkshire Terriers are often kept with a short coat. Interesting to note is that a Yorkie dog’s coat is never referred to as “fur” but is, instead, called “hair.” This is due to its similarity to human hair; the Yorkie being one of the few breeds of “hypoallergenic” dogs, who do not shed and are considered to be better than other breeds, for those who are allergic to pet dander.

While Yorkies typically weigh right around 5-7 pounds, you will often find people who advertise teacup Yorkies, miniature Yorkshire Terrier puppies, or tiny tiny Yorkie pups. This is simply a marketing gimmick that is employed by unethical breeders in order to claim higher prices for their dogs. Yorkshire breed registries do not recognize any kind of sub-standard or petite variety of the Yorkshire Terrier breed and actually advises against purchasing dogs that are advertised as teacup Yorkshire Terriers – such animals are not only extremely frail, but if they are true dwarfs or the result of heavy inbreeding, they are often very unhealthy and overrun with genetic faults and disease. While tiny teacups may be considered cute, it’s an unsound practice to breed such animals and the sale of mini Yorkies should be discouraged.