Where do they come from?
Breeders of the breed tend to agree. Chocolate color is nothing more than a weakened black gene. Therefore, previously such puppies were sold as breeding marriages. Breeders were embarrassed by the appearance of defective offspring among elite parents.
At the moment, the chocolate-colored Yorkshire Terrier (pictured), born from purebred parents, is a real exclusive.
The American Kennel Club recognizes such dogs as rare and valuable. In Russia, unfortunately, they do not yet have sufficient value and are not welcome in the rings. But this does not at all detract from the merits of unusual doggies.
Short story
The first chocolate Yorkies were born in 1983 in the family of cat lover Janet Chifari in the USA (New York state). The kittens' parents were ordinary domestic cats, the father was a long-haired black cat, the mother was a long-haired black and white (bicolor) cat. The cat gave birth to kittens, among which one stood out with an unusually rich chocolate color. The favorite received the nickname Brownie. Janet was very interested in this color and she decided to get several more copies of the same color: she bred Brownie with Minky’s brother, as a result of which two kittens with identical characteristics appeared. The chocolate-colored cat was named Teddy Bear (Teddy Bear), and the bicolor (chocolate and white) female was named Coconut. These animals are considered the founders of the breed. D. Chifari fell in love with this color so much that she decided to breed a new breed of cats. Since then, systematic selection work began.
Breed standard
What is the difference between a brown representative of the breed and an ordinary one? According to the description of the breed, the Chocolate Yorkshire Terrier differs from the standard one only in color and coat type.
- The head is small, the skull is flat. The ears are wide set, medium-sized, triangular. The eyes are expressive, oval in shape, dark brown in color. The nose is brown and large. The lower jaw is narrowed.
- The body is straight and long. The withers and croup are on the same line. The back is straight. The stomach is taut.
- Limbs are short. They are positioned correctly - straight. The paws are rounded, the claws are dark brown.
- The tail had been docked before. Nowadays, long tails among representatives of the breed have become fashionable.
- We should also talk about the structure of the coat. In “regular” Yorkies it is wavy. The Chocolate Yorkshire Terrier has exceptionally straight hair. Wavy wool in his case is considered a defect.
- Color ranges from light brown with tan to dark chocolate color.
Non-standard Yorkie colors
For many subspecies of standard Yorkies, the classic color is officially recognized by the FCI and the American Kennel Club (AKC). This breed was approved in the 1970s.
Initially, dogs were not considered decorative. Terriers were used to catch rodents, as Yorkies did not get along well with mice and rats.
Dogs that differ from the recognized colors are not allowed to participate in exhibitions and competitions. However, Yorkies can make excellent companions. If a client chooses dogs in a showroom for show life, he should refrain from purchasing specimens of the following colors.
- White and black terrier. As a result of a mutation in the gene that is responsible for color in Germany, black terriers with white fur were born. In 1988, a rare type of Yorkie was first introduced to the world, and was officially approved as a separate breed only in 2007. A standard was established for terriers, according to which white wool should be combined with colors:
- on the head - with a blue or golden sheen;
- on the body - with a black tint.
These individuals have good health and are not susceptible to diseases that standard terriers experience.
- The Biro Yorkie is not considered a separate breed like the Biewer Yorkie. These dogs completely lack the gene responsible for black fur. Most often these are individuals of chocolate-white and golden color. The subspecies appeared not so long ago; the Yorkie size standard has not yet been established.
- Chocolate York (Choco-York) - dog experts do not recognize the breed as ideal. Almost all of the terrier's fur is brown, shades from milk chocolate to dark bitter. The only condition is that the Yorkie's color is evenly distributed.
- Golden York (Goldusty) - found in all sorts of golden, caramel shades. Sometimes there are individuals with a white breast. Dogs with light colors may be confused with Biewers.
- Yorkie - Mermaid - a mixture of terrier with other species. They are otherwise called salon dogs. However, the appearance is very similar to Yorkies. Most often these are dogs with golden, red, and silver colors. There are individuals with white chocolate-colored fur. The coat of such terriers feels much harsher than that of the classics. Mermaids are larger in size than other dogs.
There are several more subspecies of terriers: mini-, micro-, baby Yorkies. They differ from the classic breed in size.
Maintenance and care
How to care for a chocolate Yorkshire terrier (pictured)? It requires the same attention and care as its standard counterpart.
- Everyday examination of the eyes, ears and teeth is necessary. Dirt from the ears is carefully removed with a cotton swab or swab soaked in saline solution. The eyes are wiped with a damp cotton pad. If plaque is found on the teeth, they are cleaned with toothpaste for dogs. If tartar is detected, then a visit to the veterinarian is a must.
- Nails are trimmed at a veterinary clinic. This must be done once a month or a month and a half.
- The breed is prone to obesity. Be sure to monitor your pet's weight. It should not exceed 3.2 kilograms.
- The dog should have its own corner. Buy a crate for small breed dogs. This will be a house for your pet, where he can sleep or go there when he wants to be alone.
- If the baby has a bed, it is washed and dried every week.
- It is advisable to walk the dog 3-4 times a day. In the warm season, walks can last up to 1 hour. In winter, you should not be outside for more than 15 minutes at a time.
- For the winter, the chocolate Yorkshire terrier needs to buy warm clothes. These dogs get cold easily.
- Representatives of the breed are combed 3 times a week.
- There is no need to wash regularly. It is enough to wipe the paws and belly after walks.
Grooming to enhance color
If a dog does not develop a permanent silver color on its back before 10 months and remains black, you should not hope for the appearance of a steel tint. However, prolonged exposure to the sun can cause the fur to burn out and fade.
The unexpected appearance of gray hair in a grown individual does not mean that the Yorkie's colors are taking on the desired color. Instead of entering your pet into competitions, you should immediately contact a veterinarian, as this could be the beginning of a serious illness or a lack of zinc in the body.
This does not mean that the coat does not need to be looked after - Yorkies need constant care. Terriers need frequent bathing and haircuts every 2-3 months.
If the dog does not participate in exhibitions, it is not recommended to keep a long coat, as it can get tangled and dirty. Particularly in need of a short haircut are the belly, tail, back and genitals.
Show dogs are usually not trimmed in the specified places, however, they need more supervision: when walking, you should dress your Yorkie in overalls, and wrap their hair in curlers between shows.
Expert opinion
Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
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Because of the long locks, debris gets into your Yorkie's eyes. To avoid diseases, the hair from the muzzle is removed in curlers and the eyes are wiped with a clean swab every day.
Feeding
How to feed a baby? Either dry food or natural food. If the advantage goes to the “crackers,” then they must be of the proper quality—super-premium class or holistic.
Natural foods that can be given to your Chocolate Yorkshire Terrier include:
- Boiled lean meat. Beef, veal, turkey. You have to be careful with chicken. It can provoke severe allergies in your pet.
- Dairy products - low-fat cottage cheese and kefir. Low-fat natural yogurt without additives is suitable. Dogs should not be given milk.
- Boiled fish without bones.
- Cereals: rice, buckwheat, oatmeal.
- Vegetables: zucchini, carrots, tomatoes, white cabbage, some potatoes.
- Chicken or quail eggs.
As a treat, special dog biscuits or dry cookies like “Maria” are given.
Character
What can you say about the Yorkshire Terrier? These are cute and friendly pets. They are not aggressive, willingly go into arms and allow themselves to be stroked by strangers. The houses are affectionate, but unobtrusive.
It is not advisable to purchase representatives of the breed for a family with small children. Dogs are fragile, and children do not always understand that they are hurting their pet.
Where to buy a dog?
There are several nurseries in Russia that specialize in breeding chocolates. You can also buy chocolate mini Yorkshire terriers. The photo is presented below.
The price starts from 50,000 rubles. The higher an animal is valued, the more expensive it is. The cost of the baby is not affected by the reluctance of the future owner to engage in breeding or attend exhibitions.
A dog for the soul
Many breeders do not like it when people ask them for a puppy “for themselves.” The worst thing is, maybe with a flaw. And they motivate this by the lack of money to buy a healthier animal or a gift for a child.
No breeder will sell a small dog as a living toy. The animal deserves love, care and good owners. And not picking out eyes, pulling the tail and twisting the paws.
Also, breeders will be wary of selling their puppies to people who do not have the money to buy a healthy baby. Buying a pet is just the initial expense. He needs quality nutrition, care and examination by a veterinarian. All this requires considerable sums. If a person cannot spend money on a good puppy, then where will he get it for its maintenance?
It is unlikely that a chocolate Yorkshire terrier will be cheap. There are Morkies, a mix of Maltese and Yorkies. Such dogs are similar in appearance to lap dogs, but they are sold as Yorkies.
As for free sites with advertisements for animals, no self-respecting breeder will place a purebred puppy of a rare color into good hands. On such a site you can stumble upon a cute brown mongrel, but not an elite dog.
Colors
When working on the breed, it was not possible to fix only one color, so the color scheme includes four types of Yorkie colors: chocolate, lilac, choco with white and lilac with white, and for solid colors only one white spot is allowed on the belly or chest. In bicolors, the white color extends to the collar, chest, belly, paws and often the face. But this, albeit small, variety of colors only added to the popularity of the breed in their homeland. A monochromatic color of chocolate or lilac, or a mixture of these shades without any spots or inclusions, is recognized, however, in kittens and young cats up to one and a half years old, tabby patterns are allowed, which completely disappear with age, and the coloring darkens. A large white patch on the neck area (bib) that extends down to the chest is allowed. White “socks” on the paws are also allowed.
Let's summarize
In the article we talked about such an unusual dog as the chocolate Yorkshire terrier. Its uniqueness lies in its rare color.
Let's highlight the main aspects:
- A standard Yorkie terrier weighs 3.2 kg. His mini-brother barely reaches 1.2 kg. Chocolate dogs come in both standard and mini.
- The cost of representatives of the rare color breed is high.
- They are no more demanding of care than any other Yorkshire Terrier.
- Pets are fed either dry food or natural food.
- Walk 3-4 times a day.
