AKC Yorkie Breed Description

  The following description of a Yorkie breed was derived from the American Kennel Club official website:

Desirable Physical Traits:

Puppies are usually black and tan at birth. Their body color is usually darker. Upon maturity, there is a mixture of black and tan in the hair. In adults, hair color in the body as well as the abundance of tan in the head and legs is of utmost importance.

The weight of the dog must not be more than seven pounds.

The number, feel, and quality of the coat are a primary concern. The hair should have a glossy, fine, and silky texture. Body coating should be slightly long and completely straight. It should be cut according to the length of the floor to allow easy movement and neat looking. Headfall should be long and tied with a bow in the middle or separated by two bows. Muzzle hair should be long. The hair should be cut on the edge of the ears as well as on the feet to make it look neat.

Hair Coloring:

In adults, hair color in the body as well as the abundance of tan in the head and legs is of utmost importance. Shades of blue must be steel blue without a mixture of fawn, bronzy, or black hair. For tan hair, it should be darker at the roots instead of the middle. The tips should have a lighter shade of tan without any shade of dark hair. The tip of the tails should be dark blue.

The hair in the chest and legs should be light tan. It should not extend above the elbow, forelegs, or on the stifle of the hind legs.

Body Stance (include legs and feet, body):

The body should be very compact and well-shaped. Short back with a level backline. The height of the shoulder should be identical with the backside.

Straight forelegs with the elbows neither in or out. From a back view, the hind legs should be straight and the stifles should be slightly bent from a side view.

Face:

The head should be small with a flat top. The skull should not be rounded or too prominent. The muzzle should be of acceptable length. The teeth should be sound and the desired bite is either level bite or scissors bite.

The nose should be black. Eyes should be medium size, dark-colored, and should display sharp and intelligent expression. The rims should be dark. The ears should be small, V-shaped, erect, and should not be distant from each other.

Headfall

The headfall should be golden tan, showing color depth in the sides of head, roots of the ear, and muzzle. The color tan must be abundant in the ears but should not exceed the back of the neck.