The Yorkshire terrier is a very popular dog and is in fact the second most popular dog in the US This means that it is very easy to find a good puppy or it is very easy to get a mixed breed dog without knowing the difference. Not all breeders are ethical and will say and do anything to sell you one of their puppies.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to know a bit more about the Yorkshire before you start looking for one. The first thing to do is look at the parents of the pups. The Yorkshire terrier has several different breeds in its ancestry, but it has been breeding for almost a century. Everyone knows the coat, but the color is also standard and should only be blue and tan. There are variations in shade, of course, some have a darker shade of blue or tan or both than others.
No other color is found in the Yorkshire and that is why the Yorkshire terrier has its color in the breed standard. This means that even if you have a purebred Yorkie that is a different color, you cannot register it as a Yorkshire terrier. This happens very rarely, although pale coloration has been known to occur sometimes. The piebald Yorkie will have patches of white along with blue and tan and can be born in the same litter as normal Yorkies. However, it is not accepted as a Yorkshire terrier. These Piebald colored dogs can be mated with other Piebald Yorkies that go by the name Biewer terriers, although there is no separate registry for them either.
One thing to keep in mind is that all Yorkies are born very dark. They will have very little tan and as pups will have tan markings only on their muzzle and underside paws. This coloration will slowly spread to the traditional Yorkshire color and markings. Sometimes the dog is born with a small white spot or patch on the chest. This patch usually goes away within a month, but is supposed to indicate that the pup will have a very thick coat when it grows up. Keep in mind that the Yorkie’s hair grows very slowly and will sometimes take up to three years to reach its full length. Don’t think that puppies will start to resemble miniature Yorkies until they are much older.