When we talk about rare Yorkies, it refers to the coloring of their coats. Most of them have coloring that’s silver-blue and gold with a grayish-black. The rarest types are pure gold or blond Yorkies, making up less than 1% of the whole population of these cute little dogs.
Yorkshire Terriers come into the world with a simple black and tan coat, but the coloration changes as they develop. How prominent the black or tan is at birth will determine which color will dominate as the dog ages.
Table of Contents
- What Makes Blond Yorkies Rare?
- Are Golden Yorkies Rare?
- Is There Such a Thing as a Brown Yorkie?
- Do Black Yorkies Exist?
- What is a Gold Dust Yorkie?
- What Is the Typical Color of a Yorkie in Maturity?
- Do Yorkies Keep the Same Color from Puppyhood into Maturity?
- Can You Put Solid Color Yorkies in Dog Shows?
- What Is a Parti-Colored Yorkie?
- What Is a Blueberry Brook Yorkie?
- Can Yorkies be Blue at Birth?
What Makes Blond Yorkies Rare?
The blond and platinum blond versions of Yorkshire Terriers are very rare. The tan color with which they first came into the world would start off light but then get lighter as they age. Very little black, if any at all, comes through.
Are Golden Yorkies Rare?
Pure gold Yorkies are very rare because there’s hardly any black or gray available in the coat. This means their dominant genes will develop as blond which flourishes in the course of maturity. Part of the reason why this occurs is due to intentional breeding.
Since the 1800s, dog breeders have bred Yorkies to produce blond and gold. The problem with solid colors is that it does mean the Yorkie will have health issues. In recent decades of breeding, the attempts to make a Yorkie pure gold is often done in unhealthy ways.
Therefore, many breeders and show circuit experts say to avoid getting a pure golden Yorkshire Terrier. Any terrier, not just Yorkies, bred in an unsafe manner will not only present severe health defects but also behavioral issues.
Is There Such a Thing as a Brown Yorkie?
Yes, there is such a thing as a brown Yorkshire Terrier. Otherwise called Chocolates, these dogs are born with the color they’ll be their whole life. The American Kennel Club determines them as chocolate or liver colored.
Do Black Yorkies Exist?
There are a range of black Yorkies, but these are extremely rare. They can be hazy and blue, which is an indirect black to an almost midnight black. When they’re as dark as pitch, they’ll have a blue sheen when the sunlight hits it just right. But it’s impossible to find one that’s a purebred.
If you do notice one, it’s most likely a puppy or result of intentional breeding. In the event you see a puppy, this color will change as they age. For breeding, it can appear in one of two ways:
- Dull Hair and 100% Black: Yorkies like this will have a thick coat growing faster than normal. There will be no shine and its neck will appear shorter.
- Black Rough, Rigid Hair: Hair hardly grows to the average length.
What is a Gold Dust Yorkie?
Gold Dust Yorkshire Terriers are a type of blond. They’re hair hangs about 34 inches down with fine, gleaming white platinum golden fur.
What Is the Typical Color of a Yorkie in Maturity?
Yorkies will have a blend of tan and black coming in a range of shades with each. But these aren’t noticeable until they begin to reach adulthood at about nine months old. You should see some dark black but also a bit of gray or blue. They could also be golden, red, blond and white.
Do Yorkies Keep the Same Color from Puppyhood into Maturity?
No, Yorkshire Terriers do not keep the same color from puppyhood into maturity. They come into the world with a basic black and tan (of varying degrees). You should wait about nine months before you see what they’re colors will be as they mature.
A newborn Yorkie will have two shades of tan that can grow into a single gold or blond pigment. There are several cells that surround each follicle of hair. These affect the dog’s coat in various ways as they develop. The variations in fur color come from two types of melanin. The one responsible for the golden or tan is Pheomelanin.
Can You Put Solid Color Yorkies in Dog Shows?
Yorkies with solid colors on their coats are not permissible in most dog shows. They must have some variation of the traditional colors between gold and tan to black and gray.
It’s because of this very thing that some nefarious breeders will get rid of any dogs they have with a solid coat. Some will even go as far as tossing them to an animal shelter. They do this in effort to save their reputation and credibility.
What Is a Parti-Colored Yorkie?
Parti-colored Yorkshire Terriers are very unique because they will actually have three colors. This is extremely rare for the breed. Unfortunately, in the early 1800s breeders would sell them away quietly due to misidentification.
But, due to modern advancements in genetic technologies, these are naturally rare Yorkies and only appear when the puppy has two recessive genes from each parent. Therefore, the AKC will accept them as show dogs. But, they are a separate classification.
What Is a Blueberry Brook Yorkie?
Blueberry Brook Yorkshire Terriers have the typical coloring, but the blue is far more prominent than the black. Actually, the blue is a light shade of black reflected in the hair shafts of its fur. When they’re puppies, the hair will be black and progressively lighten to a blue as they age.
Can Yorkies be Blue at Birth?
Yes, there are a few Yorkies born blue from birth onwards. This means they have double copies of a recessive gene that makes them appear blue. Unfortunately, though, this is a deadly combination.
Yorkshire Terriers born with blue as a dominant color do not live much longer than 12 months. Some live longer, but around the age where they transition from black to blue, they will lose their fur. This reveals leathery skin that stays consistently exposed to the elements.
This forces the Yorkie into extreme pain, developing severe skin issues and horrible allergies. There is nothing to protect them, so they die.