Parti Yorkie vs. Standard Yorkie: Key Differences (With Pictures)
Parti Yorkie vs Standard Yorkie: A Comprehensive Guide
The Yorkshire Terrier, affectionately known as the "Yorkie," has been one of America‘s most beloved toy breeds for decades. With their feisty personalities, luxurious coats, and adorable tiny size, it‘s no wonder they‘ve won the hearts of so many dog lovers. In recent years, a striking variety has been making headlines – the Parti Yorkie. But what exactly sets a parti yorkie apart from the standard? In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll delve into all the details of parti yorkies vs standard yorkies so you can better understand these delightful little dogs.
History of the Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkies originated in England in the 19th century, bred from a mix of various terrier breeds to catch rats in clothing mills. They were brought to the United States in the late 1800s and quickly gained popularity as companion dogs, known for their big personalities in small packages. The breed standard developed to specify the trademark Yorkie look – a compact 4-7 lb body, long silky blueish black coat with rich tan points, erect ears, and a confident carriage.
Parti Yorkies: A Unique Color Variation
In the 1980s, yorkies with unique coloring started popping up more frequently – black, white and tan coats featuring large patches of each color, often with more white than traditionally seen. These became known as "parti yorkies" or "parti-colored yorkies."
The unique coloration is caused by a rare gene mutation. It‘s believed that yorkies carried the parti gene all along, but since the breed standard specified the traditional black and tan colors, dogs showcasing the variation weren‘t bred on purpose. As more people fell for the flashy parti coloring, breeders began selectively breeding to produce more parti yorkie puppies to meet growing demand.
Major Differences: Parti Yorkie vs Standard Yorkie
While parti yorkies and standard yorkies share all the wonderful traits that made the Yorkshire Terrier so popular – the fun feisty personality, the portable toy size, the long silky hair – there are a few key differences to note between the variations.
Appearance
The most obvious difference is coat color. Standard yorkies have the traditional blueish black body with tan points on the head, chest and legs. Parti yorkies, on the other hand, feature a tri-colored coat. Black, white and tan hairs mix together in patches covering the body. Often, parti yorkies have a large amount of white, especially on the chest and belly, with black and tan patches throughout.
Some parti yorkies maintain the tan points on the face like the standard yorkshire terrier, while others may have large white blazes on the forehead and muzzle. The parti coloration can vary quite a bit from dog to dog. Aside from coat color, parti and standard yorkies look identical.
Size & Weight
Both parti colored and standard yorkies fall into the toy breed category. The official breed standard specifies a weight of no more than 7 lbs. Most yorkie adults range from 4 to 7 lbs and stand about 8-9 inches tall at the shoulder. There isn‘t any notable difference in size between parti and standard yorkies.
Temperament
One of the biggest appeals of Yorkshire Terriers is their larger-than-life personalities in a tiny portable package. Yorkies of any color are known for being feisty, brave, energetic, and affectionate with their owners. They can have a stubborn streak and a tendency to bark, which makes early training important. But with proper socialization, yorkies get along well with children and other dogs.
The parti color gene doesn‘t affect temperament, so parti yorkies and standard yorkies alike share the same delightful qualities that made the breed so popular as a companion dog. Whether a yorkie has a black and tan or a black, white and tan coat, you can expect the same big personality from your little friend.
Health
Like many purebred dogs, yorkies can be prone to certain genetic health conditions. However, there aren‘t any health problems specific to just parti colored yorkies. Both variations share the same health concerns, which include:
- Luxating Patella (loose kneecaps)
- Tracheal Collapse
- Dental disease
- Hypoglycemia
- Legg-Perthes Disease
Many of these risks can be reduced by working with a reputable breeder who health tests their dogs before breeding. Overall, both parti and standard yorkies live an average lifespan of 11-15 years.
Grooming
Yorkies are known for their long, silky glamorous coats that swish with every step. Grooming is one area where owning a yorkie is quite high maintenance, no matter the color. Daily brushing is required to prevent tangles and mats. Many owners keep their yorkie in a "puppy cut" with hair trimmed short for easier upkeep.
Special care needs to be taken with the hair around the eyes and ears to keep it clean and avoid irritation. Dental hygiene is also extremely important for toy breeds like yorkies. Frequent teeth brushing and professional cleanings should be part of a yorkie‘s care routine.
Whether parti colored or traditional, expect to devote plenty of time (or money spent at the groomer) to maintain the beautiful yorkie coat. The bonus of a parti yorkie is the striking contrast of black, white and tan in that silky hair.
Exercise
While yorkies have energetic personalities, their tiny size means their exercise needs aren‘t too extreme. A couple short 15-20 minute walks per day, plus some active playtime, is usually sufficient to keep a yorkie happy and healthy. Many yorkies enjoy participating in dog sports like agility and rally obedience which provide great mental stimulation.
All yorkies can thrive in apartments or small homes as long as they get enough activity and interaction. Parti yorkies and standard yorkies require the same amount of exercise. The small but mighty yorkie loves being out and about with their owner but doesn‘t need a huge yard to get their energy out.
Training
The Yorkshire Terrier‘s feisty, sometimes stubborn nature can make them a challenge to train. Positive reinforcement methods work best with this sensitive breed. Harsh corrections will make a yorkie shut down.
As with many toy breeds, housetraining can take extra time and patience. Crate training is often very effective. Because of their dainty size and confident attitudes, owners need to be very conscientious about socialization from an early age. Expose your yorkie puppy to many new people, animals and situations to boost their confidence and avoid behavioral problems down the road.
All of these training and socialization tips apply to both parti yorkies and standard yorkies equally. Coat color doesn‘t influence a dog‘s intelligence or trainability. While each individual dog has their own personality, with consistent positive training, all yorkies can learn to be well-mannered companions.
The Rise of Parti Yorkie Popularity
In the last few decades, parti yorkies have been exploding in popularity. The unique coloration catches people‘s eyes and pulls at their heartstrings. Many are drawn to the idea of owning a dog that looks a little different from the traditional yorkie.
The parti gene is rare, so yorkies with these markings are more scarce than the standard black and tan. This rarity often comes with a higher price tag. But for many parti yorkie lovers, the one-of-a-kind look is well worth the cost.
Celebrity Parti Yorkie Owners
Several celebrities have been spotted with parti yorkies in tow, further fueling the color variation‘s trendiness. In 2013, media outlets photographed reality star Kim Kardashian with a parti yorkie pup, speculating that the dog was a new addition to the Kardashian-West household. Pop star Miley Cyrus added parti yorkies to her pack of pooches in 2020. The singer shared adorable photos of the black, white and tan puppies on social media. As more public figures embrace parti yorkies as the perfect portable companions, these eye-catching little dogs continue to charm dog lovers around the globe.
Finding a Reputable Parti Yorkie Breeder
It‘s important to note that, while parti yorkies are certainly adorable, they are not considered part of the official breed standard according to the American Kennel Club. For this reason, it‘s essential to work with a reputable breeder if you have your heart set on a parti colored pup.
Parti yorkies have become so popular that some puppy mills and backyard breeders try to cash in on the trend without any regard for health or temperament. Avoid breeders who always seem to have parti yorkie puppies available, won‘t let you visit their facility, or can‘t provide health certificates for their dogs.
Ethical parti yorkie breeders perform genetic tests on their breeding dogs, raise puppies in an enriching environment, and carefully screen potential owners to ensure their pups go to responsible forever homes. They are preserving and enhancing the beloved Yorkshire Terrier breed, even if some of their dogs aren‘t the "traditional" colors. While parti yorkies can‘t be shown in conformation and should never be bred to AKC standard yorkies, preserving their unique coloration in healthy lines is important.
Parti Yorkie Full Grown
So what can you expect a parti yorkie to look like all grown up? Let‘s talk size, coat and color.
A full grown parti yorkie will stand about 7 to 8.5 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh approximately 4 to 7 pounds (1.8 to 3.2 kg). Like standard yorkies, they are a small toy breed that maintain a compact, portable size into adulthood.
Parti yorkie adults sport the same long, silky and glossy coat that the breed is famous for – it‘s just featured in an array of colors rather than the typical black and tan. The hair is fine and straight, parted down the middle of the back. When kept long, it can reach the floor, though many owners opt for a shorter "puppy" trim for easier maintenance. Parti yorkies will have patches of white, black and tan covering their bodies, often with white paws and undersides. They may still showcase the traditional tan "points" on the head, chest and legs, or the points may be white.
Each individual parti yorkie‘s coloring will vary in terms of how much of each color they feature and where the patches are positioned. But across the board, these rare tri-colored coats are eye-catching and undeniably charming.
Conclusion
While parti colored yorkies have surged in popularity thanks to their unique coats and celebrity owners, these purebred pups are still the same lovable Yorkshire Terriers at heart. They share all the same wonderful traits that have made yorkies one of America‘s favorite toy breeds for so many decades – a portable size, a feisty spirit, a silky coat, and an affectionate nature.
The only real difference between parti yorkies and standard yorkies is that striking black, white and tan coloration. In terms of temperament, size, health, grooming needs and exercise requirements, the two variations are strikingly similar.
Whether you fall for a parti yorkie or a traditional black and tan, you‘ll be getting a dog with a huge personality packed into a tiny body. That lively, loving yorkie spirit shines through no matter the coat color. The parti yorkie simply offers a rare, eye-catching twist on the diminutive toy breed so many adore. With responsible breeding focused on health and temperament, both parti yorkies and standard yorkies will continue to bring joy to dog lovers for many years to come.
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