For adult Yorkshire Terriers, importance is placed on coat colour, quality, and texture.[3] The hair must be glossy, fine, straight, and silky. Traditionally the coat is grown out long and is parted down the middle of the back, but "must never impede movement."[4] From the back of the neck to the base of the tail, the coat should be a dark gray to a black colour, and the hair on the tail should be a darker black. On the head, high chest, and legs, the hair should be a bright, rich tan, darker at the roots than in the middle, that shades into a lighter tan at the tips. Also, in adult dogs, there should be no dark hairs intermingled with any of the tan coloured fur. A Yorkshire Terrier puppy, 4 weeks old, displaying the characteristic black/steel black and tan coat. Adult Yorkshire Terriers that have other coat colours than the above, or that have woolly or extra fine coats, are still Yorkshire Terriers. The only difference is that atypical Yorkshire Terriers should not intentionally be bred.[5] In addition, care may be more difficult for "woolly" or "cottony" textured coats, or coats that are overly fine.[3] One of the reasons given for not breeding "off-coloured" Yorkies is that the colour could be a potential indicator of a genetic defect that may affect the dog's health, a careful health screening can clarify if any health risks exist. Coats may vary in color. For example, a grown yorkie may have a silver/blue with light brown while another might have a black and creamy color.

• published: 13 Jan 2014
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