Here at Bella Petit we breed Yorshire Terriers because we love the beautiful long-haired little angels.
Our dream is to breed our own bloodlines of the finest quality Yorkshire Terriers and in
acheiving that, we'll share our passion for the breed with the rest of the world.

We are a young couple and we adopted our first yorkie as a pet, but she turned out to be our child,
rather than our pet. We became totally in love with the breed and adopted more yorkies. As many
yorkie owners would agree, they are very addictive and therefore it is not unlikely for people to own
two or more. Yorkies are very intelligent, independent and courageous. They are highly energetic,
eager for adventure and excellent watchdogs!

"Taking care of a Yorkie takes time, energy, countless expenses, soiled carpets and a
commitment that last longer than most marriages, but in return uncoditional love and
companionship" Dr. Caroline Coile

We are a small kennel with only a few dogs so we can devote all our love and time to our dogs and
their little ones. Our lovely friend, Ida Wessels from Leeuwkloof Kennels has shared some of her
experience with us and often we mate our females with her beautiful champion studs.

The life-span of a healthy Yorkie is 10-15 years , so adopting a Yorkie is a long term commitment. If
you adopt one of our babies, we expect you to give the same love and devotion to your new
companion that he/she has been receiving since they came into this world, and our promise to you
is that you'll receive the same love in return from your yorkie.

Bella Petit will always be a phone call away for any assistance or advice with your yorkie or more
information about the breed!
Our Pups are de-wormed, inoculated and registered with Kusa.

ABOUT THE BREED

Coat

Yorkshire Terriers are a long-haired breed with no undercoat; unlike their short haired friends, they do not shed at all. Rather, their hair is like human hair in that it grows continuously and falls out rarely (only when brushed or broken). Additionally, since Yorkies carry less dander on their coat, they generally do not have the unpleasant "wet dog" odor when wet, and they may not affect as many people who suffer from dog-related allergies. This breed has little to no shedding.

Yorkie puppies are born with a black and tan coat and normally have a smart coat filled with puffy exteriors until they mature. The hair must be glossy, fine, and silky. From the back of the neck to the base of the tail, the coat should be a dark gray to a steel-blue. Hair on the tail should be a darker blue. On the head, high chest, and legs, hair should be a bright, rich tan, darker at the roots than in the middle, and shading to still lighter tan at the tips. Some Yorkies never turn the usual tan and continue to be gray. There should be no dark hairs intermingled with any of the tan in adult dogs. Many Yorkies do not conform to the standard for coat color; the tan may range from a very light blonde to a darker brown, while the body may be black or silvery gray. Many pet-quality Yorkies have "wooley" coats which are sometimes completely black across the back. The hair never "breaks" into the dark steel blue that is preferred in the breed because the coat texture is not a pure silk - the favorable coat texture. The Yorkie's nose, lips, eye-rims, paw-pads, and nails should be darkly pigmented. The breed standard requires that the Yorkshire Terrier's hair be perfectly straight (not wavy). If the coat is the correct silky texture, maintenance for it is relatively easy, requiring a daily brushing and a bath every few weeks. For show purposes, the coat is grown-out long and is parted down the middle of the back, but may be trimmed to floor length to give ease of movement and a neater appearance. Hair on the feet and the tips of ears can also be trimmed.

Build and proportions

The Yorkshire Terrier head should be rather flat and so small. The teeth should have either a "scissors bite" or a "level bite" (no underbite or overbite). The Yorkie's dark eyes are not too prominent, but should be sparkling, with sharp intelligent expression, and placed to look directly forward. The small, V-shaped ears are set high on the head, not too far apart, and should be carried erect.

The breed standard dictates that a Yorkshire Terrier must weigh no more than 3.2kg. A Yorkshire Terrier of this weight is typically between 20 and 50 inches tall. There is no distinction made in the standard between Yorkies of various sizes (i.e. there is no "teacup" or "standard" within the breed standard). The compact body of a Yorkie is well proportioned with a level back that is the same height at the base of the neck than at the base of the tail. The tail is carried slightly higher than the level of the back. In a standing position, the Yorkie's front legs should be straight. The back legs should be straight when viewed from behind, but moderately bent when viewed from the side.

Modifications

Often, a Yorkie's dewclaws, if any, are removed in the first few days of life. Traditionally, the Yorkie's tail is docked to a medium length. The South African Veterinary Council has decided that as of I June 2008 it will no longer condone routine tail docking of puppies by veterinarians.

Temperament

Although a toy breed, the Yorkie still retains much of its terrier ancestry in terms of personality. Individual dogs will differ, but they are generally very intelligent, independent, and courageous. Yorkshire Terriers are quick to determine where they fit in a household's "pack”. Their behavior towards outsiders will vary - they often will be inclined to bark at strangers, but some Yorkies are outgoing and friendly towards new people while others are aloof. The differences in behavior in this regard are largely based on how the owner trains or conditions (and socializes) the Yorkie. Some Yorkshire Terriers may be timid or nervous, rather than bold, but the vast majority do seem to meet the breed standard for a confident, vigorous, and self-important personality. The following distinctive qualities are likely to be present in a Yorkshire Terrier: oblivious of its small size, it is eager for adventure. It is highly energetic, brave, loyal, and clever. Affectionate with its master, it can become suspicious of strangers and aggressive to strange dogs, if not properly socialized. Some people allow them to get away with behavior no dog should display. They can become yappy, as the dog does his best to tell you what he wants you to do. They can develop jealous behaviors and become snappish if surprised, frightened, or over-teased. Because of their small size they are recommended for older, considerate children. If given the proper boundaries by owners and if proper pack-leader behavior is displayed, training can be easy. Housebreaking requires simple consistency. The Yorkie is an excellent watchdog.

Boldness

Yorkies will not assert themselves as the "alpha" dog. Yorkies typically get along well with other dogs and love to play together with them. Rather, a Yorkie's bold character comes from a mix of great inquisitiveness, or an instinct to protect, and self-confidence. Some Yorkies are unaware of their small size and may even challenge larger, tougher dogs. Unfortunately, this boldness can get Yorkies into trouble, as small dogs can be seriously injured. Due to their small size, the smaller Yorkies may not make suitable pets for very young children. As a breed they are generally quiet and intelligent, rather than noisy, choosing only to bark at real or perceived dangers to their family. They make well rounded family pets. Yorkies are probably one of the most affectionate breeds around.

Intelligence

The Yorkshire Terrier is an average working dog, ranking 100th out of the 132 breeds tested. Research showed that an average Yorkshire Terrier could understand a new command after approximately 15 repetitions and would obey a command the first time it was given 70% of the time or better.

Independence

The well bred and well handled Yorkshire Terrier is content to be near its owner without being on a lap or underfoot. Yorkies are energetic, but also need much rest and will often prefer to spend downtime in privacy, such as in a kennel or out-of-the-way corner. Very pampered and indulged Yorkies are more likely to be clingy and demanding, and lack the true terrier self-confidence.Yorkshire Terriers may be more difficult to train than some breeds, due to their characteristic independent nature. The independent mindedness of Yorkies leads some to consider them to be difficult to train.

Health

Health issues often seen in the Yorkshire Terrier include bronchitis, lymphangiectasia, Portosystemic shunt, cataracts, and keratitis sicca. Additionally, injection reactions (inflammation or hair loss at the site of an injection) can occur. Another common health condition in some Yorkies is their sensitive skin. The most common type of skin conditions Yorkies face are brought on by allergic reactions to seasonal pollen, pollution, food, and sometimes the air itself. Their coats may get very dry due to scratching and biting, eventually leading to massive hair loss. Yorkies can have a delicate digestive system, with vomiting or diarrhea resulting from consumption of foods outside of a regular diet. These particular dogs are usually picky with which foods they eat. They usually will not eat what they don't like, as it will be left aside. Trying to mix foods is not a good idea because they tend not to enjoy it.[23] The relatively small size of the Yorkshire Terrier means that it can have a poor tolerance for anesthesia. Additionally, a toy dog such as the Yorkie is more likely to be injured by falls, other dogs, and owner clumsiness. Due to their small size, Yorkies may be endangered if kept in the house with an undiscerning or abusive person, especially a child. Many breeders and rescue organizations will not allow their Yorkies to go to families with young children, because of the risk it poses to the dog.The life-span of a healthy Yorkie is 10-15 years.

Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar in puppies, or transient juvenile hypoglycemia, is caused by fasting (too much time between meals). In rare cases hypoglycemia may continue to be a problem in mature, usually very small, Yorkies. It is often seen in Yorkie puppies at 5 to 16 weeks of age. Very tiny Yorkie puppies are especially predisposed to hypoglycemia because a lack of muscle mass makes it difficult to store glucose and regulate blood sugar. Factors such as stress, fatigue, a cold environment, poor nutrition, and a change in diet or feeding schedule may bring on hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar can also be the result of a bacterial infection, parasite, or portosystemic liver shunt. Hypoglycemia causes the puppy to become drowsy, listless (glassy-eyed), shaky, uncoordinated, since the brain relies on sugar to function. The puppy also may not eat unless force-fed. Additionally, a hypoglycemic Yorkie may have a lower than normal body temperature and, in extreme cases, may have a seizure or go into a coma. A dog showing symptoms should be given sugar in the form of glucose and treated by a veterinarian immediately, as prolonged or recurring attacks of hypoglycemia can permanently damage the dog's brain. In severe cases it can be fatal.

History

The Yorkie was bred as a ratter, used to kill rats in small places. There is some evidence that they may have been used for hunting as well, carried in the pockets of their owner to the fields to hunt. Like most terriers developed in the early 19th Century, it was common for Yorkies to demonstrate their prowess as vermin killers in what were known as "rat killer" contests, counting the number of rats each Yorkie killed, and how quickly they dispatched them.
As a hunting group, terriers specialize in pursuing animals (usually vermin) that live in dens or burrows. Animals that are cornered and defending their young will fight ferociously. Therefore, any dog that would willingly pursue them must have an extraordinary degree of courage; terriers are bred for that quality.

Ancestry

As the name implies, the Yorkshire Terrier originated in Yorkshire (and the adjoining Lancashire), a rugged region in northern England. In the mid-nineteenth century, at the peak of England's Industrial Revolution, miners and mill workers from Scotland came to Yorkshire in search of work and brought with them several different varieties of small long-coated terriers, generally known as Broken Haired Scotch terriers (not Scotties). The specific breeds that make up the Yorkshire Terrier's ancestry are not known, since the breeders at that time did not keep records of the bloodlines. Certain breeds, however, are commonly thought to be the main forebears. The likely source of the Yorkie's small stature, long-haired coat, and blue color are Clydesdale, Paisley, and Skye terriers, all Scottish terriers transported to England at various times, and Waterside terriers. The English Black and Tan Terrier bloodline probably gave the Yorkie its signature color pattern. These breeds were all working dogs, used to keep vermin under control in the textile mills and coal mines.
The breed first appeared at an 1861 bench show in England as the Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier, named for the dog's Scottish terrier ancestors. Early Yorkies were also known simply as Toy Terriers, in both rough and broken haired varieties. Yorkshire Terriers were given their breed name by 1874.