Description: The Yorktese is a hybrid dog that is a cross between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Maltese. They are a small dog and the average weight is 5-8 pounds, this is how the small dogs are sized rather than the height. The look of the Yorktese does vary as there is no standard set and each pup can lean toward either breed. As a general rule they are going to have the face of the Yorkshire Terrier and this is wide set eyes that are round and dark in color. The nose is big and black with wide nostrils. The ears can be drop ears and these hang downward to below the cheek line and are well feathered with fur. The muzzle is small and somewhat broad but this is not always the case. The body is in good proportion to the head and the legs are slim but in keeping with the body. The tail is thin and has good feathering this is set high and can be as long as the hock when held straight. The coat is low shedding and can grow to a long length, this is a single coat. The colours we see are normally the colours that are in the Yorkshire Terrier. The life expectancy is 12- 15 years.

History: The Yorktese has a short history and it is a dog for a new generation of owners. Make sure, to help the pup and future generations of this new breed, that you only get the dog from a breeder that has good experience in breeding the parent breeds and has understanding of all health issues.

Temperament: Here is a breed that is a blend of two dogs, that for hundreds of years have been companion dogs. If you use a good breeder this dog should be bred for the temperament and then the looks. They are playful and moderate to high in energy. This dog, like all dogs, needs to be a dog as that is what it is. Set house rules and keep them. Training needs to happen or you will have a dog that has bad manners and taking them out can be a problem. They respond to positive praise well and this can be used to help train them, some take a little longer to potty train so be prepared and keep all training consistent. They are good with children of school age and the child needs to know not to over mother the dog. Here is a dog that is small but really they are fearless and can be a ball of energy. They are loyal and will love a cuddle. They need an owner that is able to spend time with them train them and show good leadership. While young this pup can take after the Yorkshire Terrier and suffer fractures easily so it is best to have them not on the furniture or under foot in the kitchen if you are cooking as accidents can happen. They will need daily walks and fun and games to be happy.

Health issues: There are a lot of health issues in the breeds used to get a Yorktese so only get your pup from a breeder that has health checks and certificates, if not walk away as you could be in for a lot of vet bills and a pup that is very ill. Some of the things to know are; liver shunts, hypoglycemia, patellar luxation, pancreatitis and lymphangiac tasia. Most of these can be avoided by only using a breeder that checks very well and knows the blood lines of the dogs used for the breeding program.

Grooming: The grooming is likely to be high as both breeds used have coats that require high levels of grooming. You are going to need to groom daily. Trips to the salon are going to be needed as well to keep the coat in good order.

Living conditions: The Yorktese can live happily in an apartment and can even cope without a garden providing that you take this dog for a walk daily. They do have a lot of energy to burn so play and walks are going to be important for this dog.