Why Do Yorkies Hair Turn Grey? (Solved & Explained!)

This is quite normal for the breed. Yorkies are typically black and brown dogs with a gene that causes their coat to adopt a blue and eventually a gray color. This gene is fairly unique to the breed, affecting the production of a chemical called eumelanin which makes their skin black.

Today we’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about Yorkie genetics, such as what color eyes to expect, what a Gold Dust Yorkie is, and more. Let’s take a look at the questions trending the most this week!

How can you tell if a Yorkie is purebred?

Most often, aside from their typical looks, you can tell by the colors. Purebreds come in a number of colors, those being tan, black, blue, and gold – also they have a gene that will lead to their turning blue as they mature, which manifests as silver, white, or gray hairs that won’t touch the nose or the eyes.

Finally, if you purchased your Yorkie from a breeder, pedigree papers as well as papers on the dam and the sire should be included to help establish purity.

What is the rarest color of Yorkie?

There are a few rare variants, with chocolate Yorkies being among the most rare that you will find. This is because the chocolate color is actually obtained by cross breeding with other dogs, such as Dachshunds, in order to isolate the chocolate gene.

This takes a lot of work, making this breed very rare and much more expensive than ‘standard’ Yorkie colors.

Are Yorkies smart?

Yorkies are considered to be above average when it comes to intelligence, being ranked at 35th among 138 dogs that were testing for working and obedience intelligence. This can be a great thing, as your Yorkie can learn the rules of the house fairly quickly, just be sure you only use positive reinforcement.

If you make the mistake of punishing your Yorkie, this smart dog can make life very difficult, so stick to positive reinforcement with your training and your smart little dog will learn very quickly just about anything that you wish to teach them.

How long does a Yorkie live?

Yorkies don’t have a lot of inherent health issues, so these dogs have a projected lifespan of 13 to 16 years. This means you’ll very likely have a lot of time together in the years to come, just make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise, good foods, and that vet checkups are as regular as clockwork.

Some dogs will live even longer if you do this, so take good care of your furry friend so that they’ll be by your side for many happy years to come.

Do all Yorkies change color?

Yes, Yorkies change color over time and it’s quite natural. Your dog has a puppy coat and the one that they will eventually grow into. This color change starts at around 6 months of age, continuing until your dog is 1 or 2 years old.

Don’t worry – the change won’t be that dramatic and your breeder can let you know what they will look like eventually, but it most likely won’t be that much different from what you are used to with the exception of eventual graying as a likely possibility.

What age is a Yorkie full grown?

Your Yorkie will grow fairly quickly, though the rate will begin to slow down around 9 or 10 months of age, until they are fully matured at 12 months. By this time, your Yorkie will have reached their adult size and their growth cycle is officially completed.

How often should you bathe Yorkies?

Yorkies should be bathed a minimum of once every 2 to 4 weeks. You can certainly bathe them more regularly if you like, just remember that your dog has hair instead of fur. Due to this, you should treat it like you would your own hair, using conditioner after each shampooing to ensure that it doesn’t get dry or brittle.

This will help to ensure that your Yorkie always smells nice and that their hair is always silky-smooth.

How much money is a Yorkie puppy?

If your puppy has American Kennel club paperwork, then you should expect the cost to range between $1200 and $2500. That said, you can find a wide range of prices, based on colors and traits of your puppy, so that the cost could be anywhere from $300 to $3500 for a Yorkie puppy, depending on where you look.

You can sometimes find rescues, as well, so check around if the price seems a bit steep – you might just find your new best friend is waiting in a local shelter and ready to come home!

What are Yorkie colors?

Yorkies have different colors for purebreds, with the most prominent combinations being blue and gold, black and tan, blue and tan, and black and gold. There are rare colors as well, with chocolate being one of the rarest, as the process involved cross-breeding with other breeds such as Dachshunds to isolate the gene.

What color eyes do Yorkies have?

 Most commonly, Yorkie eyes will be either dark brown or black, but you do see exceptions. Some Yorkies have hazel, green, or even dark blue eyes, though you can expect extra cost for these pups as specific traits need to be isolated through careful breeding and this takes a lot of time.

What is a Gold Dust Yorkie?

A Gold dust Yorkie is a rare variety which has hair that will hang down evenly for ¾ of the sides of the dog, which is free of black hairs in a coat that is white-gold in color. These dogs also have a medium-sized muzzle, with a small head, and their teeth have a scissor-bite that is readily apparent and level.

This breed generally goes for anywhere from $1200 to $2500 when purchasing a pup, with a deposit generally being required to secure the animal until it is old enough to wean.