They are not common and the American Kennel Club does not recognize white as an official Yorkie color.
That means any Yorkie that has white in its coat is not considered purebred.
With one exception.
That exception is the Parti Yorkie.
In the year 2000, the AKC began officially recognizing parti-colored Yorkies as purebred, albeit a nonstandard variant.
That means they are considered Yorkies, but are not able to participate in the conformation portion dog shows as members of the breed.
However that may be, Parti Yorkies are amazing and beautiful little dogs. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about them
Contents
What Is A Parti Yorkie?
The parti Yorkie is a Yorkshire terrier with nonstandard coat colors. The average parti Yorkie has a coat that is almost 50% white, with the remaining half being black and tan (or gold) in random patches.
This differs from traditional purebred Yorkies, which have bi-colored coats consisting of blue and gold, blue and tan, black and gold or black and tan. Apart from the difference in color, the two dogs are identical. The Parti Yorkie is a purebred Yorkshire terrier, after all.
Parti Yorkie Colors
Parti Yorkies are head-turners for sure! They are unique dogs with gorgeous black, white, and tan or gold coats. Your pet is bound to be a conversation starter wherever you take it!
Over 50% of a Parti’s coat is white. The rest includes random patches of black and tan or gold.
These random patches of hair color occur due to the MITF gene mutation. It carries the information that controls the development and transfer of melanocyte protein responsible for the pigmentation. This results in beautiful tri-coloring.]
However, not all Parti Yorkies are tri-colored. Let’s take a look at two examples of Parti Yorkies that are primarily a single color.
Golden Or Blonde Parti Yorkies
This particular coloring of Parti Yorkie is essentially a standard Yorkshire terrier, without the distinct blue or black coloring. In other words, it has a blonde or golden coat. Usually there are still some white markings, but they can be almost invisible.
Chocolate Parti Yorkies
Standard Yorkies are born with mostly black fur. Chocolate Parti Yorkies are entirely brown when they are born. There’s no historical explanation as to why they developed this chocolate color.
One common line of thought is that the chocolate or brown is the result of a parent carrying the double recessive chocolate gene. Another is that it is a result of cross-breeding with other breeds.
Parti Yorkie Size And Weight
Like standard Yorkies, parti Yorkies weigh between 2 and 8 lb. (about 1 kg to 4 kg.) They measure between 7 and 8 inches (or 17 and 21 cm) at the withers.
Parti Yorkie Price
Purebred parti Yorkies from reputed breeders are quite rare. They are also in great demand. Since creating purebred parti puppies requires thorough knowledge of canine genetics, the price of these puppies is quite high.
Standard purebred Yorkie puppies from reputed breeders cost between $1300 and $1500. In comparison, breeders demand almost $2000 for particolored puppies.
Parti Yorkie Temperament
Parti Yorkies have big personalities despite their small sizes. Puppies from reputed breeders exude confidence, vigor, and self-importance.
Often, your parti Yorkie might forget how small it is and won’t hesitate to take on a larger dog! Like traditional pedigree Yorkies, they are fiercely loyal, loving, and affectionate towards their owners.
Well-socialized parti puppies grow up to be confident adults. They easily adapt to different circumstances and surroundings, are sociable and outgoing, and always willing to go out and meet people.
Naturally, as a dog owner, you must be firm with your pet from the day you bring it home. You must assert your position as the alpha and firmly handle your dog. Otherwise, it won’t hesitate to become your boss!
Do not allow your gorgeous Yorkie to get away with behaviors like yapping incessantly, pulling on the leash, etc. Otherwise, you might end up with a spoiled and arrogant dog.
Are Parti Yorkies Aggressive?
Aggression is not a normal trait in parti Yorkies and mostly, they are calm, loving, and affectionate. However, aggression is an unfortunate tendency that could occur across all breeds.
Remember: a dog does not have to launch a full-blown attack or bite to be deemed aggressive. Even behaviors like snapping, curling teeth, growling, and snarling are acts of aggression.
As a parti Yorkie owner, you must not assume that you don’t have to worry about aggression because of your pet’s small size and cute looks. There are households where Yorkie owners are terrified of their small pets!
Aggression is unacceptable in Yorkies and you must nip it in the bud. You must take action and train, socialize, and desensitize your dog from the start. This is extremely important to ensure the best temperament and behavior.
Do Parti Yorkies Bark A Lot?
Yes, like all Yorkies, the parti Yorkie is quite the barker! These dogs tend to yap for no apparent reason. However, this is a behavior you can address through proper training.
Not all barking is terrible though. Parti Yorkies make good watchdogs as these bold and fearless little pets are ever ready to protect their owners. Your pet might bark when a stranger approaches or when it senses danger.
Some people like having pint-sized pooches that act as an alarm system. Others not so much. If you don’t want a dog that barks too much, then the parti Yorkie may not be right for you.
Parti Yorkie Lifespan
Parti Yorkies tend to live between 12 and 15 years with proper care. Some partis develop back and knee issues in their old age. The kneecaps or backbones slip out of place and cause immense pain to your furry friend. Eye problems and infections are also common in the breed.
What Are Parti Yorkies: Common Questions
Now we’re going to answer some of the more common questions related to Parti Yorkshire terriers. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments below.
Are Parti Yorkies Real Yorkies?
Parti Yorkies have been around since the 18th century. In earlier times, breeders would write them off because of their non-standard coloring. Many breeders would discard these dogs and ensure no one found out about them.
They did not want their pedigree Yorkies to have the reputation that they produced pups that did not adhere to AKC standards. Many breeders would hand over parti puppies to people under the condition that they wouldn’t reveal their source.
Thankfully, due to the efforts of certain breeders and Yorkie fanciers, the AKC started officially recognizing the parti Yorkie in 2000. So, yes, a parti Yorkie is very much a ‘real’ Yorkie.
Are Parti Yorkies Popular?
Parti Yorkies are quite popular and their popularity is on the rise. People just can’t seem to get enough of these cute tri-colored dogs! And just like traditional pedigree Yorkies, parti Yorkies are energetic, loving, affectionate, and intelligent. All these characteristics make them popular as housepets.
However, not al Parti Yorkies are purebred, because the parti gene is quite rare. To produce parti coloring, shady breeders sometimes cross in other dog breeds to obtain the tri-coloring.
Of course, there are genuine breeders like Elvis Yorkshire Terriers in NY, who are known to keep purebred Parti puppies that are AKC registered and warranted. The key is to always research your potential breeders thoroughly before buying your Parti Yorkie.
If you are hoping to find a Parti Yorkie terriers for free, I have bad news for you. The chances of that are incredibly low. If you are fine adopting an older dog, you might be able to find one. But a puppy? Highly unlikely.
Note that the parti-colored Yorkie is not acceptable in the show ring. This means that you cannot show a Parti Yorkie. If you want to show your Yorkshire terrier, you’ll need to get one with the standard coat colors, instead of a parti-colored Yorkie.
What’s The Difference Between A Parti Yorkie And A Yorkie?
The main difference between parti and regular or traditional Yorkies is in their coat colors. Regular Yorkies are bi-colored (blue and tan/gold or black and tan/gold) whereas parti Yorkies are white-black-tan (or gold/chocolate).
What Is A Parti Yorkie Mixed With?
Parti Yorkies can be purebred, with two parti parents producing parti puppies. In 1872, when the first parti Yorkie was created, breeders may have used Maltese, Skye, and Paisley terriers in the mix.
Is A Parti Yorkie A Biewer Yorkie?
The Biewer Yorkie is a distinct breed that is actually called the Biewer Terrier. The Parti Yorkie is a real Yorkshire terrier.
Both are tri-colored dogs but in Biewer terriers, the white coloring falls on specific parts whereas in Partis, the coloring is random. Learn more in our article comparing the Parti Yorkie vs Biewer Terrier.
Parti Yorkies: Conclusion
Overall, Parti Yorkies are lovable little furries. They are considered purebred Yorkshire terriers, just with a nonstandard coat coloring. The majority of their fur is white, with blotches of black and tan. The tan can be lighter and more of a gold color.
If you want to get one, you need to do your research and talk to breeders. These breeders should be able to provide you an AKC registration and some important documents about their puppies. If not, you should avoid that breeder.
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