A BIT OF BACKGROUND
Appearance
Parti Yorkies are similar to Yorkies in size and appearance aside from coat coloring. They weigh between 4 – 7 pounds and stand between 7 – 8 inches tall (making them larger than their cousins, the Teacup Yorkies).
They have long, soft coats that come in various color combinations.
There is no true standard for Parti coloring, but sometimes the coats follow certain patterns. Other times, the coats just have different patches of colors that don’t resemble a Yorkie’s normal coloring.
Golden Parti Yorkies do not have any black or dark blue coloring. Their coats can be solid gold or have hues of deep gold and light blonde.
Chocolate Parti Yorkies are brown where the traditional Yorkie is mostly black. They have chocolate, tan, and brown coloring throughout their coats. Chocolate Parti Yorkies are rare and appear to be the result of a Yorkie parent who carries a double recessive chocolate gene.
Other color combinations for Parti Yorkies include white, black, and tan, silver and black, or variations of the two.
The AKC requires Yorkshire Terriers have docked tails if they are going to meet the breed standard or be professionally shown. This applies to Party Yorkies, as well. The docking is performed when the puppies are newborns, usually between 2 – 5 days old. It’s performed mostly for aesthetic purposes and does not have to be done in order for you to own one of these dogs.
History
The first documented mentions of tri-colored Yorkshire Terriers are in books from the 1800s. Ernest Hemingway mentioned his grandfather’s pure white Yorkie named Tassel in one of his books.
While Yorkies were historically used as rodent hunters, not many dogs were spayed and neutered. This meant that females could get pregnant by dogs of other breeds. Yorkies were also bred with Maltese dogs to improve the Yorkie’s coat length and appearance. While it can’t be proven where the gene for the Parti coloring came from, there are a few different theories.
When Parti Yorkies originally started appearing in litters of two traditionally-colored Yorkies, they were thought to be low-quality dogs who weren’t purebred. Breeders didn’t want to be associated with producing these dogs, and they were often euthanized or given away quietly to avoid anyone finding out where they came from.
It’s impossible to tell which Yorkie is carrying the Party gene, and it can lie dormant until two dogs with the gene breed together.
Now that Parti Yorkies are accepted, when they show up in litters today, they are no longer considered to be intruders.
Personality and temperament
Parti Yorkies are energetic and affectionate little dogs who love to spend time with their families. They may be small, but their bark will certainly let you know when a stranger is approaching the house. They make great companions and are protective of their owners.
Parti Yorkies can get along with other pets in the house, especially if they are raised with them from the time they’re puppies. They can be scared of larger dogs and get along with with other small breeds like Shorkies or Teacup Shih Tzus . When introducing a new pet to the household, they may be aggressive and territorial.
These dogs are good with children but would be best suited for older children due to their size. They can also snap if they are accidentally stepped on or startled, so young toddlers might not be the best playmates for them.
This is a sweet dog who will enjoy a walk in the park as much as a nap on the couch with you. As true lap dogs, they like to be around their people. If they have too much alone time, they can be prone to separation anxiety. These dogs thrive when they are interacting with their owners.