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9 Yorkie Colors & Markings (With Pictures & Chart)

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

yorkshire terrier looking up

Yorkshire Terriers are gorgeous, glamorous dogs with silky coats. All Yorkies are born with black and tan markings, but their colors can change as they age, giving them a distinctive look.

If you’d like to know more about the various Yorkie color combinations, keep reading. Our guide below will walk you through every possible permutation.Divider 8

Yorkie Color Chart

Yorkshire Terriers come in four colors but can be mixed and matched into different combinations.

The 4 Yorkie Colors Are:

yorkie colors

According to the AKC, “true” Yorkies have these color combinations:
  • Black and Tan
  • Blue and Tan
  • Black and Gold
  • Blue and Gold
  • Parti – Which is Black, White, and Tan

As mentioned, Yorkies start as black and tan when they’re puppies. They don’t mature into their final coat colors until they are 2 or 3 years old.Divider 2

Quick Look at Various Yorkie Colors (With Pictures)

The color combinations above represent the vast majority of hues that you’ll find on Yorkies. However, there are a few other possibilities that are extremely rare.

Below, we’ll examine a few color combinations and what they tell us about your dog at the genetic level.

1. Black and Tan Yorkies

black and tan yorkie
Image Credit: Peakpx

If your dog retains the black and tan color after reaching maturity, they lack the graying gene. Typically, most of the black fur is on the torso, while the tan hair is on the legs, face, and chest. Of course, this can differ from dog to dog, but it’s rare to see many variations.


2. Black and Gold Yorkies

black and gold yorkie
Image by: Alas_spb, Shutterstock

Black and gold Yorkies have one graying gene that affects the tan portion of their coloring. Although the non-black areas are much lighter, they still closely resemble black and tan Yorkies.


3. Blue and Tan Yorkies

blue and tan yorkie
Image Credit: Csanad Kiss, Shutterstock

Blue and tan Yorkies also have a single graying gene. However, the blue stands out compared to the standard black. These pups have bright, shimmery coats that reflect light. Also, their tails tend to be darker than the rest of their bodies.


4. Blue and Gold Yorkies

Yorkshire terrier dog eating from feeding bowl
Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

Blue and gold Yorkies have two copies of the graying gene. This is the color combination that’s most commonly found on adult dogs. Typically, their coats are darker at the root before fading at the tip, but this can be affected by various factors, including how closely you cut their hair.


5. Parti Yorkies

parti yorkie
Image Credit: Pezibear, Pixabay

Parti (short for “particolored”) Yorkies are blue and tan with a dash of white thrown in for good measure. You may also see chocolate in place of the white. The white fur can be mixed in with the rest and is often the predominant color.

The white color is a result of the recessive piebald gene, and both parents must possess it to create a Parti Yorkie. However, even if both dogs have the gene, that doesn’t mean you’ll get any Parti puppies.


6. Blue Yorkie

Yorkshire Terrier outdoors walking in a park
Image Credit: KajaHiis, Shutterstock

While most Yorkie puppies are black and tan, occasionally, some are blue. Unfortunately, this is a tragic combination. They rarely survive longer than a year, and the ones that do live such a miserable existence that it’s generally considered humane to put them down.

Some breeders advertise blue Yorkies as if they’re a status symbol. Needless to say, you should stay far away from those breeders.


7. Black Yorkie

black Yorkshire terrier sleeps
Image Credit: NataliSel, Shutterstock

You may stumble across a black Yorkie, but how is that possible? It’s simple: you mix them with another dog.

There’s no such thing as a purebred black Yorkie, so don’t believe a breeder who tries to tell you otherwise. However, that doesn’t mean that black Yorkies aren’t good dogs; it simply means you won’t be able to brag about their bloodlines.


8. Red-Legged Yorkies

Yorkshire Terrier puppy in a red sweater standing next to a couple
Image Credit: Kara Laws, Shutterstock

While most genes are clearly taken from the parents, occasionally, one will pop up that can be traced back several generations. That’s what happens with red-legged Yorkies.

These are technically red and black Yorkies, with the red coming from two copies of a specific recessive gene that they inherited from long-ago ancestors. The gene makes their hair stiff and wiry, in addition to being a strange color.


9. Chocolate Yorkies

chocolate yorkie
Image Credit: JStaley401, Shutterstock

Chocolate Yorkies have entirely brown coats. It’s due to a recessive gene known as the b allele. It’s certainly possible for purebred Yorkies to have a chocolate coat, but the coloring is a telltale sign that the breeder has mixed in another dog’s DNA (usually a Dachshund). Be sure to do your homework before paying purebred prices for a chocolate Yorkie puppy.Divider 4

A Brief History of Yorkies

You might not believe it, given their dainty appearance, but these British dogs were initially bred to be coal miners. They hunted the rats that lived in mine shafts. Beginning in the mid-19th century, workers would take them down into the mine and turn them loose, allowing them to kill vermin.

They were also valued as hunting dogs. Since they’re so small and tenacious, they were perfect for diving in holes to ferret out foxes and badgers. In fact, the breed was known for its remarkable bravery. Late in the 19th century, popular opinion of the dog began to change. Rather than being used for brutish tasks like killing rats, Yorkies began to be prized as companion animals.

That’s how most Yorkies are viewed today: as beautiful lap dogs. They are rarely called upon to hunt, although the skills are still buried in their genes. Instead, they’re content to sit in luxury, soaking up affection and devouring the occasional treat.

Where Does the Blue and Gold Come From?

Many Yorkies have something that’s known as “the graying gene.” It causes their bodies to produce a pigment that causes their coats’ color to fade. As a result, the black can turn to blue, and the tan can turn to gold. Or it can stay the same, and you’ll have a black and tan puppy that grows into a black and tan dog.

All genes come in pairs, so the coat’s ultimate color depends on how many graying genes your dog has. If just one is present, you’ll either have a black and gold or blue and tan dog. You’ll have a blue and gold Yorkshire Terrier if both are present.

There’s no way of knowing what a Yorkie puppy’s coat will do as it matures. You may be able to get some idea by looking at their parents, but even then, it’s a crapshoot.

A Rare Yorkie Color

A few Yorkies have what’s known as a “recessive piebald gene.” This is what causes the white Yorkie coloring. This is extremely rare, and piebald Yorkies are incredibly expensive.Divider 4

Summary

You may see Yorkies with other colors, and there are far too many possibilities for us to list every single one here. As a general rule, any non-traditional color is a sign of a non-purebred dog. However, don’t let that put you off. Unless you’re planning on breeding or showing your Yorkie, a mixed breed is just as charming and friendly as a purebred animal.

Regardless of your Yorkshire Terrier’s color, you can rest assured you’ll have a brave and intelligent animal on your hands. After all, how many other breeds have a history of hunting in coal mines?


Featured Image Credit: Pezibear, Pixabay

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