Yorkshire Terrier – Breed Profile

Posted on 17th January 201817th January 2018 by Yorkshire Vets

The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed most notable for its small size. It is one of the most popular breeds here at Yorkshire Vets. In fact, Border Collies are the ninth most common breed we see across our surgeries. To find out more about the breed, and its suitability for your family, read on below.

Yorkshire Terrier

Appearance

The Yorkshire Terrier standard states that the breed should weigh a maximum of 3.2kg, though we commonly see larger examples. They are a compact, well-proportioned breed, with an upright stance. They have upright V-shaped ears, which frame an intelligent and inquisitive face. The Yorkie coat should be straight and silky and requires regular brushing. It is not uncommon for Yorkies not used for showing to receive regular clips to keep their coat short. This makes it easier to keep clean and tidy. As a low shedding breed, Yorkshire Terriers can be suitable for those with allergies. The KC breed standard only allows for dark steel blue and tan colouring, though we often see dogs with a wider variety of colours.
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Border Collie – Breed Profile

Posted on 20th December 201714th December 2017 by Yorkshire Vets

The Border Collie is a medium-sized dog breed, well known for its high level of intelligence. It is one of the most popular breeds here at Yorkshire Vets. In fact, Border Collies are the eighth most common breed we see across our surgeries. To find out more about the breed, and its suitability for your family, read on below.

Charlie getting cosy in bed.

Border Collie

Appearance

Primarily a working breed, the Border Collie appearance can be slightly more varied than that of other breeds. While there is a set breed standard for show dogs, many of the Border Collies you will see day to day may fall outside of this standard. Females typically weigh 12–19 kg, with males slightly larger at 14–20 kg. The breed has an athletic, deep-chested build, with well-muscled hind legs. The most startling feature of the Border Collie is its piercing stare. Eye colour is normally blue to brown, but it is not uncommon to see the breed with eyes of differing colours. Border Collies have a medium length double-layered coat, that can be smooth or rough. They can be heavy shedders, particularly those with thicker coats. Though the most common colouring is black and white, a huge number of colour variations exist in the breed.
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Lhasa Apso – Breed Profile

Posted on 13th December 201714th December 2017 by Yorkshire Vets

The Lhasa Apso is a small breed of companion dog originating from Tibet. It is one of the most popular breeds here at Yorkshire Vets. In fact, Lhasas are the seventh most common breed we see across our surgeries. To find out more about the breed, and its suitability for your family, read on below.

Lhasa Apso Mitzy, enjoying a day out at the beach.

Lhasa Apso

Appearance

The Lhasa Apso is a small breed that usually weighs between 5 – 6.5kg (females) and 6.5 – 8kg (males). They are more sturdy than they may at first appear, with a robust but compact frame. Their most notable feature is their distinctive coat. As the breed originates from the Himalayan mountains of Tibet, they have a double-layered coat, with a warm under coat and a protective outer coat. The outer coat is less like typical dog hair and more like human hair. Because of this, it will continue to grow and not shed in the same way as most dog fur. This characteristic makes Lhasas more likely to suit those with dog allergies. It does, however, mean that Lhasas require regular grooming.
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Jack Russell Terrier – Breed Profile

Posted on 6th December 2017 by Yorkshire Vets

The Jack Russell Terrier is a small breed of terrier. It is one of the most popular breeds here at Yorkshire Vets. In fact, Jack Russells are the third most common breed we see across our surgeries. To find out more about the breed, and if it is a good fit for your family, read on below.

Jack Russell Terrier

Appearance

The Jack Russell is a small breed, that usually weighs between 6 – 8 kg. They typically measure between 25-40cm at the shoulder. It is not uncommon, however, to see examples that fall outside of this size. From a working point of view, a small chest was traditionally important. This is because the breed was used for fox hunting work and needed to be able to enter Fox burrows. Jack Russell Terriers typically have an alert, intelligent face, with a slightly flattened head between V-shaped ears. Their coat is a dense, double-layered variety and can either be smooth, rough or broken, which is somewhere between rough and smooth. Coat colour is primarily white, with areas of black brown or tan markings.
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Singapura – Breed Profile

Posted on 29th November 2017 by Yorkshire Vets

The Singapura is a small breed of cat, known for its large ears and eyes. To find out more about the breed, and if it is a good fit for your family, read on below.

Singapura Cat

Appearance

The Singapura is a small breed of cat, with adult females expected to weigh 2.3 to 2.7 kg and males 2.7 to 3.6 kg. Despite its small size, the breed is well muscled and robust. The standout features of the Singapura are the large ears and eyes. The coat is fine and silky, typically with a ticked tabby pattern and sepia-toned colour.
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Ragdoll – Breed Profile

Posted on 16th November 201729th November 2017 by Yorkshire Vets

The Ragdoll is a large semi-longhaired breed of cat, known for its distinctive coat and blue eyes. To find out more about the breed, and if it is a good fit for your family, read on below.

Ragdoll Cat

Appearance

The Ragdoll is a large breed of cat. Females should weigh between 4.5 – 7kg and males between 7 – 9kg. This size results in a typically sturdy cat which is proportionally similar to a normal domestic cat. As mentioned above, the breed is recognisable for its distinctive coat and piercing blue eyes. We typically see the coat in three main patterns, colourpoint, mitted and bi-colour, with red, seal, chocolate, blue, lilac, or cream colourings. It is also possible to find Lynx and Tortoishell variations.
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Airedale Terrier – Breed Profile

Posted on 8th November 2017 by Yorkshire Vets

The Airedale Terrier is a medium / large breed of dog. Often referred to as the ‘King of Terriers’, it is the largest of the terrier breeds. To find out more about the breed, and if it is a good fit for your family, read on below.

Airedale Terrier

Appearance

As mentioned above, the Airedale Terrier is the largest of the terrier breeds. Males usually weigh between 23 – 29 kg and females between 18 – 20 kg. Their most notable characteristic is their wavy black and tan coat, which is of medium length. The coat has a wiry topcoat, with a softer undercoat. This requires regular hand stripping, as the breed does not shed. Because of this, the breed may be suitable for some allergy sufferers. They are an active and intelligent dog and should appear well muscled. The Airedale tail should be long and erect, though historically was docked. This practice is now illegal in pet dogs unless considered medically necessary.
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Staffordshire Bull Terrier – Breed Profile

Posted on 20th September 20178th November 2017 by Yorkshire Vets

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium breed that first appeared in 19th Century England. They are the second most common dog breed here at Yorkshire Vets, after the Labrador Retriever. To find out more about the breed, and if it is a good fit for your family, read on below.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Appearance

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffie) is a stocky and muscular breed. They are medium sized, with females expected to weigh between 11 and 15kg and males between 13 and 17kg. Their head is broad, with a short muzzle. Atop this wide head, they have small, half-pricked ears. They are short and smooth coated, with a huge variety of colour variations including blue, brindle, fawn and white. It is quite common to see many colour varieties with white areas.
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Samoyed – Breed Profile

Posted on 13th September 20174th December 2017 by Yorkshire Vets

The Samoyed is a medium to large breed of Spitz dog that originates from Siberia. To find out more about the breed, and if it is a good fit for your family, read on below.

Samoyed

Appearance

Samoyed’s are most recognisable for their thick, fluffy coat. This is a double layered coat, with a long, coarse top coat and a short, soft undercoat. This undercoat will shed heavily twice a year, but the breed will typically shed smaller amounts throughout the year. Coat colours are either white or biscuit. They are a compact and muscular medium to large breed, with an expected adult weight of 16 – 20kg for females and 20 – 30kg for males. Samoyeds have a particularly expressive tail. When alert, this curls over the back and lies against it. When relaxed, the tail will often hang. It is not uncommon for the breed to sleep with its tail covering its nose, which would provide extra warmth in their natural environment. They will usually have black or brown almond shaped eyes that stand in beautiful contrast to their light coat colour.
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Shiba Inu – Breed Profile

Posted on 29th August 201729th August 2017 by Yorkshire Vets

The Shiba Inu is a small to medium sized breed of dog. They are the smallest of the spitz breeds to originate from Japan. To find out more about the breed, and if it is a good fit for your family, read on below.

Shiba Inu

Appearance

Shiba Inus are known for their fox-like face and short, thick coat. They have a double layered coat, with a stiff outer layer over a thick and soft under layer. Coat colourings are usually red/orange, white/cream, black and tan, or sesame, while the undercoat is typically cream, buff or grey. The expected adult weight for the breed is 7-9kg for females and 8-11kg for males. Despite their soft and cuddly appearance, they are a well muscled and agile dog. Prick ears and a tail that curls over the back are the other key breed characteristics.
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