What is a Parti Yorkie? [Coat Color]

Like the standard Yorkie, the Parti Yorkie breed is petite and long-haired. Unlike the average Yorkie dog, the Parti Yorkie has three distinct colors making up its coat.

However, there are many distinctive characteristics of a Parti Yorkie other than its colors, such as temperament, cost, health, and grooming.

Parti Yorkie Overview

The Parti Yorkie originated in the United States. They’re purebred versions of the Yorkshire Terrier with a tri-color coat consisting of black, a silver hued-blue, and white (or tan) colors. 

Because their color schemes differed and weren’t as frequently seen as the standard Yorkie’s two, Parti Yorkies were not widely accepted. Therefore, adopting the breed variation into the American Kennel Club (AKC) didn’t occur until 15 years after the Yorkshire Terrier was inducted in 1885.

Since the Yorkie breed and the Parti Yorkie breed variant don’t differ significantly, other than their fur coloring, you can expect similar behavior, costs, health, and grooming.

Temperament of Parti Yorkies

If you’re searching for your forever furry friend, the Parti Yorkie might be the dog for you. These tiny pups are incredibly friendly and love getting attention. They also have tons of energy, which is great if you or your kids want a dog that loves playtime. 

However, this energy can cause them to act a little hyperactive and yappy. The Parti Yorkie won’t constantly bark like some other tiny breeds, but it is known to bark at other dogs and people from time to time. 

Parti Yorkies also tend to sleep a lot throughout the day, most likely due to their high-energy personalities. So after playing with them for a while, you can expect the pup to pass out. 

Even though these Yorkie breed variants have a wild personality, they are better suited for older children. Parti Yorkies are known to startle or snap easily, which may occur more frequently when exposed to young children who don’t fully understand the concept of a dog as a living creature with feelings and fears. 

Cost of Parti Yorkies

As a rare coat color of a purebred breed, you can expect the Parti Yorkie to cost a pretty penny. Not to mention, the breed variant has seen improved health and physical prowess in many agility competitions, making them more expensive than only considering the bloodline factor. 

Plus, you might want to consider that Parti Yorkie’s aren’t as commonly found and bred as the standard breed when contemplating costs. The dog’s rarity adds to its expense and can make it hard to find an adequate breeder.

Generally, though, Parti Yorkies range between $1,200 and $4,500 when purchased from a reputable breeder . Sometimes, however, they can cost as much as $10,000 (for breeding stock). Additionally, if the dog or breeder is registered with the AKC, you will notice an increased price since they acquired verification of the breed variation’s genealogy.  

Health Problems for Parti Yorkies

Like a standard Yorkshire Terrier, the Parti Yorkie can live anywhere between 12 and 15 years old as long as you take care of them properly. However, these dogs are not immune to various health conditions that you might see in other breeds. 

For example, much like other small breeds, Parti Yorkies are susceptible to the common Patellar Luxation condition. This condition affects the dog’s legs and causes lameness. Some Parti Yorkies can also get degenerative eye disorders. 

Another condition of Parti Yorkies and similar small breeds is stress. Stress can manifest itself as vomiting, lameness, seizure-like episodes, and confusion. 

Of course, if you notice any kind of out-of-the-ordinary changes in your Parti Yorkie, you might want to consider taking them to your vet to get them checked out. Keep in mind; a vet can take care of these conditions easily. Patellar Luxation, however, may require surgery depending on the severity.

Grooming a Parti Yorkie

People know the Parti Yorkie from its signature tri-color coat, so you’ll want to take great care of it when grooming, starting with brushing. Since the Parti Yorkie has long hair, you’ll want to use a slicker brush to get out any loose hair trapped in the undercoat. 

The dog’s hair also grows incredibly fast. As such, you’ll want to get its hair trimmed regularly to keep it out of the dog’s eyes. If you don’t, your dog can get eye infections, conjunctivitis, or irritation.

As far as bathing your Yorkie goes, make sure you purchase a shampoo that’s safe for your Yorkie’s skin. You don’t want your pup to experience any discomfort or irritation. 

Plus, you might want to pick a product with coconut oil or some other shine enhancer to keep the Parti Yorkie’s tri-color coat vivacious. Ultimately, natural ingredients work best, but the product you choose depends on what you’re comfortable with and what your dog likes. 

Finally, you’ll want to keep your Parti Yorkie’s face clean and fresh daily to stave off any irritation from their hair or tears, which tend to afflict small long-haired dogs.

Diet for a Parti Yorkie

Your Parti Yorkie’s diet is crucial to maintaining the dog’s health. All dogs require the correct balance of carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, and healthy fats. Whether you choose dry or wet food depends on your and your dog’s preference, but should include that smart balance of nutrients. 

Like most tiny dogs, the Parti Yorkie prefers small, frequent meals to sustain their high-energy lifestyle throughout the day instead of one large meal in the morning and night. Ideally, Parti Yorkies one-year-old and above should get three meals per day, while those dogs under one year old need about three to four meals per day. 

However, before purchasing any food for your Parti Yorkie, you might want to take your dog’s size into consideration, both weight and measurements. Typically, Parti Yorkies weigh between four and seven pounds. While a pound or two above seven is ok, you might want to talk to your veterinarian to ensure their food is appropriate if it starts gaining anything more. 

What’s the Difference Between a Biewer Terrier and Parti Yorkie?

The Biewer Terrier and Parti Yorkie look nearly identical to one another. Both are small breeds with long hair featuring the signature tri-color coat. However, these are two different breeds. While the Parti Yorkie is a variation of the standard Yorkshire Terrier, the Biewer Terrier is its breed descending from Germany. 

Besides its origins, the Biewer Terrier stands a bit taller and weighs a pound or so more than the Parti Yorkie. The Biewer Terrier does not have a docked tail since the practice is not legal in Europe.  

That said, both dogs have similar temperaments, health standards and potential complications, and grooming needs. But, you might want to know the difference if you need to clarify during your dog search.