The Yorkshire terrier comes in four standard colorations as recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) – black and tan, black and gold, blue and tan, and blue and gold.
Another color that the AKC has also acknowledged is the particolored Yorkie. They have a tri-colored coat, mainly black, tan, and white, though variations may be present. However, though considered purebred, parti-colored Yorkies don’t qualify for the show ring.
A unique aspect of the Yorkies’ coloration is that it changes as the dog progresses in age. Most of the purebred Yorkies start as black and tan. Then, the color starts changing by the time they are six months of age. When they are 1-2 years old, their adult coat color will become visible prominently.
Puppies appear darker than adults, and the latter’s coat color depends on the number of graying genes they have. Dogs with no graying gene retain their black and tan coat until adulthood. A single graying gene would cause the black or tan coat to dilute into blue or gold. Moreover, the presence of two graying genes affects both the black and tan, and the dogs would attain a blue and gold coat by the time they turn one.
Besides the standard colorations, there are some rare and exotic colors, too, like black, white, chocolate, golden, merle, and brindle. They could either be due to genetic deformity or as a result of crossing the Yorkshire terrier with other purebreds for an exotic coloration.
The price range of the Yorkie varies between $1500 and $3000, depending on many factors like the dog’s appearance, gender, age, health problems, and age.
