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What is a Parti Yorkie?

First and foremost, Parti Yorkies are purebred Yorkshire Terriers. A recessive gene is responsible for the Parti color variation, which is a tri-color or multi-color coat, instead of the Yorkie’s traditional black, blue, or silver coats mixed with tan patches.

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Parti Yorkies are similar to Traditional Yorkies in size and appearance aside from coat coloring. They have long, soft coats that come in various color combinations. 

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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 Traditional coloring. 

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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. 

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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. 

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Other color combinations for Parti Yorkies include white, black, and tan, silver and black, or variations of the two.

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In 2000, the AKC began recognizing the Parti color variation. Both Yorkie parents must be carriers of the recessive Parti gene for the color pattern to appear in their offspring. This means two traditionally-colored Yorkies with this gene can produce Parti puppies that have patches of white, chocolate, black, and tan in their coats.

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The coloring is the only difference between Parti Yorkies and Traditional Yorkies. Before people understood this, dogs with Parti coloring were not bred further and some were even put down after being deemed undesirable. Two Yorkie breeders, Gloria Lipman and Loryn Bogren, decided to take matters into their own hands. 

They reached out to other breeders and conducted DNA testing on 42 litters of Yorkie puppies. After determining the genetic makeup of Parti Yorkies was the same as Yorkies, the AKC accepted it. Today, these colorful, loving little dogs are getting the recognition and affection they deserve.

 

The AKC requires Yorkshire Terriers have docked tails if they are going to meet the breed standard or be professionally shown. This applies to Parti Yorkies, as well. The docking is performed when the puppies are newborns, usually between 2 – 5 days old. I actually don’t particularly agree with this, but since it should be done right after the puppies are born, I will dock their tails, although not as short as others may dock theirs. I do this because I don’t know at that stage whether the new parents desire it or not, so I automatically dock them all, as a matter of consistency.

 

Apart from a healthy diet, Parti Yorkies also need regular grooming. They generally have long, silky, perfectly straight hair, but you find some with a “soft” coat, making grooming more challenging because the soft coat tangles easily. Their coats are considered “hair” not “fur,” like other dogs, because they are much like human hair. You can decide to keep its hair short or let it grow, but you will still have to gently brush its coat to prevent mats from forming.

 

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. 

These dogs are good with children but would be best suited for older children due to their size.

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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.

 

My moms are registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), making their puppies eligible to also be registered with the AKC. 

Chocolate Parti Yorkie
Tri-colored Parti Yorkie
Chocolate Parti Yorkie
Tri-colored Parti Yorkie
Tri-colored Parti Yorkies
Tri-colored Parti Yorkie
Tri-colored Parti Yorkie
Member of American Kennel Club
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