The Changes in a Yorkie's Coat

Don't try to select a Yorkie puppy based on its coat color because all puppies are born black and tan -- called "points," usually found above the eyes and under the ear flaps or tail -- in varying degrees. Over the next two years, the coat will likely change. Ideally, the black will turn to the desired steel-blue that the standard requires, but it is often hard to guess what the dog's final colors will be.

Although dogs vary as to when their hair begins to change, the typical age is 6 months, and you can expect a gradual transformation. A black-and-tan puppy could turn to blue-and-tan, but you'll have to trust the breeder's knowledge of the parents when guessing what the final colors might be. The hair will also begin to soften and grow into the typical "silky" coat for which Yorkies are so well-known and esteemed.

A Yorkie's coat gradually changes for up to two years, and it may stabilize only to change again -- perhaps even into the third year. An adult's hair color can vary from a dark, steel blue to a light, silvery blue. Typically, the black turns blue (a diluted black coloring), yielding a dark steel blue or a shiny silver. Generally, an adult will have more tan and gold coloring, making its coat much lighter than a puppy's.

If you're interested in showing your Yorkie, you'll want to check out the American Kennel Club's standards for the breed. While judges use many criteria to find a champion dog, they look carefully at a Yorkie's head and legs, where the black/blue and tan/gold colorings must be distinct, with no intermingling. Also, quality, texture and quantity of coat are important; furthermore, the coat should be glossy, fine and silky, moderately long and perfectly straight.