Yorkie-Ton -- Yorkshire Terrier X Coton de Tulear

		Yorkie-Ton
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Great Britain <> Madagascar -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Yorkie-Ton

A balanced blend of a long-established rat hunter and a companion dog, the Yorkshire Terrier and Coton de Tulear respectively, the Yorkie-Ton is an extremely affectionate, strong-willed dog, with the added bonus of a cute, fluffy appearance. On the whole, there's not much to fault about this breed, as it's very affectionate, intelligent and surprisingly adaptable for a small dog. Because of their limited size and activity level, they need little exercise and don't tend to bark like many other dogs of similar size. What's more, like their two parent breeds, they are hypoallergenic, making them suitable for almost any living situation. However, due to the stubbornness of their Yorkshire parents, they can be moderately difficult to train and need a good deal of socialization to adapt to young children. They can also develop separation anxiety if they live in a home where all the owners are absent for long periods or frequently, as they love to receive attention. Finally, they need a decent amount of maintenance if their coats aren't kept short, so potential owners should be prepared to groom them every few days. But all in all, given their minor drawbacks and great adaptability, these little dogs remain fantastic companions for almost any household.

History of the Yorkie-Ton

Yorkie-Tons are relatively recent hybrids, but their two parent breeds have a solid history as companion dogs, and one of them was also a vermin hunter in the early days, even though they come from the margins of opposite hemispheres.

	A little of the Yorkshire Terrier
	The Yorkshire Terrier actually originated as a working dog, the product of Scottish immigrants who invaded England during the Industrial Revolution in search of employment. With them, these immigrants brought multiple Terrier variants, including the Old English Toy, the English Black, the Clydesdale, the Skye, the Paisley and the now extinct Waterside, all of which are considered to have influenced the Yorkshire Terrier lineage at one time or another. Originally, they were brought in as vermin hunters, helping to keep the rat population down as factories grew and neighboring neighborhoods flourished. Over time, as the breed developed, they became identified with their place of origin, Yorkshire, England, and were eventually given that name. In the late 1800s, the Yorkshire Terrier became a popular show breed thanks to a dog named Huddersfield Ben, who, along with his ten sons and daughter, is considered the origin of the modern version we know and love today. Since then, the breed has become slightly smaller and, instead of being a much-used hunter, is more often considered a companion breed, as its overall balanced temperament makes it an excellent family dog.

	Standard of the Yorkshire Terrier


	A little of the Coton de Tuléar
	The history of the Coton de Tuléar is not well known, but it is thought that its ancestors, of Bichon and Ténériffe origin, arrived on pirate ships on the island of Madagascar as early as the 15th century, when Tuléar was a prosperous port city. Whether these early breeds were brought by pirates as rat hunters, companions or simply the result of undoubtedly thorough plundering has never been known. Over time, numerous Bichon-type dogs interbred on the island, influenced solely by shipping traffic, and eventually gave rise to what is known today as the Coton de Tuléar, its appropriate name deriving from both its location and its fluffy, cotton-like coat. They were eventually given as gifts to Malagasy royalty and adopted by the reigning dynasty to prevent others outside the nobility from owning them. Their history is so strongly rooted in the island that they are not only known as Madagascar's royal dog, but are documented as the island's official dog. Although not universally known as a breed, they are celebrated in small circles for their exceptionally happy, even temperament and adorable fluffy appearance.

	Standard of the Coton de Tuléar

Appearance of the Yorkie-Ton

Yorkie-Tons are small dogs, to say the least, with a maximum height of around 30.5 centimeters and a weight rarely exceeding 6 kilos. They have a long, fluffy coat that comes in a variety of colors from white to black and tan and even blue. They generally sport exaggerated eyebrows and whiskers, folded ears, bright, marbled brown eyes and a short muzzle topped with a black nose. They are muscular, with a relatively square posture and a flat back that ends in a short or medium tail with enough hair to match the rest of their appearance.

Temperament of the Yorkie-Ton

Compared to other small breeds, the Yorkie-Ton is fairly easygoing and will find pleasure in going for walks or lounging around the house with its owners. They are generally happy, affectionate dogs who like to take part in household activities with their family, especially if they receive a little extra attention. They'll play outside, but most appreciate the comfort of home, where they're in their own domain. Although they are generally very easy to manage, Yorkie-Tons can be a little stubborn when it comes to training and, without this and if their owners coddle them too much, they are likely to develop small dog syndrome, assuming or asserting that they are the masters of the house, and their behavior can become troublesome. With a good dose of socialization, they do well with other dogs, but will probably need extra attention if they want to coexist or visit young children. Apart from these few drawbacks, they are generally very adaptable and, with the right training and attention, can happily integrate into a wide variety of homes.

Needs and activities of the Yorkie-Ton

Due to its constitution, the Yorkie-Ton is a low to medium activity dog, as it only needs a daily walk and a little more playtime and attention to be satisfied. They appreciate a little more attention than other breeds, so any activity at home, such as games or mental activities, will help them fulfill this need. It's safe to say that a ten-kilometer walk a week and half an hour of playtime a day are enough to keep this little breed happy and healthy.

Maintenance of the Yorkie-Ton

Although a small dog, the Yorkie-Ton requires a lot of maintenance because of its long, fluffy coat. To keep it straight and clean, their coat needs to be brushed with a spiked brush at least 2-3 times a week, if not more, depending on the total length, to prevent tangling, matting and damage. Some owners prefer their coats to be trimmed much shorter, which also helps to reduce their overall maintenance, but this doesn't exempt them from regular care. They should receive a bath every two weeks or so, with Cotons de Tulear needing a weekly bath and Yorkshire Terriers a monthly one, but it's generally a matter of judgement for each dog. Once washed with a dog-specific shampoo and conditioner, also strongly encouraged to keep their coats healthy, they should be lightly patted dry and left or finished with a low-temperature hairdryer, as rubbing can mat their coats. Their folded ears will also need regular monitoring, as any excessive accumulation of dirt or moisture can encourage the growth of bacteria and potentially compromise the health of their ears, both inside and out. Everything else is pretty standard, such as weekly tooth brushing, as a minimum, and nail trimming if necessary.