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Fourche Terrier |
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He is not recognized by the F.C.I. |
Origin |
Great Britain -> U.S.A. | |
Translation |
Francis Vandersteen | |
This breed is also known as |
Yorkie West
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A brief presentation of the Fourche Terrier |
| The Fourche Terrier is a specific cross-breed that is a magnificent blend of a West Highland White Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier. As both breeds are small, this dog is also small, typically around 23 centimeters in height and weighing around 6 kilos. Their coats are thick and rough, and medium to long in length. They can be just about any color, including a combination of all colors. They are cheerful, alert and make excellent family dogs, but can sometimes be a little stubborn. They have a lot of excess energy and need about an hour or more of exercise a day. |
History of the Fourche Terrier |
| To understand this apparently rare but lovable hybrid breed, it's crucial to understand its origins. Knowing the parents of a mixed breed, both in type and in size and temperament, can shed light on what you can expect from a specific litter of mixed puppies. The Fourche Terrier is a cross between the West Highland White Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier. Size, physical appearance and temperament are mainly based on these two breeds. After all, a hybrid breed is designed to bring out the best qualities of both parent breeds. |
A little of the West Highland White Terrier |
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| The West Highland White Terrier (Westie) comes from Scotland and was bred from other Terriers in the 1800s to hunt small animals such as rats, foxes, badgers and otters. Some of the Terriers they are supposedly related to are the Dandie Dinmont, Cairn, Skye and Scottish. The reason for the white color is due to an accidental mistaken identity that led to the shooting death of a prized Westie belonging to a hunter and breeder named Colonel Malcolm de Poltalloch. After his dog was mistaken for a fox, he decided that all his future dogs would be white so that it would never happen again. They were introduced to the USA in 1905 and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908. Today, the breed is the 41st most popular in the United States. | ||
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| Standard of the West Highland White Terrier | ||
A little of the Yorkshire Terrier |
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| The Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) came from England in the 1800s and was also used to hunt small vermin such as rats and mice. They are thought to be a mix of the Maltese, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Skye Terrier, English Black and Tan Terrier, Paisley Terrier, Clydesdale Terrier and Waterside Terrier. This breed is one of the most popular and beautiful Terriers. They are small with long blue-gray hair and quickly proved too good-looking to hunt rats. So they were quickly kept as pets and placed in dog shows. The first Yorkshire Terrier was born in the USA in 1872 and the breed was accepted by the AKC in 1885, where they are the 9th most popular dog breed. | ||
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| Standard of the Yorkshire Terrier |
Appearance of the Fourche Terrier |
| This specific little crossbred dog has medium to long hair that can be just about any color, including white, black, dark brown and chocolate, gold and light brown, white and cream, gray and black, brindle, merle or spotted. Their coats are generally thick and rough, although some are glossy and soft like a Yorkshire Terrier. They have large, pointed ears that usually hang down, but can stand upright when listening. They weigh around 6 kilos and measure around 23 centimeters. The little Fourche Terrier has large black eyes, a black nose, a small round head and a curious, alert expression. |
Temperament of the Fourche Terrier |
| The Fourche Terrier is a cheerful, friendly little dog that learns quickly and loves to play, although it can be obstinate when it wants to be. Even though they are loyal to their family, they can sometimes refuse to listen and go their own way. For this reason, you need to be consistent when training them and follow the rules at all times. They get on well with older children and other pets, but need to be trained to tolerate smaller children and other animals. You should always supervise your Fourche Terrier with young children as they are so small and easily injured due to their delicate bones. |
Needs and activities of the Fourche Terrier |
| The Fourche Terrier has a lot of nervous energy that needs to be released daily, otherwise it can become anxious and unruly. Every day, you should provide around 60 to 90 minutes of moderate exercise. Because of the sensitivity of your dog's neck, you should use a soft harness rather than a collar when your dog is on a leash. Although they need a lot of activity, because of their small size, they can do most of their exercise indoors, playing fetch or chasing other pets or children. However, they are good at agility training, swimming and can even enjoy a trip to the lake or beach. |
Maintenance of the Fourche Terrier |
| Their thick, rough coat should be carefully brushed with a firm bristle brush and a smoother brush at least three or four times a week. Some also need professional grooming several times a year to keep their coats in good condition and avoid matting and tangles. They are prone to skin disorders, so you should only use shampoo or soap recommended by your vet. Check their skin when grooming to make sure it's healthy and free from irritation. You should also clean their ears with absorbent cotton once a week and trim their nails if necessary. It's also a good idea to brush your dog's teeth several times a week to prevent dental problems, as small breeds are prone to tooth decay. |
English (United Kingdom) 
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