Rare Yorkie Colors: Yorkshire Terriers are one of the few dog breeds where coat color is not fixed at birth. A Yorkie puppy and the same dog at three years old can look like two entirely different animals. That transformation is not a defect or a surprise. It is written into their DNA from day one.

This guide covers every recognized and rare Yorkie color, how genetics drive those changes, what to expect as your Yorkie matures, and what coat color actually tells you about a dog’s breed purity.

The AKC Standard Colors: What a Purebred Yorkie Should Look Like

The American Kennel Club recognizes four official Yorkie color combinations. All four share the same base structure: a darker color on the back and body, and a lighter tan or gold on the face, chest, and legs.

Black and Tan

The most common puppy coloring. The back and top of the head carry a deep black coat, while tan appears on the muzzle, chest, legs, and inside the ears. Black and tan Yorkies lack the graying gene, so their coloring stays relatively stable compared to other combinations.

Black and Gold

A variation of black and tan where the graying gene lightens the tan into a richer gold tone. The black on the back remains dominant while the secondary color becomes warmer and more golden.

Blue and Tan

As the graying gene activates over time, the black back coat shifts into a steel blue. This is one of the most recognized adult Yorkie colorways and one of the clearest signs of a purebred dog maturing correctly.

Blue and Gold

The most common color combination in adult purebred Yorkies. Both the graying gene and pigment dilution are active, producing a coat that darkens at the root of the back and gradually lightens toward a golden tone at the legs and face. The contrast between the steel blue and warm gold is the classic Yorkie look most people recognize.

Rare Yorkie Colors: How Yorkie Coat Color is Controlled by Genetics

Yorkie coat color comes down to two pigments: eumelanin (black pigment) and phaeomelanin (red pigment). Every color you see in a Yorkie, from deep black to pale gold, is a variation or dilution of these two.

Yorkies carry 39 pairs of chromosomes. The genes on those chromosomes interact to determine not just the starting color of the coat but how it changes over time. [EXTERNAL LINK: VCA Hospitals]

The key gene cluster responsible for color change in Yorkies is the dilution locus, which includes four variants.

D genome: No dilution. Colors stay concentrated. D1 genome: A common dilute variant that softens pigment. D2 genome: A less common dilute variant. D3 genome: The rarest variant, responsible for the most unusual colorways in the breed.

A Yorkie with a D/D genotype will not show dilution and will not pass it to offspring. A Yorkie carrying any combination of D1, D2, or D3 may show diluted colors and has a 25% chance of producing rare color combinations in a litter, depending on the other parent’s genetics.

The Graying Gene

The graying gene is what causes black puppies to develop blue or silver coats as they mature. Yorkies with one copy of the gene will gradually dilute their eumelanin over months and years. The speed and extent of that dilution varies by individual dog, which is why two littermates can look significantly different by age two.

When Do Yorkies Change Color?

Color change in Yorkies follows a general timeline, though every dog moves through it at its own pace.

At 8 to 10 weeks, the puppy’s true base color starts to emerge. Most Yorkie puppies are born nearly black and tan, and by 8 weeks the first signs of their adult coloring begin to show.

Between 3 and 6 months, secondary hairs begin growing in. The graying gene, if present, starts affecting the back coat. You may notice the black softening toward a dark charcoal or blue-gray.

From 6 to 18 months is the most active period of color change. The back coat continues to lighten, tan areas may deepen or warm into gold, and the contrast between body and face color becomes more defined.

By 2 to 3 years, most Yorkies reach their settled adult coloring. A blue and gold Yorkie who started as black and tan is fully transitioned by this point. Some very slow-changing dogs continue to lighten slightly past this stage.

At 8 years and older, sun exposure, nutritional changes, and age can cause further lightening or the appearance of silver tones.

For a Yorkie to be considered a purebred by kennel standards, its undercoat must transition from black and brown toward golden or tan as it matures. A dog that stays solid black into adulthood is almost certainly not purebred.

External Factors That Affect Coat Color

Genetics sets the foundation, but several external factors can influence how that color develops and changes.

Nutrition plays a significant role. A copper deficiency or insufficient levels of the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine can affect melanin production, leading to a duller or lighter coat than the dog’s genetics would otherwise produce. Quality protein sources support proper pigment development.

Sun exposure can bleach the coat, particularly on the back and top of the head. Dogs that spend significant time outdoors may develop lighter streaks or a warmer tone that is not reflective of their genetic color.

Health conditions such as vitiligo, though rare in Yorkies, cause progressive loss of pigmentation. It typically presents first as a white spot on the nose and can spread to other areas of the coat over time.

Rare Yorkie Colors

The following colors fall outside the AKC standard. Some occur in purebred Yorkies through recessive genetics. Others only appear through crossbreeding. Knowing the difference matters, particularly if you are purchasing a puppy.

Parti Yorkie

The Parti Yorkie carries the piebald gene, which creates large white patches alongside the traditional blue and tan coloring. For a Parti to be born, both parents must carry the recessive piebald gene. Even then, not every puppy in the litter will express it.

Parti Yorkies are recognized by the AKC as a legitimate color variation of the breed, provided both parents are registered purebred Yorkies. They are not the result of crossbreeding.

Chocolate Yorkie

Chocolate coloring is caused by the b-allele gene, which converts black eumelanin into a brown tone. A true chocolate Yorkie has brown pigment throughout, including the nose and eye rims. Most chocolate Yorkies on the market are crosses with other breeds to produce this color, so verification of parentage is important before purchasing.

Red-Legged Yorkie

An older ancestral color pattern where the dog carries a black back with red or rust-toned legs and belly. The coat texture in red-legged Yorkies also tends to be wavier and coarser than the silky standard coat. This is a naturally occurring variation linked to ancestral genes, not crossbreeding.

Silver Yorkie

The silver or platinum Yorkie is one of the most visually striking colorways in the breed. It develops when the blue dilution gene lightens the coat progressively over the first few years of life. Read our full guide to the silver haired Yorkie to understand how to identify it, what affects its development, and what to expect from breeders.

Black Yorkie

A solid black adult Yorkie is not a purebred Yorkshire Terrier. Purebred Yorkies carry the graying gene and will always show some degree of color transition. A dog that remains entirely black into adulthood has been crossbred. This is worth knowing if you are paying a premium for a so-called rare black Yorkie from a breeder.

White Markings

Some Yorkies develop small white markings, typically on the chest, feet, or face. These are caused by a recessive gene and are not considered a fault in the breed standard when minimal. Extensive white patterning in a dog not carrying the Parti gene may indicate mixed breeding.

Yorkie Color and Price: What to Know Before You Buy

Rare colors command higher prices in the Yorkie market, sometimes significantly so. A Parti Yorkie or chocolate Yorkie may be priced far above a standard blue and gold. Before paying a premium, ask for genetic testing documentation or AKC registration papers for both parents.

Be cautious of breeders marketing rare black Yorkies or pure silver Yorkies as purebreds at elevated prices. Neither is consistent with the breed standard, and both often indicate crossbreeding. If you are spending more on a rare color Yorkie, it is also worth thinking about pet insurance to protect that investment.

Frequently Asked Questions