What Breeds of Dogs Made a Yorkie?

Yorkshire terriers, also known as Yorkies, are small, long-haired dogs, weighing less than 7 lbs. They first appeared in the northern parts of England in the 1870s and were used primarily to control the severe rat overpopulation. Yorkies possess traits from three main breeds that are now extinct, so their exact bloodline is still debated to this day.

  1. Origins of the Yorkie

    • The Yorkshire Terrier was originally known as the broken-haired Scotch terrier. The named changed in 1870, nine years after the first Yorkie was entered in a dog show in England. The name change is due to how well the breed was refined in Yorkshire, Manchester. The sire of all modern day Yorkies is considered to be Huddersfield Ben, a dog owned by M.A. Foster from 1865 to 1871. He was a multiple dog show champion, being exceptionally skillful in the rat-catching contests that were popular at the time and location. In 1878, the breed was officially registered in the American Kennel Club in the United States.

    Clydesdale Terrier

    • One breed being largely responsible for the Yorkie is the Clydesdale terrier. This dog is a version of the Skye terrier, a dog with a long, straight, silky coat. While the Skye can also be considered a relative of the Yorkie, the Clydesdale is more specific in that it had many of the traits necessary to help create the Yorkshire terrier. They had the same coat texture and colors as the dog we know today. It was a rare breed in its day, and was extinct by the 1920s.

    Waterside Terrier

    • The waterside terrier, also known as the otter terrier, had the Yorkie's signature black and tan colors, but unlike the Clydesdale, it sported a shorter, rough coat. It is a breed with history dating back to the 1500s. This breed evolved into what we know today as the Airedale terrier, a much bigger dog with a short, wavy coat.

    Old English Terrier

    • The Old English terrier is another old breed. The variety that contributed to the Yorkie breed is the toy rough and broken-haired. Yorkies were originally shown under the name of this variety until they were given their own name. Today, the only variety that exists under AKC standards is known as an excellent hunting companion.