Yorkie Terrier's History

The Yorkshire Terrier has a colorful history, from its humble beginnings in Scotland to its days as a working class breed and finally to its official recognition by the American and European Kennel Clubs. After recognition, the Yorkshire terrier quickly became popular as a companion pet, forever cementing the role of this delightful breed in history.

  1. History

    • Yorkshire Terriers, despite the breed's name, originated in Scotland during the 1800s. The dogs became popular and better known when many Scottish immigrants came to Yorkshire England to find work in clothing mills. The Yorkshire terrier was originally classified as a working class breed, its main purpose to catch the rats that often plagued the mills.

    Time Frame

    • During the early 1800s, Yorkshire Terriers were popular, although possibly not of the purest bred lines, originally being a mix between the Paisley and Skye Terrier breeds. In the 1860s, a prize-winning Yorkshire Terrier named Huddersfield Ben set the standard for the breed to be recognized as seen today. The Yorkie was introduced to America in 1872 and registered with the American Kennel Club in 1878, where it was one of the first twenty-five breeds registered. These dogs were very popular during the Victorian era, although their popularity dipped during the 1940s. In 2008, the American Kennel Club listed the Yorkie as the second most popular dog breed in America.

    Identification

    • There are several differences in the dogs of today compared to those of traditional Yorkshire Terriers. Originally bred from rough haired terrier breeds, the Yorkies of today may have had Maltese traits bred into the bloodline to produce the long silky hair that is a standard for the breed. It is difficult to determine which breeds were used when creating the Yorkie breed since many breeders, interested in simply breeding the best possible mousers and rat catchers, did not keep accurate records. In addition, traditional Yorkshire terriers also weighed roughly thirty pounds. According to regulations set forth by the AKC, Yorkshire terriers should weigh no more than seven pounds. In traditional Yorkshire Terrier history, the dog's tail would have been docked, but in more recent European dog shows, un-docked tails are being accepted.

    Considerations

    • Unfortuanetly for the breed, many genetic illnesses have been passed through bloodlines. Some common ailments are collapsed tracheas, slipped kneecaps, called Patella Luxation, and a tendency to develop inflamed pancreas from foods too high in fat. While most of these can be treated by veterianarians, treatments can displace the joy of owning such a delightful breed.

    Yorkies in History

    • There have been many famous Yorkshire terriers in addition to Huddersfield Ben. CH Blairesville Royal Seal helped further the breed's popularity by winning more than thirty competitions and placing Reserve Best in Show an impressive sixteen times. Also in the winning circle is Champion Ozmillion Mystification, who was the first Yorkshire terrier to win 1997 Best in Show at Crufts, the largest annual dog show. Others, such as Smoky, a World War Two hero and Pasha, who lived in the White House during Nixon's term, added to the breed's notoriety.