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Yorkshire Terrier Legacy
The Yorkie was bred as a ratter, used to kill
mice and rats in small places. As a hunting group, terriers specialize in pursuing animals (usually vermin) that live
in dens or burrows. Animals that are cornered and defending their young, will fight ferociously. Therefore, any dog
that would willingly pursue them must have an extraordinary degree of courage; terriers are bred for that quality. The Yorkshire
Terrier, with its feisty temperament, is no exception.
Breed Ancestry
As the name implies, the Yorkshire Terrier originated in Yorkshire County (and the adjoining Manchester
County), a rugged region in northern England. In the mid-nineteenth century, at the peak of England’s industrial
revolution, craftsmen from Scotland came to Yorkshire in search of work and brought with them several different varieties
of small long-coated terriers, generally known as Scottish terriers. The specific breeds that make up the Yorkshire
Terrier’s ancestry are not known, since the breeders at that time did not keep records of the bloodlines. Certain
breeds, however, are commonly thought to be the main forebears. The likely source of the Yorkie’s small stature, long-haired
coat and blue color are the Clydesdale, Paisley, Skye and Waterside terriers, all Scottish terriers transported to England
at various times. The English Black and Tan Terrier bloodline probably gave the Yorkie its signature color pattern.
These breeds were all working dogs, used to keep vermin under control in the textile mills and coal mines. Many have
suggested that the Maltese, an ancient breed (likely originating in Asia), may be in the Yorkshire Terrier’s background
as well.
The
breed first appeared at an 1861 bench show in England as the Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier, named for the dog’s Scottish
terrier ancestors. Early Yorkies were also known simply as Toy Terriers, in both rough and broken haired varieties.
Yorkshire Terriers were given their breed name by 1874.
Huddersfield
Ben
In
the town of Huddersfield, in Yorkshire County, a dog named Ben was born in 1865. The dog, known as Huddersfield Ben,
is universally acknowledged to be the foundation sire of the Yorkshire Terrier breed. The very public life of this dog,
owned by M.A. Foster, did much to popularize the breed in England. Ben died in an accident at the age of six, but in
his short life he won more than 70 prizes at dog shows and also demonstrated exceptional skill in ratting contests. By today’s
standards, Ben was a large Yorkie, with only a medium-length coat (probably due to his active life).
The Yorkie in America
The Yorkshire Terrier was introduced in the United States
in 1872. The first Yorkie was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1878, making it one of the first twenty-five
breeds to be approved for registration by the AKC. During the late Victorian era, the Yorkshire Terrier quickly became
a popular pet, and as Americans embraced Victorian customs, so too did they embrace the Yorkshire Terrier. The breed’s
popularity dipped in the 1940’s, when the percentage of small breed dogs registered fell to an all-time low of 18% of
total registrations. Smoky, a Yorkie and famous war dog from World War II, is credited with beginning a renewal of interest
in the then obscure Yorkshire Terrier breed. Based on registrations, Yorkshire Terriers became the #2 most popular dog breed
in the United States in 2006 according to the American Kennel Club, trailing only the Labrador Retriever.
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