Yorkshire Terrier Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is unaware of his small stature, and is always eager for an adventure or a little bit of trouble. He is a busy, bold, curious and somewhat stubborn breed. True to their terrier heritage, they are brave and spirited and will readily chase any vermin they catch site of. He is a busybody of a breed, overseeing all of the household activities and assuring that all who dwell within realize that they are mere subjects of his; he is often the top dog in his family.

He is not too interested in going for walks, but loves to join you in everything else you do. His long coat needs an inordinate amount of care, with a daily brushing a necessity. If you are not up to the task and commitment that a long coat entails, you really should pass this breed by. He is known to bark alot, but can be trained out of this behaviour. Also take note that the Yorkshire Terrier has a fragile trachea and should only by walked with a harness-style leash.

Believe it or not, the Yorkshire Terrier was bred to be a member of the working class, a ratter. His ancestry can be traced back to many different breeds including the Waterside Terrier, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, the Skye Terrier, and the Maltese Terrier. A small dog called the Waterside Terrier was brought over to England by Scottish weavers, and became the main root stock of the breed. Because of his modest ancestral roots, the Yorkshire Terrier was looked down upon by the wealthy. His obvious beauty and elegance could not be contained, though, and it was not long before he was in the laps of many of the wealthy and elite of the dogshow world.

For decades this dog was bred by clerks, grocers, and shopkeepers who would breed them in their large kitchens. They would spoil the dogs and take great care of their long coats, and eventually sell them for a healthy sum of money.

Breeding of the Yorkie began to focus almost entirely on his unique long flowing coat. In fact in Great Britain Yorkshire Terriers are still presented in dog shows standing on an individual box so their coat can be fully seen by the judge.