The History of Yorkshire Terriers
The History of Yorkshire Terriers has not been very well documented, however, it is apparent that it came about through the cross breeding of several different terrier breeds.
The Yorkshire Terrier history begun over 130 years ago. Although it was around before then it wasn’t until 1874 that it was registered with the British Kennel Club.
Origins in Industrial Yorkshire
According to the story many workers begun moving to an area in England known as Yorkshire during the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. With them they took many dogs such as the Tan Toy Terrier, the Clydesdale Terrier, the Skye Terrier and the Maltesse Terrier and thus the history of the yorkie began. It is said that all of these dogs played a part in the breeding of what is known today as the Yorkshire Terrier.
With many of these workers making their living in the mines the Yorkie’s courage and tenacity made it perfect as a rat catcher. Even though it has always been small in size it has always maintained this part of its terrier heritage. However, it soon became more and more of a toy dog and many breeders begun breeding smaller versions of the dog.
Huddersfield Ben: The Father of the Breed
No discussion of Yorkie history is complete without mentioning Huddersfield Ben, widely considered the founding father of the modern Yorkshire Terrier. Born in 1865, Ben was a champion show dog and an exceptional ratter, winning over 70 prizes in his lifetime. Nearly every modern Yorkshire Terrier can trace its lineage back to him. Ben’s influence on the breed standard was so profound that he shaped the Yorkie we know today — small, confident, and beautifully coated.
From Working Dog to Fashion Accessory
These dogs soon became attractive to other tiers of society and it wasn’t just the workers in Yorkshire that owned these dogs. In fact, the dog became so popular that the present day Yorkshire Terrier can be found in homes across all social classes. By the late Victorian era, the Yorkie had become a fashionable companion for ladies, valued for their beauty and portability.
Arrival in America
By 1881 this ever more popular breed was introduced to the U.S. It was an immediate success and by 1889 there was an American Champion, a Yorkshire Terrier by the name of ‘Bradford Harry‘, who was incidentally the great-great-grandson of Huddersfield Ben. The American Kennel Club (AKC) registered its first Yorkshire Terrier in 1885, and the breed has remained consistently popular ever since.
Yorkies at War: Smoky the War Dog
During World War II, a Yorkie named Smoky became a genuine war hero. Found in a foxhole in New Guinea, Smoky served with the 26th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron and helped run communication lines through an 8-inch pipe, saving construction crews from enemy fire. Smoky is widely regarded as the first therapy dog and her legacy continues to inspire Yorkie lovers today.
The Modern Yorkshire Terrier
Today the Yorkie is one of the most popular toy breeds worldwide, consistently ranking in the top 10 most popular breeds in the United States. While they no longer work as rat catchers, they have retained their courageous spirit and confident personality. Modern Yorkies weigh between 4 and 7 pounds — significantly smaller than their 12-15 pound ancestors from the 1800s.
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