Yorkshire Terriers | All Dog Breeds

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Yorkshire terriers are one of the most popular breeds and this miniature breed is loved by everyone around the world. Yorkshire terrier is a confident and proud dog. The looks of these breed and their reason for breeding does not go together as they were bred to catch rats and other tunnel animals. However their long and silky fur makes them look like their ancestors were a part of the royalty.

History and Origin

Yorkshire terriers were bred to chase and catch rats in factories in the northern England for the working class during Victorian era. Yorkshires were also called ratters and used in mills to control the rats and other vermin in the tunnels. The origin of these breed is conflicting as they are the descendants of various other terriers that are now extinct breeds such as Clydesdale terriers and Paisley terriers.

Some even say that they also have roots with Scotland breeds Skye terrier, Airedale terrier and other terriers including Maltese, Manchester and Dandie Dinmont terriers. They were brought to England by miners and weavers in the 19^th century. The original Yorkshire terriers were larger than those of the present terriers. They were then crossed and become the miniature version of the originals.

About Yorkshire terrier

Yorkshire terrier is the second most popular breed in the world. They are playful and mischievous and are always looking for trouble. They are independent and feisty and even will try to take a down a big dog. Although they are feisty they can be perfect as companion dogs. They are like the trouble making kids who wants to take on adventures.

They love squeaky toys, this may be because of their instincts that returns back to their existence to hunt and kill rats.

Their behaviour is of self importance and confidence have given them the nickname the tomboy toy. They come in different coat colours such as Blue and Tan, Black and Gold, Black and Tan, Blue and Gold.

This breed was one of the few breeds that was first registered by AKC in the year 1885 and ranks 10^th in the popularity list and are classified in a toy group. This breed has won hearts of many people around the world with its beauty and the undivided attention towards their owners. They are extremely favourites of their owners and hence have become pampered lap dogs.

Yorkshire terriers are excellent watchdogs. Some might get easily aggressive towards other animals and dogs if not treated properly. This breed is prone to cold weather. The average height of a Yorkshire is about 9 inches and they weigh about 2-3 kg. The average lifespan of Yorkshires is about 12 to 15 years.

Interesting Facts and stories

• In 1860s a Yorkshire named Huddersfield Ben is said to have influence in setting present Yorkshire breed type. He is also known as the father of modern Yorkshire.

• A Yorkshire named Smoky was found by a soldier named William Wynne in a New Guinea jungle. She helped to carry a telegraphic wire through 70 foot long and 8 inches wide pipe during the World War II, where it was impossible for soldiers to go without risking their lives. She then became the first therapy dog to the injured soldiers and accompanied the nurses. Later she even travelled to Hollywood to perform and show her skills. She was truly a war hero and had died unexpectedly at the age of 14 years. She was even awarded a certificate for animal bravery and has a life size structure build above her resting place in Lakewood Ohio.

As a Family Companion

Yorkshire terrier is small in size and can adapt to living anywhere. They can happily live in apartments and small houses. They also do not need lot of space to exercise and hence they become a great apartment dogs. However they do enjoy walking outdoors and thus they should be taken out for walk 2-3 times a day.

Yorkshire terrier is so friendly that it always wants to be with his owner and family. They are perfect pets for adults but with children you need to be careful because of their short-temper and biting habits. They should never be left alone with kids and must be always supervised.

This dog is considered to be hypoallergenic because of his human like hair structure and do not have undercoat so it does not shed often. Hence they are perfect companions for people who are allergic. They are also excessive barkers but a little training might help them to change such behaviour.

Grooming

They have a long and silky coat. This coat is similar to human hair and hence need regular brushing to avoid tangles. To avoid these problems some of the owners of Yorkshire prefer to trim their hair short also called as a puppy coat which becomes easy to maintain. Grooming these dogs is not difficult. If the coat is clipped it still needs brushing 2-3 times a week and can be time consuming.

To have the long and silky coat you need to put lot of efforts and energy to maintain it and requires too much attention. The hair often grows fast and up to floor length which might lead to brakages.

Training

Yorkshires are always fun to train with as they are always enthusiastic and eager to learn and always want impress their owners. However some can also be stubborn with training. They are intelligent and learn new things quickly. They love to work and follow the commands incredibly fast. They are fast learners and easy to train as they are energetic and always focus on their owners.

Health

Most of the small dogs have fragile bones and dental disease which often lead to tooth decay and gum diseases. Hence they need to be checked for cavity developments regularly. Their teeth and gums should be cleaned once a week.

They also have delicate digestive system which can lead to vomiting and diarrhea if consumed food other than their regular diet.

Buy a Yorkshire terrier?

This breed is extremely popular among various celebrities and has set high standards for itself. It is an expensive breed and can be charged anywhere from $800 to $10,000. They are also expensive to maintain and a good quality breed may even cost more.

Fun Facts

The Dogs whiskers help them to see in the dark. 

       

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoky_(dog)