Yorkshire Terrier - All The Things You Probably Weren't Told About This Dog

In 2006, the American Kennel Club announced that the Yorkshire Terrier was the second most popular purebred dog in America. They are poised to become the nation's most popular dog – even over the ubiquitous Labrador Retriever. Where did the Yorkshire Terrier come from? What breeds went into making it? And why did it get to be so popular?

Despite being named after a Northern county in England, the direct ancestor stock of today's Yorkshire Terrier came from Scotland. When Scottish weavers lost work because of the rise of factory made clothing, they had to move south and brought their dogs with them. These dogs were Scottish Terriers, Paisley Terriers, Clydesdale (or Clyde) Terriers, the latter two breeds are now extinct. The Scottish dogs bred with the local terrier breeds, thought to have been Skye Terriers, Maltese and the now extinct breeds of Black and Tan English and Waterside. The eventual result was Huddersfield Ben, considered the fore sire of the entire Yorkshire Terrier breed.

Back in 1865 – the year of Huddersfield Ben's birth – dogs were bred to exhibit useful qualities, not for their looks. There also was not much interest in keeping breeds pure. There are very few accurate records of dog breeding at this time. It is also thought that dog breeding was considered such a secret business that no records were kept for fear of the knowledge getting out to competitors. Yorkshire Terriers got their name because the breed was perfected in Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Terriers were bred to be specialists in killing rats. They were (and still are) thought to be more reliable at killing mice and rats than cats. They were also bred to bark when they found their prey and to let their masters know where they are. The mining industry thrived in Yorkshire at this time – and the mines were full of rats. They were until the Yorkshire Terriers got to work.

The Yorkshire Terrier was bred back then for a specific purpose and not for looks. Rats were a terrible problem in farms, homes and the Yorkshire mines. Small, brave terriers were found to be better than cats for quickly dispatching these rats. Also back then, the sport of rat killing was very popular. Rats were put in a barrel and then a terrier was dropped in. The winner was the dog that killed the most rats in the least amount of time.

However, the Yorkshire Terrier also became loyal and friendly companions around the home. They became excellent guard dogs and soon won their way into the wives and daughter's hearts. With the advent of dog showing, the breed became fashionable and ever smaller. The breed was introduced into America as early as 1872 and quickly conquered the New World. In 2006, Yorkshire Terriers became the second most popular purebred dog in America.

The Yorkshire Terrier was a much larger breed in the beginning. Many books that include large sections on Yorkshire Terrier information can be found at the library.

The Yorkie is one of the dog breeds that have found its way into the heart of millions of people. This small and yet hardy dog is a fearless animal who is extremely loving and therefore would make a wonderful family pet. And there is no need to worry about other animals or pets within the home as Yorkies can pretty much get along with everyone and that includes humans and animals. So beware as this little outgoing pup may just make its way into your heart.

This small dog, who only weighs in at about five or six pounds and is the perfect size to be carried around in a book bag or doggy purse. And they certainly do eat up that attention, as this dog's personality is extremely outgoing and certainly loves to live the pampered life. Their lively spirit is a wonderful addition to just about any home as they are lovely but also independent at the same time.

And with as much running and playing around that Yorkies like to do, it is no wonder that they require daily brushing as their silky long coat can easily get matted and can become a problem if it is not taken care of properly. Also, as with any pup that loves being pampered, the Yorkies generally enjoy being cleaned in baths and with teeth brushing. To the Yorkies, any type of attention is good attention.

And although they are not very big in size, these little ones can make for excellent guard dogs, as they will always alert the owners when someone is approaching their home. They are very protective over their home and their family, which means there is another reason to make this precious pup apart of your family. Their outgoing personality is what will help make sure that you do not regret your decision to bring one home.

Although Yorkies are generally extremely friendly and outgoing, it is important to watch small children around this breed, as they are not always suitable for homes that have small children in them. Yorkies are very small in size and they know it so the fast movements of the small children make them nervous. So therefore, they end up snapping at children, which can cause physical and emotional trauma, which a child could carry with them for a long time.

Yorkies are also sometimes hard to house train as that independent personality tends to come out. They seem to have a mind of their own at times and this can get in the way of a quick training, but that is not to say that they are not trainable at all. It just takes the Yorkies a little more time to get the hang of things. Yorkies also do not prefer to be in the rain or out in the cold so if heading outdoors, you may just want to grab their favorite sweater for comfort.

When you think of Yorkies, you are almost certain to think about the fun loving aspects of the Yorkshire Terrier When looking at browsing some Yorkies, it is vital that you read up on lots of Yorkshire Terrier information to know exactly what type of personality you can expect.

Yorkshire Terriers, also referred to as Yorkies, are pleasant and elegant dogs belonging to small breed category. It is known as one of the most appealing toy dog. If you love to have a soft, cute, little and soft-natured dog with you and you do not have a small space for living, you may consider buying a Yorkshire Terrier. Going for a long-walk with your Yorkshire Terrier or allowing it to run all through your garden or room is simply a great experience of lifetime. With its fun-loving mind, it wants to play all the time. So provide it enough toys to keep its mind busy.

The charismatic look and intelligent behavior of Yorkshire Terriers have a positive affect on most people. Their small size never outweighs their self-esteem. Usually not more than six pounds, Yorkshire Terriers show their aggressive attitude if they are threatened by anything. It is mainly due to their inheritance of the true temperament of a Terrier. They are loyal and sensitive to their family members and show their affection all the time.

Although Yorkshire Terriers are very small in size, these little dogs do not really bother about their size especially when time comes to defense. They put forth their best effort to defend their area. They possess a sharp sense of hearing, which causes them to alert their owners if they perceive the slightest possibility of intrusion. This quality in Yorkshire Terriers makes them really noisy from time to time, so before buying one, give enough consideration to your neighbors' perspective.

Although Yorkshire Terriers are a popular show breed, preparing them exclusively for that purpose is truly a time-consuming and specialized job. It is mainly because of the fact that the Yorkie coat grooming for show purpose is really a difficult task. In order to maintain the coat for any show or for any special purpose, it is better to get in touch with a specialized breed club or professional breeders. Since thorough care is intended for this breed, Yorkshire Terriers are not for everyone.

Yorkshire Terriers are a very social type of dogs. They possess the ability to mix up with other household animals like cats and dogs quite comfortably, especially when they are brought up with them. However, enough measure needs to be taken if you are exposing the dog with a new household animal for the first time, since this dog carries a strong instinct for possessiveness for its owner, which it typically inherits from its ancestors.

Since the dog is very small in size, you should take good care with your Yorkshire Terrier especially if you have small children at home. It is because mistreatment may lead to injury to them. Typically, Yorkshire Terriers love to play with gentle little children. They love to take a nap on their owner's lap. House training is not a difficult task for Yorkshire Terriers and crate training is mandatory for them to ensure safety. Typically these dogs have good health without any apparent health complications and their life span is long.

The Yorkshire Terrier is a cute looking and good-manner small dog breed that needs extensive grooming. What to expect with the Yorkshire Terrier information can be found in this article.

Could that little perky dog in the local animal shelter actually be a purebred Yorkshire Terrier? Most likely, yes. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that twenty-five percent of all animals given up to shelters are purebreds. One of the advantages of getting purebred dogs is that their physical and personality temperaments can (for the most part) be predicted. You will also be aware of the needs for the dog in order to happy and healthy.

Knowing the Yorkshire Terrier breed standard can help you determine if the dog in your shelter is indeed a Yorkshire Terrier. Keep in mind that no dog can live up to the breed standard. A breed standard is the written description of a perfect representation of the breed. Just see if your shelter dog compares for the most part to the breed description. Odds are it will likely be off in only a few physical features.

The personality of a Yorkshire Terrier is pretty consistent, even though you will find some differences in individual dogs. There is a temperament goal in the Yorkshire breed standard that ethical breeders try to get their dogs to copy. Yorkshire Terriers are the benevolent Napoleons of the canine world, needing to be in charge of every little thing in their territory. They are bossy, vocal and need to be fussed over.

The breed standard lists Yorkies as alert, vivacious and full of "self importance". (That's putting it mildly). Yorkies are one of the few dog breeds that can be picky eaters. They make very good watchdogs. They do not do well in a home with pet rodents, as they were bred to kill rats. However, they do well in homes with elderly or small children. In a home with other dogs, don't be surprised if the Yorkie becomes the alpha dog very quickly.

Other distinctive features of the Yorkshire Terrier include a black nose, a yappy voice and a bold personality. Unlike a sloping spine of, say, a German Shepherd, Yorkies have even spines with the shoulder in line with the rump. They should stand squarely. Although blue and tan is the official color, other colors or white markings have cropped up in pet quality animals.

Yorkshire Terriers are famous for their silky coats. In show champions, the coat is about twice as long as the dog. In the shelter, most likely the dog you are trying to identify has a clipped coat, making him or her look like a cross between a teddy bear and a ragamuffin. Another fault that disqualifies a Yorkie from a show ring is having black hairs mixed with the blue and tan. Also, if the blue of your Yorkie is silver blue instead of steel blue, he or she will also not be considered good enough for the show ring.

A Yorkshire Terrier is best only for a specific type of person. Go to the library to find books that contain extensive Yorkshire Terrier information.