Who doesn’t love a dog? Especially if they are small, fluffy, and full of life. Yorkshire terriers are exactly that.
These little canines have beautiful, silky fur coats that cover their whole bodies. They are really small in size, some even fitting the palms of your hands. You should not, however, take them lightly because of their size.
Yorkshire terriers are intelligent and confident. They can be rather independent and have a lot of courage. Their spunky personality makes them super popular as pets.
These small dogs, also known as Yorkies, have an interesting history. The following are some of the things we bet you didn’t know about Yorkshire terriers.
1. Yorkies Have Been Nicknamed the ‘the Tomboy Toy’
Among dog breeds, Yorkshire terriers are one of the smallest. However, you should not be fooled by their size. The personality these tiny four-legged animals pack shocks most people.
We bet you didn’t know that Yorkshire terriers are known as the ‘Tomboy Toys’. Interesting name, isn’t it? This is derived from their spunky personality.
They grow up to five to seven pounds in size and are well known for their independent, courageous and confident nature. Yorkies work very well independently and do not fear taking on challenges. Their appearance shows vigor and self-importance.
A Yorkshire terrier’s high agility and determination make them great at any dog sport. Having been blessed with stamina and undeniable cuteness, these dogs make great travel companions and stay-at-home pets. Speaking of companions, are you thinking of taking your Yorkie grocery shopping with you? Check out puppylists.com to see which stores are dog-friendly.
2. They Were Named During the Victorian Era
They were first seen in Northern England counties in the mid-1840s. Most were spotted in the Yorkshire and Lancashire region.
It is believed that when Scottish weavers travel to England, they bring their small terriers with them. Many different dog breeds were mixed to create the now well-known Yorkshire Terriers.
They were bred during the Victorian era and soon became pet favorites of ladies. It remains unknown which breeds were used to create the Yorkies, but there have been some speculations.
We bet you didn’t know where the name Yorkshire Terrier is derived. The word terrier, which has been derived from the word ‘terrah’, has Latin roots. It has the lovely meaning of ‘Earth.’
Before the very suitable name was given to these cute canines in 1874, they were known as ‘Broken Haired Scotch Terriers’.
3. Yorkies Went From Rags to Riches
There are several interesting facts about Yorkshire Terriers, but we bet you didn’t know their roots. Yorkies were bred during the Victorian era for a very specific reason.
Throughout the Industrial Revolution, the mines and mills in Yorkshire were infested with rats. The infestation was so intense that children were even appointed to catch them.
During this time in the 19th century, many workers traveled from Scotland to the Northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire to find work in the mines. These workers would bring with them a variety of breeds of small terriers to accompany them.
A few of these breeds were mixed to create the perfect breed of dog, full of confidence and agility, to help drive out the rats. They started off as working-class pets, but soon that would change.
Yorkshire terriers quickly gained popularity among Victorian royal ladies due to their small size and adorable appearance.
4. The Big Ben of Yorkshire Terriers
Have you ever wondered whether each dog breed had a specific maker that gave them their traits? For example, do Scottish terriers behave differently from their Yorkshire counterparts because of a certain dog?
Well, we bet you didn’t know about the father of the Yorkshire terriers.
As known in history, the entire breed of the now-known Yorkshire terriers was started by Ben, Huddersfield Ben. He was a canine born in 1865 in the town of Huddersfield and was the product of identical inbreeding.
Ben himself was bigger in size than most of the breed. He weighed in at eleven pounds. However, every offspring that had come from him was half his weight. He was a hugely popular stud dog, and his genes have been passed down to almost every Yorkshire Terrier currently alive.
Ben was one of the best at chasing rats and was the reason behind the Yorkie’s popularity.
5. The Yorkshire Terrier’s Fur is Similar to Human Hair
A Yorkshire terrier’s fur coat is some of the longest, most flowy, and silky among dog breeds. Their coats stand out in the canine world and contribute heavily to their popularity.
However, we bet you didn’t know that a Yorkshire terrier’s fur structure is almost identical to human hair. This is why they are the recommended pet breed for people with allergies.
Just like human hair, their coat keeps growing and needs regular attention. Without scheduled grooming, your Yorkie’s fur will become matted. If its hair is floor-length, then monthly grooming is necessary. However, different lengths are suggested for different seasons.
Due to the chances of overheating, a short puppy cut should help your little Yorkie. For winter, cutting their hair short is not recommended. It is also wise to wear a sweater as Yorkshire terriers are a ‘single-coated’ breed with no underlining.
6. ‘Smoky,’ a World War II Veteran Yorkshire Terrier
With their charm and agility, the Yorkshire terriers gained popularity among the Victorian royals. Soon they would make their way to America, maintaining acclaim. By the 1940s, their demand had fallen as the country was distracted by war.
One Yorkshire terrier, Smoky, quickly revived this fall in popularity.
Smoky was a Yorkie who weighed only four pounds. She was found in the burrows in the New Guinea Jungle. Well known for her spunky personality, the little Yorkie traveled along with an American GI on his multiple combat flights.
His flights would circle around the Pacific Ocean, and Smoky would be his companion throughout. The small Yorkshire terrier had survived about a hundred and fifty air raids.
To add to her long list of achievements, Smoky would warn the soldiers of incoming shells and even helped build a critical airbase by running wires through narrow pipes.
7. A Trained Yorkie Makes a Perfect City Pet
It is particularly difficult to have a pet in a busy city. This poses a problem as apartments do not have the space and freedom your pet could have at a bigger house. The crowded areas in a city could make your little dogs or cats more anxious.
One thing we bet you didn’t know about Yorkshire terriers is that their personalities can survive the big city. They are independent, confident, and courageous. These attributes come in handy when amid a busy road, a truck suddenly backfires or a huge crowd of people scurries past the little furry canine.
They have continuously made it onto the list of New York City’s most popular breeds of pet dogs. Teaching them to socialize and training confidence and agility from a young age will help them blend right into big city life.
Yorkshire terriers make the perfect apartment pets, especially Teacup Yorkies who are even smaller in size.
8. Celebrities Are Fond of Yorkshire Terriers
The Yorkie’s popularity grew due to their small size. Celebrities dote over the cute, small canines. We bet you didn’t know just how many famous people have a Yorkshire terrier at home.
To start off with the most popular celebrity, Yorkie, we have Cinderella. She belonged to none other than Paris Hilton and was almost synonymous with her brand. Vida is another famous celebrity Yorkshire terrier belonging to Tom Brady and his wife Giselle Bundchen.
Other notable celebrities with Yorkies as pets are Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear, and Jay Mohr.
President Richard Nixon owned a Yorkshire terrier of his own during his time at the White House. The little canine was called Pasha and was President Nixon’s daughter Trisha’s favorite of their three pets.
Pasha kept watching Trisha’s wedding, richly decorated with flowers to commemorate the occasion.
Final Thoughts
Yorkshire terriers are among the most popular dog breeds for people to own as pets. From the royal ladies of the Victorian Era to the celebrities today, Yorkies remain the most-liked lap dogs.
These little canines were bred as working dogs to chase away rats from the mills and mines of Northern England during the Industrial Revolution. They slowly went from the floor of the factories to the comfort of royal couches. During this time, they received the rightful name of ‘Yorkshire Terrier’.
It was thanks to Ben Huddersfield, the big terrier who gave birth to the small-sized terriers we know and love today.
