Yorkshire Terrier History
The Yorkshire Terrier traces to the Waterside Terrier, a small
longish-coated dog, bluish-gray in color, weighing between 6 and 20
pounds (most commonly 10 pounds). The Waterside Terrier was a breed
formed by the crossing of the old rough-coated Black-and-Tan English
Terrier (common in the Manchester area) and the Paisley and Clydesdale
Terriers. It was brought to Yorkshire by weavers who migrated from
Scotland to England in the mid-19th century.
The Yorkshire Terrier made its first appearance at a bench show in
England in 1861 as a "broken-haired Scotch Terrier". It became known as
a Yorkshire Terrier in 1870 when, after the Westmoreland show, Angus
Sutherland reported in The Field magazine that "they ought no longer be
called Scotch Terriers, but Yorkshire Terriers for having been so
improved there."
The earliest record of a Yorkshire Terrier born in the United States
dates to 1872. Classes for the breed have been offered at all shows
since 1878. Early shows divided the classes by weight - under 5 pounds
and 5 pounds and over. Size, however, soon settled down to an average
of between 3 and 7 pounds, resulting in only one class being offered in
later shows.
While a Toy, and at various times a greatly pampered one, the Yorkshire
is a spirited dog that definitely shows its terrier strain. The show
dog's length of coat makes constant care necessary to protect it from
damage, but the breed is glad to engage in all the roistering
activities of the larger terrier breeds.
Yorkshire Terrier Did You Know?
- The Yorkie became a fashionable pet in the late Victorian era and before.
- In its beginnings, the Yorkie surprisingly belonged to the working class,
especially the weavers; in fact, facetious comments were often made about
how the dogs' fine, silky coats were the ultimate product of the looms.
- The Yorkie made its debut at a bench show in England in 1861 as a "broken-haired
Scotch Terrier."
- Became known as a Yorkshire Terrier in 1870 after a reporter stated that
"They ought no longer to be called Scotch Terriers, but Yorkshire Terriers
for having been so improved here."
- The Yorkie traces to the Waterside Terrier, also a "weaver dog."
- Classes for the Yorkie breed have been offered in America since 1878.
Articles on this page can be found at:
http://www.akc.org/breeds/yorkshire_terrier/
Click to download documents:
Yorkie Grooming
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