The Yorkshire Terrier first came about in the mid-19th century in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire in Great Britain. A stud dog by the name of “Albert” is the very first name in The Kennel Club Stud Book as a Yorkshire Terrier. He was owned by a man named Peter Eden. Our Yorkies’ distant ancestors were larger dogs usually weighing 15 pounds and they were known for being excellent hunters “ratters”. They actually had ratting contest and awards. A little Yorkie named Ben excelled in the rat contest and won many awards. He is one of the most important early Yorkshire Terriers and the sire of many champions. As expert breeders worked to refine the breed the size became smaller ranging from 8 to 10 pounds. Today’s Yorkies usually range in size from 4 to 8 pounds. Our Yorkies today are loving lap dogs and lavish us with kisses but they still like the excitement of the hunt.

Yorkies of today are loving companions who fit well into any home no matter how big or small. They want to be with their people and will cuddle for hours but also thrill to the sound of their person getting their leash to take them out for a nice walk. They are smart and will be happy to learn what their kind hearted master will teach them in the way of positive reinforcement training. Today people like to dress them up and Yorkies seem to enjoy this and love it when people gush over them and say how adorable they look. Yorkies love everyone and do love children. A family who wants a little Yorkie needs to take the time to teach their children how to treat and handle the precious little bundles of love. This is very important for the well being of both the Yorkie and the child. Yorkies are also non-shedding and do not have dander so they are the perfect pet for anyone who suffers from allergies to fur or dander.

The Yorkshire Terrier’s coat is “hair” and is fine and silky in texture. It can be kept long if you like to brush and comb your dog often. Or, you can take your Yorkie to your groomer and request a “puppy cut”. This will be a semi-short cut and will give your Yorkie the fluffy appearance of puppyhood.

In short the Yorkshire Terrier is a fantastic little house dog with the heart and soul of a very BIG dog. They will love you and your family and welcome your friends with tail wagging and offering kisses. They are easy to train as long as you are patient and kind and they excel l in making you laugh with all of their funny antics.