History

The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed that is approximately 100 years old. Its specific origins are unknown. This is likely due to the fact that the breed was produced by a group of English working men who refrained from giving away the secret to their breeding success. These working men of north England created the Yorkshire Terrier to hunt rats in mine shafts and dig into badger and fox burrows. It’s also probable that Scotsmen seeking work in the mills of Yorkshire brought various types of terriers with them. Such terriers included the Skye Terrier and the Clydesdale Terrier (now extinct). These breeds were crossed with several local breeds like the long-haired Leeds Terrier. Many believe the Maltese, the Black and Tan Manchester, and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier may have also contributed to the breed’s development. The original Yorkshire Terrier was much bigger than the version we see today. Selective breeding has produced a Yorkshire Terrier that is much smaller in size. The first specimen that exhibited the characteristics demanded by its contemporary standard was shown in 1870.