Yorkshire terriers - Popular Dogs
Yorkshire terriers originated in the north of England when the Scottish terriers brought into the country by the Scottish victims of the Industrial Revolution bred with the English terriers already living in the cities. The original Yorkshire terrier was at least twice as big as the breed today and it was bred for the sole purpose of catching rats, mice and other vermin both in the towns and down the coal mines.
The Yorkshire terrier as we know it today originated in the county of Yorkshire (hence the name) in 1865 and was first registered in a show in 1870. They soon became fashion dogs with ladies carrying them around in bags and under their arm.
Today Yorkshire terriers make wonderful pets and were 3rd on the American Kennel Club’s most popular dog list in 2005. They are great apartment dogs because their size and nature makes them more of an indoor breed. However they can be quite difficult to house-train and so regular outings are beneficial, even if its just a few minutes each time.
Yorkshire terriers are loyal and loving towards their owners and will defend their territory as if they were the size of a Great Dane, however they can be suspicious and a little aggressive towards strangers, especially if they are startled or frightened by the encounter. Similarly they can be snappish towards other animals. Because of this Yorkshire terriers are not recommended as a pet for a family with small children although older children are fine as they are less likely to unintentionally annoy the dog.
Although Yorkshire terriers do not need a lot of outdoor exercise they are still quite active dogs and so toys and games should be provided to combat boredom and their tendency to chew. They also need a lot of human attention and can be stubborn and awkward if they feel neglected. On the other hand however, Yorkshire terriers may become neurotic if over-protected and this makes training them incredibly difficult to do.
One of the most difficult aspects when it comes to caring for a Yorkshire terrier is its coat. True Yorkshire terriers have a beautiful, long, thick straight coat composed of very fine hair that needs a dedicated grooming schedule to keep it from becoming knotted and matted. Even if you decide to cut the coat short, it still needs constant brushing and regular washing to ensure it remains healthy. An unhealthy coat becomes coarse and can cause the dog to scratch and bite at its skin.
Yorkshire terriers live for around 12-15 years but because of their size and structure can easily facture and break bones during the smallest of accidents. Also this breed is prone to early tooth decay and so should be fed dry food along with canned food and have regular visits to the vet for teeth cleaning treatments when required.