Health, History and Famous Yorkshire Terrier

Adult Yorkie (right)Yorkies tend to develop cataracts in their old age, but their small size limits the effects of conditions such as arthritis. There is also the possibility of Trachea collapse, the cause of which is thought by many to be partially genetic, and partially caused by environment- specifically, the strain an energetic Yorkie puts on its neck when straining against its collar.

Most veterinarians recommend use of a harness instead of a collar to help prevent the chronic coughing caused by partial trachea collapse. As with many purebred dogs, the Yorkshire Terrier is prone to certain genetic disorders.

Most common is the liver shunt (portosystemic shunt). In this condition some of the dog's blood bypasses the liver and as such does not get cleaned of those toxins that the liver is responsible for removing. A Yorkie with this condition might exhibit some or all of the following symptoms: small stature, poor muscle development, behavioral abnormalities, unresponsiveness, seizures, and so on; however, if treated by a veterinarian, in time, the condition is most often reversible.

History

Most believe that the Yorkshire Terrier is the product of comingling Scottish and English terriers when many Scots were displaced by the Industrial Revolution and settled in England. Though pedigrees are not available for the first Yorkshire Terrier ancestors, several breeds have been suggested, including the Old English Black and Tan, which is also considered the ancestor for the Welsh Terrier and the Manchester Terrier], the Waterside Terrier, the Clydesdale Terrier, and the Paisley Terrier.

The Scottish influence, brought in by the weavers during the industrial revolution, are the same ancestors as the Scottish Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, and Cairn Terrier (all once one breed), as well as the Skye Terrier. Many have suggested that at some time the Maltese, an old breed from Malta, may be in the backgound of some as well.
 

[ Yorkie puppy before developing the characteristic long, flowing coat. ]
 

The original Yorkshire Terrier, known as the "Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier" was a 12-to-14 pound dog with wire hair whose intended purpose was the catching of rats and other vermin that lived in small spaces.

In 1870, the breed was renamed the Yorkshire Terrier, after the county of Yorkshire, England where the breed is believed to have originated. The father of the breed is considered to be Huddersfield Ben, who was born in 1865 and died in 1871 from a carriage accident, the inbred offspring of a mother and son. Huddersfield Ben was bred by Mr. W. Eastwood Huddersfield. A multiple champion, Huddersfield Ben set the foundation for what would develop into the modern Yorkie.

 

Famous Yorkies

Chow Mein from Gypsy
Smoky World War II hero

Smoky was a Yorkshire Terrier who belonged to William Wynne of Ohio. Mr. Wynne adopted Smoky while serving with the 5th Air Force in the Pacific Theatre. Mr. Wynne trained Smoky to perform various tricks to entertain himself and his comrades. Smoky was later entered in Yank Magazine’s Best Mascot Contest. She won first prize and had her picture on the cover!

Smoky became a war dog when she used her small size to her advantage and helped to “run” communication wire through a culvert that was under a runway. Without Smoky’s assistance, the runway would need to be excavated while the cable was laid. The runway would have been inoperable for several days. Smoky was deemed the most famous dog of World War Two. She returned home to Ohio with Mr. Wynne where she continued her “entertainment” career.

Yorkshire Terrier Breed Information and Pictures

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Yorkshire_Terrier".