The Origins of the Yorkshire Terrier

Reading about the origins of the Yorkshire Terrier, it's surprising to learn that this toy breed has a "rags-to-riches" story. Yorkies were not originally bred to be little dainty companions of the rich or the prominent ones, but were bred to be little brave vermin hunters to be companions of the working men.

Before 1750, most people worked in agriculture, and then great changes began during the age of Industrial Revolution. In Yorkshire, small communities grew up around the pit heads. People came from far and wide seeking work and brought their families and pets with them. Scottish workers brought with them their Glasgow or Paisley Terriers (all blue silky Skye Terrier), Clydesdale Terriers (blue and tan Skye Terrier), and old style of Skye terriers with them to help rid the mills of rats. Inevitably, these dogs must have been crossed with other terriers in Yorkshire.
Lancaster and York also became the most popular counties in England for dog shows. Early Yorkies were once called as "Broken-Haired Scotch Terriers" since the credit of producing this breed was attributed to the Scotch.These terriers were primarily working dogs, catching rats and rabbits, and much larger than the Yorkie that we know today.
Gradually over the years these Scotch terriers were crossed with other types of terriers, probably the soft, longish-coated black and tan English Toy Terrier (which used to be common) and the Skye Terrier. Mr. Hugh Dalziel authored a book about British Dogs and suggested a theory that a dash of Maltese Terrier blood might have also contributed to the origins of the modern Yorkie.

It was in 1865 that the famous Huddersfield Ben was born, a dog who is considered to be the father of the modern Yorkie. In 1875 they were first registered in the Kennel Club’s Stud Book as ‘Broken-haired Scotch Terriers or Yorkshire Terriers’.

Mrs. M.A. Foster's "PRINCE"

It was not until 1886 that this toy terrier attained its universal recognition as Yorkshire Terrier, named after the place where the breed was improved and refined, as an individual breed by the Kennel Club .
In 1898, the first Yorkshire Terrier Club (UK) was formed and remains existing today.