Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is a compact toy terrier developed during the mid-nineteenth century in the northern English counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Scottish weavers migrating south brought several ancestral small working terriers, including the Paisley, Clydesdale, and Waterside Terriers. Miners and mill workers bred these compact dogs to control rats and mice in textile factories and coal shafts. The breed gained formal definition through Huddersfield Ben, a prize-winning dog born in 1865 who established standard type. The Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1874, and the American Kennel Club followed in 1885. The breed soon shifted from industrial pest controller to a cherished companion dog among affluent Victorian households.

In the Federation Cynologique Internationale system, the breed belongs to Group 3, Terriers. According to breed standards, adult dogs must not exceed 3.2 kg (7 lb) in weight, standing approximately 18-20 cm (7-8 in) at the withers. The coat grows continuously without an undercoat, displaying a long, straight, and silky texture parted evenly along the spine. The coloration features dark steel blue spanning from the back of the skull to the root of the tail, contrasting with rich golden tan on the head, chest, and legs. Standards describe the temperament as alert, intelligent, spirited, and loyal.

Caring for the long show coat demands daily brushing and combing to prevent mats, alongside regular trimming and routine ear cleaning. Active indoor play and daily leash walks satisfy exercise requirements. Common health conditions include patellar luxation, tracheal collapse, dental crowding leading to periodontal disease, and portosystemic shunts. Hypoglycemia also occurs occasionally in very small young puppies.