HISTORY OF THE YORKSHIRE TERRIER
by KaTHlEEn B. KOlBERT Turyanne AKC Reg.
T his little knight of the car- pet is eminently an English production, or manufacture, if we may us the term. The breed occupies a prominent position in the canine world, being considered by many the handsomest of all long-haired Terriers. He has been appropriately termed by one writer “the little York- shire swell.” This charming, aristocratic little dog is, of course, the Yorkshire Terrier. However, the breed has been identi- fied as such for a comparatively short period, the parent club having adopt- ing the nomenclature in their Stud Book in 1886. Prior to this date, the name had been hanging in the air for a few years, because the titles of rough, broken-haired and Scotch Terrier— under which he was first known—were most misleading. During the early days of dog shows, the classes in which he competed included Terriers of almost any vari- ety, from the cross-bred mongrel to the Dandie Dinmont, the Skye Terrier and the Bedlington. It was not an uncom- mon sight to see Wirehaired Fox Terri- ers with others of a silkier coat under the one common heading of Rough- or Broken-Haired Terriers. As a fact, a Bro- ken-Haired Terrier should have been altogether a short-coated dog. The York- shire is long coated to a greater extent than any other variety of the Terrier. In addition, the title Scotch Terrier was not at all adaptable to him. How the name became attached to a dog which so thoroughly had its home in Yorkshire and Lancashire is somewhat difficult to determine, if it can be determined at all. Though it was noted that they originally came from Scotland, where they had been accidentally produced from a cross between the silky-coated
Skye Terrier (the Clydesdale) and the Black and Tan Terrier. One could scarcely expect that a pretty dog, partaking in a degree after both its parents, could be produced from a first cross between a smooth- coated dog and a long-coated bitch, or vice versa. Perhaps two or three ani- mals bred this way had been brought into Yorkshire by some of the pais- ley weavers. Once there, and suitably admired, the breeders took pains to perpetuate the strain. There appears to be something feasible and practical in this part of the history. Originally the Yorkshire was a big- ger dog than he is today. Specimens from 10 pounds to 14 pounds were not at all uncommon, so repeatedly classes had been provided for them in two sec- tions—dogs over 8 pounds and dogs under that weight. The Yorkshire Terrier Club was formed in 1886 and comparatively few people keep the variety. The Club issued a description, which is as follows: GENERAL APPEARANCE: The general appearance should be that of a long-coated pet dog, the coat hang- ing quite straight and evenly down each side, a parting extending from the nose to the end of the tail. The animal should be very compact and neat, the carriage being very sprightly, bearing an important air. Although the frame is hidden beneath a mantle of hair, the general outline should be such as to suggest the existence of vigorous and well-proportioned body. HEAD: Should be rather small and flat, not too prominent or round in the skull, rather broad at the muzzle, a perfectly black nose, the hair on the muzzle very long, which should be a rich deep tan, not sooty or grey. Under the chin, long hair and about the
Huddersfield Ben (1865-1871); bred by Mr. W. Eastwood
Mrs. M. A. Foster’s immortal Huddsersfield Ben, bred by W. Eastwood of Huddersfield was born in 1865 and died in 1871. He is the progenitor of all our best Yorkshire Terriers, and will ever remain the greatest pillar of the breed.
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