Origins of the Yorkie Breed

The Yorkshire Terrier breed originated in England. In preindustrial England, serfs of the ruling class were only allowed to keep dogs that were under a certain size, usually small dogs that were unfit for hunting, as all the hunting game was reserved for the aristocracy. The serfs began to breed small, robust dogs that were also good hunters.

Waterside Terriers

In the 18th and 19th centuries, dogs with long smooth coats with a bluish sheen were commonly seen in the countryside. They usually stayed near the rivers and canals, which were major trade routes back then. The people that hauled goods on their boats started taking these dogs with them as companions and the dogs began to make themselves "rat catchers" on the boats. These dogs were called "waterside terriers" and are some of the earliest ancestors of the Yorkie.

Clydesdale and Paisley Terriers

When industrialism started gaining popularity in England, many workers came from Scotland to find jobs. These workers brought their dogs with them, which were called "Scotch Terriers". The official names for these breeds are Clydesdale and Paisley Terriers, both of which are dogs with long, silky, bluish coats and semierect ears. Both of these breeds are now extinct.