| Although the history of the Yorkshire Terrier is | | | | haired Scots depending on the length of coat it |
| sketchy, there is a great deal known about the | | | | had.There is every possibility that they were |
| origins of this exceptional, vibrant breed. The | | | | forerunners to the modern day Skye Terrier. |
| Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie for short, finds it | | | | Other breeds that have ancestral claim to the |
| humble beginnings in Northern England, in the | | | | Yorkie are the Paisley and Clydesdale Terriers and |
| counties of Yorkshire, Manchester and Leeds, | | | | the Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier.All of these |
| during the years prior to 1750.During this time, the | | | | Scottish breeds, along with some English ones, |
| onset of the Industrial Revolution gave rise to | | | | were working dogs, used to keep the vermin |
| small communities located around coal mines, | | | | under control in the coal mines and mills.In an |
| textile mills and factories. The people of these | | | | effort to produce canines with exceptional skill at |
| areas originally made their living from the land and | | | | catching mice and rats, the common men of the |
| experienced great upheaval during the time of the | | | | day would breed only smallest, quickest and best |
| Industrial Revolution. Many had to learn new ways | | | | ratters of the bunch. These men were not out to |
| of life to continue to support their families. These | | | | produce a purebred, sophisticated breed of dog; |
| persevering families, many from as far away as | | | | instead they desired the best dogs to keep the |
| Scotland, were drawn to the small fledgling | | | | mice away. This is the reason why no records |
| communities to begin a new life.Along with this | | | | were kept as to what breeds were mixed to |
| hardy group of migrants came equally hardy pets | | | | create the Yorkshire Terrier.The best guess is |
| and companions. During the 19th century, Scottish | | | | that miners in Yorkshire County bred the Black |
| weavers began to arrive and brought with them | | | | and Tan English Terrier with the many breeds of |
| the sturdy Scottish Terrier. Far from being a | | | | the Scottish Terriers. It is even believed that |
| simple bloodline the Scottish Terrier has been | | | | Maltese may be thrown in there somewhere. The |
| attributed to creating several different types of | | | | resulting Terriers were then probably crossed with |
| Terriers including the Yorkshire Terrier.Part of the | | | | yet again other types of terriers such as the |
| Scottish Terrier bloodlines later became the | | | | Welsh Terrier.In the late 1800s, the first written |
| breeds today known as the Skye, Scottish | | | | recordings about the ancestors of the |
| Terrier, West Highland White Terrier and the last | | | | modern-day Yorkshire Terrier began to appear. |
| of the named from their separation, the Cairn | | | | Most of these were written by wealthy educated |
| Terrier.The Scottish Terrier was also known to be | | | | men who had traveled to Yorkshire County and |
| on Argyle or the Isle of Skye. It was of a bluish | | | | witnessed the intelligent, spunky dogs chasing |
| color and was also known as a broken or smooth | | | | down their prey.Rawdon B. |