Yorkies: the Tiny but Tolerant Favorite of Many

Of 33 breeds of ancestors and kin who were a game and hardy lot of tenacious terriers most often used for ratting (hunting vermin), today's Yorkies formerly named Yorkshire Terriers are some of the most fragile of the group.

At a diminutive seven to nine inches high and three to seven pounds, Yorkies are significantly small, making them no less effective as watchdogs but more of companion animals than anything else.

Granted, like their terrier kin, the first Yorkies Paisley and Clydesdale hybrids brought to the working areas and factories of Great Britain--were bred, raised, and trained to hunt, but they were specifically developed for hunting only rats, for helping to control the rat problem in the middle 1800s in the industrial areas of Northern England in Yorkshire.

At that time, before they were crossed with the Maltese (hence the long-haired coat) and other terrier mixes, the Yorkies as a breed were heavier, weighing in at fifteen pounds, and stealthier, not only hunting rats but being used to compete in ratting competitions.

But once the smaller, more compact breed was developed, the auburn and black long-haired miniatures became the ideal home companionｻplayful, passionate, and affectionate. Especially good for humans who stay at home, Yorkies can fit anywhere in the country or city dwellings or in the purse or carry-all. At the same time, though they are affectionate creatures and though they have even temperaments, they do not do well with children, as they are too fragile for most youthful roughhousing and can actually incur hurt and injury if not handled properly.

And while the Yorkies have few needs and make few demandsｻother than needing to be near you and on you most of the time(needing very little exercise, for example), they do need daily grooming. Their long hair mats and tangles easily, so they needs to be brushed and combed daily. As well, because the silky hair grows perpetually, like the hair of a human does, Yorkies need to be trimmed frequently.

But more loveable and loving than needful and needy, Yorkies are the most popular pups today in England and are gaining the same respect in the states. With their spirited, playful, and tolerant ways, they each bring to us a personality that is larger and more laudable than their tiny size might lead us to believe. At least, the Yorkie my mother had was: so if when I used to pin doll barrettes on it when Mom wasn't looking and it would sit for the duration and the humiliation without griping or running away is any indication of what this small but tough and accepting creature will endure, then Yorkies' popularity is well deserved.