5 Yorkie Fun Facts

Yorkie Fun Facts

Yorkshire Terriers, better known as Yorkies, are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in America. They are small, yet elegant, and they are very athletic and intelligent.

This dog has a big personality packed into a little body. Here are five fun facts about Yorkies:

1 – They Were Not Always Known As The Yorkshire Terrier

In the 1800’s, the Yorkie was once known as the “Broken-Haired Toy Terrier.” It also had other names such as the “Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier” and the “Rough Coated Toy Terrier.” It wasn’t until the 1870’s that the name Yorkshire Terrier was adopted.

2 – Ancestors Ran With The Rats

The Yorkies seen today have beautifully groomed hair and possibly even wear bows, but the Yorkie’s ancestors were not as fancy. Their ancestors have a background of catching rats in underground tunnels, and they were used to control the rat population in clothing mills.

3 – Only One Yorkie Has Won Best In Show At Westminster

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the most famous dog show in America. Despite having terrier in the name, the Yorkie competes in the toy group instead of the terrier group. Only one Yorkie won the Best in Show title, and that was Ch Cede Higgins in 1978.

4 – One Yorkie Was A War Hero

A Yorkie named Smokey was credited with saving many soldiers in World War II, by dragging a communications cable through a 60-foot-long drainage culvert. She also visited wounded soldiers in the hospital and served as a therapy dog. There are six U.S. based memorials honoring Smokey and a book was even written about her.

5 – The Smallest Dog In History Was A Yorkie

The Yorkie isn’t the smallest breed, but the smallest dog ever recorded was a Yorkie named Sylvia. She was only 2 1/2 inches tall, 3 1/2 inches long, and only weighed 4 ounces at full size.

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