| It seems likely that selective breeding resulted in the | | | | As a general rule, a grown Yorkshire Terrier will weigh |
| small size of the Yorkshire Terrier, but someone | | | | six to eight pounds, though seven seems to be a very |
| apparently forgot to tell this little guy that he's a scaled | | | | common average. "Teacup" or miniature versions of |
| down version of a terrier. Indeed, the Yorkshire Terrier | | | | the Yorkshire Terrier occur fairly often, usually |
| is a brave soul, tending toward fierceness if he feels | | | | weighing five pounds or less. These smaller Yorkies |
| he or his territory is being threatened. | | | | sometimes have increased health risks and many |
| The Yorkshire Terrier - or Yorkie, as he's commonly | | | | seem to be snappish, shy or exhibit other undesirable |
| called - developed in England only a little more than a | | | | traits that are not overly evident in their normal sized |
| century ago. With roots that new, it should be easy to | | | | counterparts. |
| trace the lineage but this is one dog that has defied | | | | As a rule, the Yorkshire Terrier is Remember that his |
| efforts to pin down the origins. As it happens, it was | | | | ancestors were selected for their ability to run into the |
| miners who developed the Yorkshire Terrier in an | | | | dangerous mines in search of vermin. The Yorkies of |
| effort to find a tenacious dog that could kill the rats in | | | | today need that same sense of duty and challenge. |
| the mines. The miners required that the dog be able to | | | | Today, it typically comes in the form of play, but the |
| fit into small places in order to catch the rats, but be | | | | Yorkshire Terrier's need for challenge shouldn't be |
| tenacious enough to not fear the rats. Though the | | | | ignored. New tricks and commands are a good way |
| Yorkshire Terriers the miners came up with typically | | | | to occupy some of this dog's time, but he also needs |
| weighed only a few pounds more than the rats they | | | | some plain old playtime where he's encouraged to run |
| chased, they were game little dogs who went after | | | | and romp. If presented in a way that doesn't attract |
| their prey with a vengeance. | | | | the Yorkie, new things may seem like orders and this |
| It was only over the past few decades that the | | | | dog may not take orders well. That includes - but isn't |
| Yorkshire Terrier became a companion dog treated | | | | limited to - housetraining. |
| with all the elegant favor of the rich and famous. | | | | Remember that for all the terrier tenacity, these are |
| Today, many Yorkshire Terriers are pampered pets, | | | | small dogs. They have little bones and won't generally |
| though not only for the rich. The behavior of these | | | | survive kicking or excessive roughness. Discipline and |
| dogs can become a problem if they are pampered | | | | play has to be done with the size of this little guy in |
| too much. The natural tendency for some people to | | | | mind. After all, the Yorkshire Terrier may have |
| "baby" an animal of this size should be curbed to some | | | | forgotten that he's living in a little body, but the people |
| degree. These are active little dogs that need to romp, | | | | who care for him can't. |
| play and show off their tenacity. | | | | |