Breed of the Week: Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed of small dog, which (according to Al Roker) looks more like a rat than a dog. Yorkies can be very small, usually weighing between 5 and 7 lb (2.5 to 3.5 kg).

The Yorkie has a compact, small build. It holds itself in an upright, sprightly manner which makes it look confident and self-assured (a reflection of its temperament). Its appearance should be one of spirit, cleverness, curiousity, and vigour. The Yorkie tends to imagine it is much bigger than it is and challenge larger and tougher dogs.

The original Yorkshire Terrier, known as the "Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier" was a 12-to-14 pound dog with wire hair whose intended purpose was the catching of rats and other vermin that lived in small spaces.

In 1870, the breed was renamed the Yorkshire Terrier, after the county of Yorkshire, England where the breed is believed to have originated. The father of the breed is considered to be Huddersfield Ben, who was born in 1865 and died in 1871 from a carriage accident, the inbred offspring of a mother and son. Huddersfield Ben was bred by Mr. W. Eastwood Huddersfield. A multiple champion, Huddersfield Ben set the foundation for what would develop into the modern Yorkie. (Source: Wikipedia)

Based on registrations, Yorkshire Terriers became the #2 most popular dog breed in the United States in 2006 according to the American Kennel Club, trailing only the Labrador Retriever.