Yorkshire Terriers - test your knowledge

Loyal, yet feisty. Stubborn, yet playful… A Yorkshire Terrier is more than just a toy dog! Here are 6 things you probably didn’t know about this spirited English breed:

1.Yorkshire Terriers were first known as Broken Haired Scotch Terriers, Broken Haired Toy Terriers, or simply: the Toy Terrier. The breed developed after Scottish workers came to England with dogs of different small terrier breeds. Hence, the Yorkshire Terrier was born.
2.Pest problems? For a solution, look no further than the Yorkshire Terrier! The popular companion dogs were originally bred in the 19^th century as ratters. Today, Yorkies are bred much smaller — but their feistiness still makes them effective vermin-hunters.
3.The Yorkie has been known to have a touch of small dog syndrome, with the breed often challenging dogs much larger in size. Yorkies are brave, confident and also fiercely loyal. They should probably be kept behind fences and on leashes for their own protection!
4.The smallest dog breed isn’t the Yorkshire terrier — it’s the Chihuahua! But did you know that the smallest dog in recorded history was a Yorkie? Sylvia belonged to an English man named Arthur Marples, and was 2.5 inches tall, 3.5 inches long and weighed only 4 ounces.
5.Yorkshire Terriers have some contradicting characteristics. They are terrific watchdogs as they tend to bark a lot, especially when a stranger comes too close. Experts say that proper training, some exercise and early socialisation should prevent your pup from becoming too shrill as an adult. They can be quite stubborn, but they respond well to training and absolutely love praise — so good habits are best developed early on!
6.They are quite a popular breed among female celebrities: with Audrey Hepburn, Whitney Houston, Natalie Portman, Britney Spears and Venus Williams all having had a Yorkie companion.

Do you have a Yorkshire Terrier? Or did you have one growing up? We’d love to see your photos on our Facebook page!