Yorkshire Terrier
A Yorkshire mill and mine ratter long before it was ever a lap dog, and the size came later. The coat is hair rather than fur, and it grows until it is cut.
Overview
The Yorkshire Terrier was developed in the mills and mines of Yorkshire by workers who needed a small dog to kill rats in tight spaces, and it was bred down from larger Scottish terriers brought south by migrating workers. Within a few decades it had become a Victorian lady's companion.
UK data gives it a life expectancy at birth of 12.54 years, the second longest of any breed in that study, which is a striking result for a dog under seven pounds.
Temperament
Bold, spirited and entirely unaware of its size. Yorkies are devoted to their people, alert with strangers, and they are genuine terriers rather than lap dogs.
They bark, they chase, and they will confront much larger dogs. They are also frequently spoiled into reactive small dogs, and a Yorkie trained and socialised like a dog behaves like one. They are not suited to very young children, being genuinely fragile.
Care and grooming
The long fine single coat is hair rather than fur, so it does not shed and grows continuously, needing combing every day and regular bathing. Many owners keep it in a short puppy clip, which removes most of the work.
Collapsing trachea is common and a harness rather than a collar matters. Portosystemic shunt, patellar luxation and severe dental disease all occur, and daily tooth brushing genuinely extends life in this breed.
Living and exercise
Thirty minutes a day plus play. They suit flats.
They feel the cold and need a coat. Eleven to fifteen years is the usual range, and the VetCompass figure suggests the breed does better than its size would predict.
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