9781422279410

They brought their families with them, and also their pet dogs, who doubled as rat catchers. In their new home in the north of England, there was plenty of work for the Scottish-bred terriers, keeping down vermin in the mills and weaving sheds. Over time, these various working terriers interbred, producing a dog who became known as the Scotch or Broken-Haired or Toy Terrier. This is the direct ancestor of today’s Yorkshire Terrier. By the 1850s dogs were being exhibited at dog shows—which were mainly held in pubs. In 1874, the Yorkshire Terrier got her breed name. When the Yorkshire Terrier became a separate recognized breed, she also became the darling pet of Victorian ladies. Yorkies adorned with ribbons rode in carriages on satin pillows beside their owners. Father of the breed There is one single dog—Huddersfield Ben—

who had an outstanding influence on the breed, and it can be claimed that every Yorkshire Terrier today relates back to his bloodlines.Born in 1865, he was a fairly large dog and was shown in classes for dogs weighing over 7 pounds (3.2 kg) but under 12 pounds (5.4 kg). He was shown by Mary Foster, the wife of

a mill owner, who was an ardent pioneer of the new breed. Huddersfield Ben died at the age of six, but he was used exten- sively at stud and had a massive impact on the development of the breed.

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