Interesting facts about Yorkshire Terriers you might not have known!
Yorkshire Terriers are incredibly intelligent, energetic well beyond their size, and among the most playful dogs you're ever likely to meet. But don't let their small size or regal looks fool you! The Yorkshire Terrier is a legendary breed with some serious street cred in the dog world.
Read our article to be amazed and charmed by these 7 fascinating facts about the Yorkshire Terrier!
Fact #1: The first therapy dog was a Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky
During the Second World War, an American soldier went into battle with his dog Smoky, a Yorkshire Terrier. Remarkably, Smoky took part in 12 combat missions and survived them all, helping to comfort soldiers on the battlefield.
Smoky also survived more than 150 air raids during the war and is credited with helping ensure the successful construction of an airbase towards the end of the conflict. Smoky eventually became so famous that six monuments in the United States are dedicated to her.
Bill Wynne and Smoky, photo: theblissfuldog.com
Fact #2: Yorkshire Terriers were bred to hunt rats
At first glance, the Yorkshire Terrier looks like an unassuming little dog that wouldn't (and couldn't) hurt a fly. In fact, in the late 1700s and early 1800s, Yorkshire Terriers were bred to hunt rats, particularly in coal mines and mills. Miners took Yorkshire Terriers down into the mines with them to get rid of rats and keep the mouse population under control.
Because they were so small, it was easy to lower them down into the mine and bring them back up again. Yorkshire Terriers on farms were just as useful, keeping the mouse population under control and rats at bay.
Fact #3: Long-coated Yorkshire Terriers need daily brushing
Although they look as though they don't need much upkeep, Yorkshire Terriers require regular brushing. Daily brushing keeps their coat healthy and prevents matting and tangling.
In fact, Yorkshire Terriers have a coat that's very similar to human hair, and if it isn't kept under control, it can turn into an awful tangled mess in no time.
Photo: Terry Sol | Pexels
Fact #4: Most Yorkshire Terriers are fully grown by 1 year old
Although every dog is different, most need 18 to 24 months to reach their full size. But because they're such a small breed, Yorkshire Terriers need only 12 months, sometimes even less, to reach their adult size.
They may not yet have the temperament and maturity of an adult dog, but they won't grow any bigger.
Fact #5: A Yorkshire Terrier once lived in the White House
While President Richard Nixon was in power in the 1970s, his daughter Tricia owned a Yorkshire Terrier named Pasha. The Yorkshire Terrier Pasha lived in the White House the whole time Nixon was there.
Ivanka Trump, daughter of the 45th president, also owned a Yorkshire Terrier, but not while her father was in the White House.
From left to right, Pasha, Vicky and King Timahoe peer out of a White House window, 1 December 1970.
Fact #6: The smallest dog ever recorded was a Yorkshire Terrier
In 1945, a Yorkshire Terrier named Sylvia was recorded at 6.5cm tall at the shoulder and 9cm from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail. Sylvia also weighed just 115 grams, making her the smallest dog ever recorded.
Several Yorkshire Terriers have held the Guinness World Records title of "smallest dog in the world".
Fact #7: Yorkshire Terriers became popular thanks to Audrey Hepburn
In the 1950s and 60s, the famous film star Audrey Hepburn helped introduce Yorkshire Terriers to the world, taking her own dog, "Mr. Famous", to parties and media events. "Mr. Famous" even shared a magazine cover with Hepburn and appeared in one of her films, Funny Face (1957).
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