Yorkshire Terrier breed

YORKSHIRE TERRIER - breed history

These small terriers were bred over 100 years ago in the English county of York-shire, and hence its name.

Raising this race was associated with contemporary economic situation. In the nineteenth century, during the industrial revolution, masse of Scottish workers began to arrive to the north of England searching for work. The poor weavers brought little dogs with them, which were used for guarding and exterminating rodents. Keeping those dogs was not expensive, they ate little, and were versatile and willing to work. They were also successfully used for poaching being brave enough to enter any animal’s burrow. Since they were small, they returned home in one of the pockets of their master. As in the other pocket there was hunted animal- no suspicion was raised.

First terriers did not have such an impressive fur as they have today. They gained their glamorous silky hair after crossing with Maltese. They became sought by millers and grain merchants in order to exterminate rodents – they reportedly were more efficient than cats in that. After some time they hit the salons and became the favourite pets of elegant ladies.

The real popularity of the breed began with the first dog exhibitions. In 1874 Frank Pearse opened for the first book of York’s generations. The first registered York was a stud dog named Huddersfield Ben, owned by A. Foster. Ben was a Winner of 74 exhibitions and the father of many champions, including Ted, who had recorded 265 victories.

Yorks were and are very popular within United Kingdom. In the 1961 they were mostly exported English dog breed and their prices reached huge values. Three dogs gained particular worldwide fame: Balairsvill Royal Seal, Ozymilian Dedication and Ozymilian Mystification (BIS Cruft, 1997).

York became very popular throughout the world. Yorks arrived in Poland  for the first time in 1967 from London, brought by Mrs. Anna Fangor. MRS. Fangor’s farm is still one of the best in Poland. York breed quickly became very popular. Yorks are most numerous breed on dog exhibitions.

PERSONALITY:

Despite low growth and appearance of the mascot, York has retained all the qualities of personality and temperament of terrier. Yorks are extremely active, high spirited and keen on fun. They are very intelligent, sociable, gentle, affectionate and extremely loyal to their keeper. It's a dog with a big heart, loving man and needing owner’s proximity, can feel the mood of his master and adapt to the situation.

York, in any case it is not a mascot, nor timid dog. He is devoid of complex and extremely curious. True lion slumbers in this little dog. Do not get deceived by sweet look of black beads. York’s sense of independence and strong character can cause troubles for “deep hearted” owners. One we must be very consistent and steadfast in his educational provisions, York is a very intelligent, but unruly student.

It would be a really long story if one tried to describe York’s attachment to their owners as well as the owners to their beloved pet, that’s a topic for a whole book. Please refer to a number of publications about this breed. You  can already get such, actually written by experts and enthusiasts of the breed.

Let me just bring up only one true anecdote concerning the huge amount of positive energy coming from Yorks (golden hen), which was observed at the time of incredible events in New Zealand's hospice, where Ronald Read was dying of cancer. The last wish of the dying was to farewell his dog. Tiny Allego was brought to his master. York jumped on the bed, slipped under the covers and started to rub against the body of his beloved master. Surprisingly, the monitor record appeared, showing the normalization of dying heart. After several hours minor gastrointestinal movements were observed, prompting doctors to carry the patient to the resuscitation room. Unfortunately the dog was left behind the door, and his master's health suddenly deteriorated. Fortunately, there was also bio therapist among the doctors who suggested letting Allego in. After four month tumor yielded and Ronald Read was release home!

JCH.Lux.,CH.PL.OCEANIK Bakarat - wł.A.Zwolińska

EXTERIER:
STANDARD FCI Nr 86 III group (terriers) Section Decorative Terriers-

Origin: United Kingdom

General appearance:

Long-haired dog, with a straight hair falling on both sides of the body, and the parting running from nose to tip of tail.  The shape is streamlined and compact. Proud and erect. Generally should appear proportionate, strong and energetic with a balanced character.

Head:

• Skull: rather small and flat, there should be no bulges or curves
• Nose: black tip
  
• Muzzle: not too long
  
• Teeth: regular complete scissor bite, teeth are well spaced and jaws are similar in length
• Eyes: medium size, dark, glossy, with an intelligent, lively expression, their setting is frontal, dog looks straight ahead, they may not be prominent. Eyelids are dark pigmented.
• Ears: small V-shaped, standing not too far apart, but rather set high, covered with short hair in an intense tawny color
• Neck: good lenght
  
• Torso: very compact, strong loin, straight back and rump, chest slightly arched
• Tail: covered by a rich blue hair, darker at the end than the color of the body, carried a little higher than the topline
• Forelegs: straight, covered with buff-gold hair, which is a bit lighter on the tips and darker at the base, this tan does not reach higher than the elbows, shoulders properly slant
• Hind legs: seen from the rear are quite straight, covered with buff-gold hair, which is a bit brighter at the tips and darker at the base, tan does not reach higher than the knees, stifles moderately slant, round feet, nails black
• Movement: free, with good step, front and rear legs carried straight forward, upper torso during the move is straight
• Mł.Ch.PL,CH.PL - JACK Daniels Liberi Gaias wł.W.Grygiel
  
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HAIR COAT:

• Hair:hair on the body is medium length, quite straight (not wavy), glossy, soft and silky in touch, not woolly, hair on the head long, intensive buff-gold shade, darker on the sides of the head, as at the base of the ears and the muzzle, where the hair has to be very long; tan of the head should not overlap the neck; the buff-gold pile of the head cannot be mixed with any dark or gray hair
• Colour: dark steel-blue, but not blue-silver, so called coat covers the body from the base of the skull until the tail, there could be no traces of deer, brown or dark hair on it; on the chest hair is intensively tan (fawn), shiny; In general, hair is darker at its base than in the mid-length, and become even clearer in the tips.

• Weight: up to 3.1 kg

Faults: Any exception from this standard is considered as defect and evaluated according to the derogation. Males should have two normal testicles placed in the scrotum.

TAKING CARE OF YORK:

This is a topic for an extensive discussion. I am not able to describe in a few sentences the proper care of Yorks. Yorkshire terrier dog with a coat of exceptional beauty and opting for this race, we must remember that it will require proper care. Best is to obtain the books about Yorkshire terrier breed such as the publication of Mrs. Małgorzata Lula, or other experienced breeder in which they exactly describe the whole process of care York’s hair, and other important information about these wonderful dogs.

We can also take advantage of professional hairdressers, who are engaged in care of Yorks hair.

Of course, buying York from an experienced kennel, we expect that the breeder will provide us valuable guidance on care, nutrition and education of our puppy, and in the future will help in the first starts on the show rings.

Of course please feel free to contact me, and I will provide comprehensive information on the selection, maintenance, upbringing and care of our pet.