Yorkshire Terrier Origin

The breed is only 100 years old or so, but its origins are not entirely certain - probably because the working men of north England, who developed the Yorkshire Terrier for catching the terrible rats that infested the mine shafts and as a hunting dog that could penetrate into badger and fox burrows, avoided divulging the secret of their success to those who might have cashed in on a lucrative side line.

However, it seems likely that Scotsmen seeking work in the woolen mills of Yorkshire brought with them various types of terrier, including the Skye and the now extinct Clydesdale.
These were then crossed with local types, such as the long- haired Leeds Terrier.
The Maltese, Black & Tan Manchester, and Dandie Dinmont Terriers may also have contributed blood lines.

At first, the Yorkie was a much bigger animal than the one we see today, but by selectively breeding the smallest individuals, the dog was gradually miniaturized over the years.
They were made into a fashion dog. Women carried these little dogs in their bags and under their arms.
The first Yorkshire, with the characteristics demanded by its standard today, appeared in a dog show in 1870.