YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - Why was the Yorkies created? And why breed them?

love_me_cody · 10-11-2007, 09:50 AM

Ok, these are real questions.... Why was the Yorkies created? And why breed them?

I'm not sure.. But wasn't they created to hunt and and capture small animals?

I got this from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_Terrier
'Legacy
The Yorkie was bred as a ratter, used to kill mice and rats in small places.[6] There is some evidence that they may have been used for hunting as well. Like most terriers developed in the early 19th Century, it was common for Yorkies to demonstrate their prowess as vermin killers in what were known as "rat pits." The terrier who killed the most rats in the least amount of time was considered the winner.
As a hunting group, terriers specialize in pursuing animals (usually vermin) that live in dens or burrows.[6] Animals that are cornered and defending their young will fight ferociously. Therefore, any dog that would willingly pursue them must have an extraordinary degree of courage; terriers are bred for that quality.'

So why are they being bred now if they aren't doing that at all right now. To better the breed means to better there hunting capabilities also, right? It seems to only be about looks now. I know that is a big part of them but it seem to only be the only reason why they are create: To get the healthy, best looking dog. So is that the point in breeding them? To get the dog who only is healthy and looks close to perfect on looks? So the hunting and stuff is over with? Another reason I ask is because I know that dogs that show are restricted in the things they do.

I am not trying to start anything. These are questions I've always thought.

10-11-2007, 09:50 AM	#1
love_me_cody YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,747 Blog Entries: 2	Why was the Yorkies created? And why breed them? Ok, these are real questions.... Why was the Yorkies created? And why breed them? I'm not sure.. But wasn't they created to hunt and and capture small animals? I got this from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_Terrier 'Legacy The Yorkie was bred as a ratter, used to kill mice and rats in small places.[6] There is some evidence that they may have been used for hunting as well. Like most terriers developed in the early 19th Century, it was common for Yorkies to demonstrate their prowess as vermin killers in what were known as "rat pits." The terrier who killed the most rats in the least amount of time was considered the winner. As a hunting group, terriers specialize in pursuing animals (usually vermin) that live in dens or burrows.[6] Animals that are cornered and defending their young will fight ferociously. Therefore, any dog that would willingly pursue them must have an extraordinary degree of courage; terriers are bred for that quality.' So why are they being bred now if they aren't doing that at all right now. To better the breed means to better there hunting capabilities also, right? It seems to only be about looks now. I know that is a big part of them but it seem to only be the only reason why they are create: To get the healthy, best looking dog. So is that the point in breeding them? To get the dog who only is healthy and looks close to perfect on looks? So the hunting and stuff is over with? Another reason I ask is because I know that dogs that show are restricted in the things they do. I am not trying to start anything. These are questions I've always thought.