[Brittie123]

Sorry for any typos, I'm just copying it out of the magazine!



"The Yorkshire Terrier: Tiny, terrific ratmeister rolls with the punches, reinvents self as lap ornament."



Most of us appreciate a good rags to riches story. A quick perusal of the shelves at any movie rental place reveals that Hollywood has tapped into this universal truth. Be it the kind cop who wins the lottery and shares his earnings with a waitress, or the pretty woman who rises from the cruel street to the penthouse suite. A tale with a happy ending--where our hero not only survives, but thrives--warms the heart. Or, in the case of the lovable Yorkshire Terrier, the lap.



Yes, one of our lesser-known protagonists is sitting right under our noses--likely curled into a small ball.



The frequently well-dresses, jewel-collared petit chiens we see in the totes of fashionistas weren't always companions of choice for the dog-discerning. In the beginning, the Yorkshire Terrier was a working dog. If you've yet to break the news to Corky, don't let him read any further.



The exact origins of the breed are obscure. What is amply certain is that its original purpose was to control rats in the factories, coal mines, and textile mills of Yorkshire, northern England, during the Industrial Revolution. It is thought to be the mixture of several different small terriers, including the now extinct Paisley and Clydesdale Terriers, small dogs with long silky bluish-grey coats, brought to Yorkshire by Scottish weavers in the mid-19th centure. Plus something then called the Waterside Terrier, and an "Old English Black and Tan Terrier." An added dash of the Maltese may have seasoned the breed later in its development.



In 1861 the Yorkshire Terrier made its debut at a bench show in England under the name "broken-haired Scotch Terrier." However, after the 1870 Westmoreland Show, Angus Sutherland wrote in The Field magazine that "they ought no longer be called Scotch Terriers, but Yorkshire Terriers for having been so improved there." Later the name was officially proclaimed. Today, short and sweet like the dog itself, the breed is nicknamed simply "yorkie."



After its transition from common ratcatcher to desirable armwarmer in the Victorian era, the yorkie's popularity among seekers of fashionable four-legged friendship only snowballed. This surge is largely attributed to the dogs' intelligence, energy, good looks (looks, it could be argued, that have gone straight to their heads) and affection for their owners. They are suspicious of strangers and have an acute sense of hearing, making them effective watchdogs. Ideal for apartment living, yorkies are not well-suited to homes with young children, primarily due to their small size. Yet their fierce loyalty and undying courage contribute to a reputation for believing they are much larger than they really are.



The famous terrier attitude often presents itself in stubbornness and anti-social tendencies toward other animals. In a word, these dogs think they're just "too cool." However, Corky would likely choke on his pate if he got his paws on an old family album. A quick flip-through would reveal his ancestors' dark days in the mines and may be just the thing to humble him. Today's tiny, bow-clad yorkie would likely be laughed out of any working coal mine.



The AKC breed standard describes the Yorkshire Terrier as "neat, compact and well-proportioned" while its "high head carriage and confident manner should give the appearance of vigor and self-importance."



Arguable the Yorkie's most stunning feature is its coat...Many people think the chic coats donned by yorkies are merely hip accessories. While partially correct, its also true that our tiny friends suffer tremendously from the cold. As such, sweaters are one-part luxury, two-parts necessity.



From working class stiff to designer-clad lap dog, the only rodent these dynamos are likely to get close to today is the mouse their urban owners double-click.