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.

all dogs back in the day were bred for a specific reason. they all had rolls in life but now they are pets and most do not have a working role any longer.

Yorkies
 

The breed was developed by the Yorkshire men who worked in the mills and mines to keep the rodent population under control...but they have always been loved as their companion dogs...I lived in the UK...do you know how the English used to keep the coats shiny...they wiped their greasy hands on the dogs silky coat after meal time..so the Yorkie has always been by their owners side.

If we only bred the breeds that are used for their orginial purpose, there would be very few purebred dogs in the world...

So we're only looking to make them look as close to 'perfect' as possible, make sure they're healthy, and to make more pets?

Don't think that I'm trying to talk the breeding down or anything. I'm really trying to figure out all of the reasons for breeding today.

PS
 

PS...as to show Yorkies..true, the coat is a hinderance while being shown and must be cared for with great attention..but the spirit of the Yorkie must be there..all terrier, full of itself, ready to attack a mouse or rat..

Once it is finished in the ring, it can be clipped to a shorter more managable coat if need be...but you can keep a Yorkie in full coat and it will not stop it from doing what it wants..just takes more work to keep them groomed and clean.

the breed...
 

I guess the only reason to breed today is because we love Yorkies and want to live with and be loved by them...although I have had many who would kill mice in the garage.

I think it is because of their personalites as a pet. All dogs were originally bred for a certain purpose, but I think now they're bred as pets, show dogs, or breeders. I can't imagine mine catching rats. Maybe a mouse, but definetly not a rat.

to be honest to keep true to what they were orginally bred for in today's world I don't think I would want any of my yorkies to be a ratter in fear of them getting more diseased. With what's out in the world today can't be too careful wouldn't ya agree?
Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

thats funny cuz our yorkies are the worst mousers ever! we live right by a big lake so we'll get a few that come inside during the winter and the dogs have NEVER caught one. our dogs get all excited if we catch one in the trap but don't even come close to catching any mice themselves. I wonder if they even try sometimes. i kinda wish they were a little better at what they were bred to do! oh well, we love them anyways haha :p

mice
 

I would freak out when any found a mouse...funny thing was it never failed to be a tiny girl who loved to attack those "meeses"..I had one who came inside with a mouse and dropped it in the dining room which caused a riot with a few others as they all pounced on it...lucky no one got sick, but I would never encourage mouse hunting.

people are always putting out poison would hate to have one of my babies get a hold of a mouse/rat that was poisoned :(

Well I wouldn't say they are being bred for looks alone, that would be bold. I would rather say they are being bred for companionship, as are most small breeds. They are bred to sit on your lap and love you. Is that wrong?

I know that also... But many mixbeed breeders breed for companionship also. Is that wrong? Many people say 'yes.'

when you breed mix breeds you are bringing what ever health issue that breed has into another breed and you can end up with a whole lot of health issues and with purebreds if you do it correctly you can tract down where the carrier is and stop it and with mix breeds hard to keep track of the health issues involved that's why we think it's wrong :)
Hope that explains it.
Donna Bird

But why change a breed when it took so long to perfect it? When you breed a Yorkshire Terrier correctly you know you are getting a Yorkshire Terrier. If you breed mixes, you don't know what you are getting. some look like one or the other....some look like the mixes. all i know is i just looked at a website with mixes and some of those dogs were just dern ugly (all dogs are cute but some mixes you wonder?????what the heck is that?????)