Five things you did not know about Yorkshire Terriers
Yorkshire Terriers are popular companion dogs and are known for their silky blue and tan coats. Despite their small stature, the Yorkie was able to establish its name throughout history. Here are some interesting facts about this breed and the individual Yorkies that made them famous.
Sylvia
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the smallest dog ever to be recorded was a Yorkshire Terrier named Sylvia. Arthur Marples of Blackburn, England was her owner. Full-grown, Sylvia stood 2 ½ inches tall with a length of 3 ½ inches (from nose tip to tail) and weighed only 4 ounces. She lived for only 2 years because of her extremely small size in 1945.
Huddersfield Ben
Huddersfield Ben is an early Yorkshire Terrier and is referred as the “Father of the Breed.” During its lifetime, Ben won many prizes in dog shows and ratting contests making it a sought after stud of its time. Most Yorkie show dogs have one or more crosses to Huddersfield Ben in their pedigree influencing tremendously the breed type of today. Sadly, Ben was killed after being run over by a carriage at age 6. Its body was then preserved and kept under glass, allowing people to see the founding sire of the breed.
Smoky
This Yorkie is credited as the reason why interest in the breed was renewed during the time Yorkshire Terriers were almost lost in obscurity. Smoky was famous for being a war dog during World War II. An American soldier found her in the jungles of New Guinea and proved her worth in building an airbase in the Philippines. Smoky was tasked to run a telegraph wire underneath the structure and was successful in doing so, preventing the need of additional workers and chance of being spotted by enemies during the construction. What would take three days of digging, the dog was able to finish this in minutes.
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