Canis lupus familiaris
Yorkshire Terrier
Featured photoyorkshire-terrier.jpgThe Yorkshire Terrier is a Scottish-weaver toy terrier developed in 19th-century Yorkshire textile-mill towns. The Yorkshire Terrier was developed in mid-19th-century England by Scottish weavers who migrated to the Yorkshire textile mills, taking their now-extinct Clydesdale and Paisley Terriers with them.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Toy
- Origin country
- England (Yorkshire)
- Origin period
- Mid-19th century
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Steel Blue and Tan
- Average lifespan
- 13-16 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1885 · FCI 1954 · UKC 1936 · Group 3 — Terriers (Section 4: Toy Terriers)
Origin
The Yorkshire Terrier was developed in mid-19th-century England by Scottish weavers who migrated south to work in the Yorkshire textile mills (particularly around Bradford, Halifax, and Huddersfield), bringing with them the now-extinct Paisley and Clydesdale Terriers (long-coated working ratters from the Clyde valley). Crosses with the Maltese and the now-extinct English Black-and-Tan Toy Terrier produced the modern type by the 1870s. A foundation dog named Huddersfield Ben (1865-1871) is credited as the prototype of the breed standard. The Kennel Club registered the breed in 1874 and the AKC followed in 1885. Note: the AKC places this breed in the Toy Group despite its terrier ancestry.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1885, the United Kennel Club followed in 1936, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 86) in 1954. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 3 — Terriers (Section 4: Toy Terriers).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe a long-coated toy terrier whose blue and tan coat is parted on the face and from the base of the skull to the end of the tail, hanging quite straight and evenly down each side of the body. The coat is glossy, fine, and silky in texture, never woolly. Recognized colour is steel blue (a dark slate-blue) on the body and tail, with rich tan on the head and legs. The breed weighs 2-3.2 kg and stands 18-23 cm at the withers.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-04
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-04
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-05-04
Frequently asked questions
What is the Yorkshire Terrier's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Yorkshire Terrier in the Toy Group. The Toy Group gathers small companion breeds historically kept as lap dogs and household companions, including the Pug, Pomeranian, Maltese, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The breed's foundation working role was as a Scottish-weaver toy terrier developed in 19th-century Yorkshire textile-mill towns.
When was the Yorkshire Terrier officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1885; the United Kennel Club followed in 1936; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 86) in 1954.
What is the average lifespan of a Yorkshire Terrier?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Yorkshire Terrier's average lifespan in the 13-16 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
