Family Life for a Yorkie:

Three Eras

Please note: YorkieInfoCenter is reader-supported, and some of the product suggestions on this site are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no extra cost to you and helps keep this site running.

A Mill Town Family

It's Yorkshire, England, in 1855. A working-class family lives here: a father, a mother, and their children. They are part of a wave of Scottish weavers who had come south for work in the mills and mines, and like many of those families, they have a terrier, a sturdy little worker of 10 to 14 pounds.

Their row house is built from dark local stone, joined to its neighbors on three sides.

One window at the front.

Two rooms: one up, one down.

No running water. No proper sanitation. Cold and damp, and never quite bright even in the middle of the day.

In a house that size, the terrier is never more than a step from somebody.

At first light, the street empties in two directions.

One road leads to the textile mill, and the whole family heads that way. Not only the father. The mother, the children, the terrier: everyone.

The other road leads to the coal pit. The father's brother, who lives next door, takes that one, with a terrier of his own beside him.

Down in the pit there is no daylight at all. The tunnels are narrow, most of them too low to stand up in, and the only light is a candle.

Rats live down here. They go after the miners' crusts, nibble the candle ends, and gnaw at whatever they can reach.

That is where a terrier earns its place. Small enough to squeeze into the tightest spaces, and fierce enough to take on every rat it finds.

Brave work for a little terrier.

Meanwhile, the family has reached the textile mill, along with hundreds of others, many of them with a terrier at their heels.

Mills like this one are not quiet, orderly workplaces. They are deafeningly loud, so loud that workers learn to read lips because conversation is impossible over the noise.

The workers crowd the looms for a ten-hour day in air thick with dust. And on the floor between them, the terriers do their own work, darting between ankles, going after rodents under the machinery and into gaps too narrow for a person to reach.

The terriers are coworkers in the truest sense of the word. When the shifts end, the street fills up again, and each terrier walks home with its family.

Supper is oatmeal porridge, oat cakes, potatoes, bread, and tea. Meat is a luxury, a bit of bacon or pork on a good week.

The terrier gets the family's leftovers: the bottom of the porridge pot, a corner of oat cake, a crust, and a bone on the rare night there is a roast.

Around town, meat from old and worn-out horses is sold cheaply to people with dogs, and sometimes this family buys it.

After dinner, the fire burns down and the house goes cold. Everyone heads upstairs to sleep. There is no bed for the terrier. Just a cozy spot snuggled up against someone until morning.

A Turning Point

Our rendition of Huddersfield Ben, 1865 to 1871,

the father of the breed.

In his day, a long, silky coat was the height of show-ring fashion.

In Yorkshire, these little ratting dogs aren’t Yorkshire Terriers yet.

Instead, they are called broken-haired Scotch terriers, after Scotland, the country the textile workers and miners left behind.

Then, in 1865, in the town of Huddersfield, a puppy is born who will change everything: Huddersfield Ben.

Ben grows into a champion of the dog shows, taking prizes from Manchester all the way to the Crystal Palace in London.

And what a sight he is. His long, silky coat falls straight down over his face. It’s a look he gets from the Skye terrier family, where hair over the eyes guards against brush and briars. In the show rings of his day, the longer the coat, the better.

His puppies come out smaller than he is, regularly under 7 pounds.

Nearly every Yorkie alive today traces back to him, so very likely yours does too.

For a while, the breed leads a double life. Some win ribbons, while others still work the mills and the pits.

Around 1870, they get a new name: Yorkshire Terrier, for how much they had been improved in the county.

A famous father and a growing reputation. From here, the story heads to London.

A West End Family

It's London, England, in 1890. A wealthy family, and its team of housemaids, lives in one of the town houses that line the better streets of the city.

There is a maze of twenty rooms behind five towering stories of brick walls covered in elegant stucco.

The kitchen, scullery and water closet are plumbed with running water. Coal-burning fireplaces keep all five floors warm day and night.

In the drawing room, the lady of the house sits by the fire, and her Yorkshire Terrier lies on a velvet rug beside her, basking in the heat.

For this Yorkie, the only job is to be pampered.

It begins with a long brushing, the coat parted neatly down the back. Then a walk, led by a boy in livery.

Curled near the window while letters are written. Tucked under an arm during afternoon visits. Held in her lap while a painter works on her portrait.

Some afternoons the carriage takes them to a dog show, where ladies carry their Yorkies in to be judged. The Kennel Club now recognizes the breed.

Supper is a feast for the family. The table is set by servants, and the courses come one after another, each carried round on a silver platter.

There is meat every night: a roast, a cut of mutton, game when it is in season. Beside it come a baked potato and almond pudding, peas or spinach, and a sauce to suit each meat.

The Yorkie gets a few small pieces from the carving, a spoonful of boiled rice, and a bit of sponge cake to finish. All of it is fed from the lady's hand.

Then the candles burn down and the household settles. There is a cushioned basket beside the lady's bed, close enough that she can reach down and give her Yorkie a goodnight pat.

A Modern Family

Today, a Yorkshire Terrier is waking up in a comfortable home, ready to begin another day with the people they love.

The house is warm. Fresh water runs from the kitchen tap. The refrigerator hums, the coffee maker brews, and sunlight pours through the windows.

In the middle of the morning activity, the little Yorkie is making sure nothing happens without their supervision.

Underfoot in the kitchen. Following their favorite person from room to room. Stationed at the big window, keeping a close eye on the neighborhood.

Squirrels warrant alert barking. A delivery truck gets a short warning.

There are toys scattered across the floor. Snuffle balls, stuffed squeakers, mini tennis balls. A set of pet steps leads up to the sofa.

Some days the whole family is home.

Games of fetch. A little practice on commands. A warm bath, then plenty of lap time and a scratch behind the ears.

Other days, the Yorkie has the house to themselves for a bit. A radio plays softly. They snuggle up to a companion toy, soothed by its heartbeat. A sturdy puzzle filled with treats keeps them busy.

And when the Yorkie's favorite person arrives back home, it's a celebration. There's spinning, bouncing, and a tail wagging so fast that the whole little body seems to join in.

In the afternoon, it's time for a walk. Care is taken to attach a small cushioned harness around the Yorkie's chest. A dab of paw wax, and they're ready to go.

Back at home, supper is waiting.

This Yorkie may beg for some of their human's food, but their dinner is in their matching bowls: healthy dry kibble and fresh spring water.

As the day winds down, the Yorkie seeks out their human. Time for cuddles and a few doggie kisses.

And when the lights go out, a plush dog bed is ready in the bedroom, with a soft cushion and a blanket of their own. 

A Final Thought

We think you'll agree it's remarkable how fast the Yorkie's world changed. In 1855, a terrier works the floor of a textile mill. By 1890, a Yorkie is dozing by the fire on a velvet rug in a London drawing room. Just a few decades apart.

Today's Yorkie is a real sweetheart, with traces of their heritage coming through. Feisty and brave one minute, gentle and affectionate the next, and always ready to settle in for cuddles.

The mills are long gone and homes look nothing like they did, but the best spot has always been right beside the family.

More Articles for You:

Yorkie November Care Guide - Sweater weather is here, and your little sidekick has a few seasonal needs. These simple care tips help keep your Yorkie comfortable, happy and ready for autumn’s crisp, chilly days.

Best Snacks for Sensitive Stomachs - If you worry about what to offer your Yorkie for treats due to issues like gas, loose stools, or other tummy woes, you'll be happy to see these tasty options. These are packed with flavor while being gentle on digestion.

Yorkshire Terrier Burrowing Behavior - If your Yorkie burrows under every pillow in sight, you're definitely not alone. Here's why this silly, sweet habit comes so naturally to your pup.

Must-Haves for Small Yorkies - Tiny dogs come with tiny-dog needs, and the right gear can make caring for your Yorkie so much easier. From gentle grooming helpers to clever everyday finds, these must-haves are made for little bodies with big personalities.

Quick as a Lick Yorkie Care Items - Feel like you have your hands full? No time for all the care tasks your little one needs? Check out these must-haves that will make your life easier and your Yorkie more comfortable. Great finds that every on-the-go pet parent should know about.