CHAPTER XV.

YORKSHIRE AND OTHER TOY TERRIERS.

THE charming, aristocratic little dog we now know as the Yorkshire terrier has been identified as such for but a comparatively short period, the Kennel Club adopting this nomenclature in their Stud Book for 1886, although many of them are still registered under the head of "toy terriers (rough)." Prior to this date the name had been hanging about him for some few years, because the titles of rough, broken-haired, or Scotch terrier, under which he was first known, were thoroughly misleading. During the early days of dog shows the classes in which he competed included terriers of almost any variety, from the cross-bred mongrel to the Dandie Dinmont, the Skye, and the Bedlington terriers. Indeed, thirty years since it was no uncommon sight to see wire-haired fox terriers. figuring with others of a silkier coat under the one common head of "rough or broken-haired terriers." As a fact, a broken-haired terrier should have been

altogether a short-coated dog-the Yorkshire is long-coated to a greater extent than any other variety of the terrier; nor was the title Scotch terrier," by which he was most frequently known, at all adapted to him.

How the name of "Scotch terrier" became attached to a dog which so thoroughly had its home in Yorkshire and Lancashire is somewhat difficult to determine, if it can be determined at all, but a very old breeder of the variety told me that the first of them originally came from Scotland, where they had been accidentally produced from a cross between the silky-coated Skye terrier (the Clydesdale) and the black and tan terrier. One could scarcely expect that a pretty dog, partaking in a degree after both its parents, could be produced from a first cross between a smooth-coated dog and a long-coated bitch, or vice versa. Maybe, two or three animals so bred had been brought by some of the Paisley weavers into Yorkshire, and there, suitably admired, pains were taken to perpetuate the strain.

There appears to be something feasible and

practical in this, and I am sorry that when the information was given me, more than a quarter of a century ago, by a Yorkshire weaver, then sixty years old and since dead, I did not obtain more particulars about what was in his day called the "Scotch terrier."

However, this is the Yorkshire terrier now, and will no doubt remain so till the end of his time, or until his place is usurped by other dogs which, certainly not handsomer, will be less difficult to keep in prime coat and in good condition. It has been said that the late Mr. Peter Eden, of Manchester, so noted in his day for pigs and bulldogs, had "invented" the Yorkshire terrier. This he had not done, although in its early day he owned some very excellent specimens, which for the most part he had purchased from the working men in Lancashire. They were their breeders, and delighted to show them at the local exhibitions, of which that at Middleton, near Manchester, was the chief. Here, and at the Belle Vue shows, were always to be found the choicest specimens, which their owners treasured with great care, and who had to be uncommonly "hard up" to be induced to sell their favourites. They would get £20 or £30 for a good specimen, more if it was "extra special," and this at a time when dogs did not run to so much money as they do now. We have on record that Mrs. Troughear, of Leeds, sold her little dog Conqueror to Mrs. Emmott, wife of an American actor, for £250. Still, since its first introduction the Yorkshire terrier has not progressed in public estimation; indeed the contrary is the case, the reasons for which will be

plainly enough told before the conclusion of this chapter.

Originally this terrier was a bigger dog than he is to-day, specimens of 10lb. to 14lb. weight being not at all uncommon, so repeatedly classes had been provided for them in two sections-dogs over 8lb. and dogs under that weight—whilst in addition there might be divisions for rough-haired toy terriers, the maximum allowed being 6lb. At the time I write, Yorkshire terriers over 8lb. weight are seldom canine gatherings, the prevailing weight being from 4lb. to 6lb.; but the club scale still allows for three classes, 5lb. and under; 7lb. but not under 5lb.; and over 7lb. No specimen should, however, exceed 12lb. in weight.

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The Yorkshire terrier at his best is a smart, handsome little dog, and some I have known were handy as rat-killers, although as a rule kept as pets and for show purposes. If running outside on a wet or dirty day, their beautiful long, silky coat gets. bedraggled, sometimes almost spoiled and ruined; and even in the house extraordinary care and much skill are required to keep the jacket of the Yorkshire terrier in order. Indeed, it has been said that the number of exhibitors in this country who thoroughly understand the treatment of this little pet dog can be counted on the fingers of the two hands. Whether