Year after year Yorkies are one of the most popular dog breeds. They offer a bold personality in a tiny package.
Here are five things about Yorkies that may surprise you.
1. Yorkies Have Human Hair
Yorkies are known for their long, silky hair. But did you know it’s very similar to human hair? Because of this it gets tangled easily and must be brushed very regularly.
2. Yorkies Do Not Shed
When my wife told me this about her dogs I did not believe it. All dogs shed, right? Not Yorkies.
Well, everyone sheds a little, but a dog sheds no more than you!
3. One Yorkie Was a War Hero
In World War II there was a Yorkie named “Smoky” who saved the lives of soliders by dragging a communications cable through an 8-inch-wide, 60-foot-long drainage culvert.
She’s believed to be the world’s first therapy dog. Smoky started her journey in 1944, found in a jungle in Papua New Guinea. A U.S. soldier discovered the tiny pup and brought her back to camp. That’s where Corporal William Wynne met her—and never let her go. He trained her. Loved her. Took her to visit wounded soldiers in hospitals. Later, he wrote a book about her: Yorkie Doodle Dandy.
Today, Smoky’s legacy lives on in six U.S. memorials—including one at the AKC’s Museum of the Dog—and another one in Australia. A four-pound hero. Never forgotten.
4. Yorkies Have a Long Lifespan
Compared to other dog breeds, Yorkies have a long lifespan. On average, Yorkies live between 12 and 15 years. That makes Yorkies a great long-term companion for a single person as well as families.
5. Yorkies Have a Strong Drive to Hunt Prey
Yorkies were originally bred to hunt rats. Because of this they have a strong prey drive. If you’ve ever had a mouse in your house you probably already know this.
Tiny but fierce. Cute but courageous. Yorkies may be small, but they’re packed with surprises—and a whole lot of heart.