On August 1, 2012, Yorkshire terriers are going to be allowed to participate in AKC earthdog events.
This is pretty good news, for Yorkshire terriers, although classified as toy dogs, do derive from small terriers that were used to control rats in coal mines and cotton mills.
There is a well-known terrier blogger who hates Yorkshire terriers and anything that’s not a JRTCA Jack Russell. However, he also regularly bitches about terriers becoming too large.
Well, here’s a solution: Suck it up. Be a man. Get a Yorkie. You won’t become instantly homosexual when you own a toy dog. I know. Big news, eh?
But they’ll never be too large! And if you’ve spent any time around Yorkies, they are really nothing more than fuzzy little Jack Russells– and they are closely related to them.
If we wanted to breed a smaller Jack Russell, the Yorkshire terrier would be a good choice for an outcross, as would the toy fox terrier and the toy Manchester.
But no, it’s easier to complain that Jack Russells are getting too big than to consider possible alternatives that could be used to solve this problem.
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Here’s a video from a person who was leading the campaign to get Yorkies recognized as terriers:
My grandpa used to hunt squirrels and grouse with a chihuahua.
She was as good as any feist or elkhound on squirrels, and with grouse, she was a bit better.
The grouse thought she was a fox, not a dog, and they just lit in the nearest tree when she flushed them.
Which made them easier to shoot.
Just because a dog doesn’t fit your prejudices doesn’t mean that it is useless.
That’s a lesson that too many “serious dog people” ought to learn.
Chihuahuas are greatly underestimated dogs. Mine would also tree squirrels all the time. Yay for Yorkies, who are actually pretty tough dogs!
I’m no AKC fan but in this case I say “way to go!” Yorkies have become immensely popular and it’s leading to a lot of folks looking for a “handbag” dog to get them, only to become suprised at their new friend’s feist, and often, big desire to GET AT other dogs walking down the block. “Muffy! What’s with you?!” Hell man, he’s a TERRIER! Didn’t you know? ;)
LOL, my late Aunt Betty would have been appalled–she didn’t like us to walk her Yorkie on the grass because it might hurt his little feet!
Every dog that can and will should be allowed to participate!
I tried to get them to allow Bostons to participate (I’ve had 2 that were hell on gophers) but they wouldn’t do it. Said the breed had “no historical precedent”.
Maybe they should do this for giant breeds as well. Our oldest daughter has a Saint w/ a huge prey drive. Since she got Bailey she has had no problems w/ squirrels, rabbits, deer, etc., in her back yard. He not only kills ’em, he eats em as well–no dead bodies to cart away. Its a real chore to clean him up afterward though.
I would love to see a Saint at an earthdog trial! Capybaras, maybe?
“Every dog that can and will should be allowed to participate!”
Hells yes. This is why I strongly support AKC’s group realignment. The breed clubs on the other hand…Shibas may not have much historical precedent for a lot of things, but they can, so why not? I’m really glad AKC opened up lure coursing to them (and all breeds).
“Just because a dog doesn’t fit your prejudices doesn’t mean that it is useless.” Tell that to many hunting and hunt test people who think that curly coated dogs are too girly, and therefore not good for much.
They still afraid of catching ‘girl cooties’ or something? How old are these people, 10? Sheesh!
The video you posted is mine and the Yorkie in it passed away last year. His name was Mr. Cinnamon Bun. He was the first Yorkie to earn a Certificate of Gameness from the American Working Terrier Association. Thank you for posting this blog. It means a lot to all of us who worked so hard to get acceptance.