Yorkshire Terrier

Originating in the Yorkshire region of northern England during the 19th-century Industrial Revolution, it was bred by textile mill workers to hunt rats in factories and mines — a job far removed from the glamorous lapdog image it has today. Its miniaturization and aesthetic refinement came later, during the Victorian era.

Despite its tiny size, the Yorkshire Terrier has a big personality: it's brave, alert, and quite vocal, functioning almost like a miniature watchdog. It's extremely attached to its owners but can be stubborn and wary of strangers and other animals.

Because of its very small size and delicate bones, it is better suited to households with older children who know how to handle the dog carefully, rather than young children, where the risk of accidents runs both ways. Its fine, silky coat, similar to human hair, requires frequent brushing to prevent tangles.