While the Carkie is a relatively recent breed, its origin is murky and not well-documented. There is no known credit to the development of the breed. The Carkie originated from its parent breeds – the Cairn Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier. It is thought that the Cairn Terrier has existed since the 15th century. Originally, the curious canine was eager to hunt foxes, badgers, and otters. He was considered to be part of the Scotch Terriers until 1873. At that time, the Cairn Terrier became part of the Skye group. It wasn't until 1912 that the Cairn Terrier was finally called by his modern name. While many of the early Cairn Terriers were white, white was not a favored color in the 1920s. The breed gained popularity after the release of “The Wizard of Oz” in which Toto, the Cairn Terrier, was Dorothy's companion. In 1913, the Cairn Terrier was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. The Yorkshire Terrier descended from another breed – the Waterside Terrier. This elegant canine was a product of the working class with the original purpose of catching rats. At first, the Yorkshire Terrier was not desired amongst the upper class. In 1872, the first Yorkshire Terrier was born in America. It was found that the breed greatly varied in sizes. Fanciers preferred the Yorkshire Terrier with the small build and long coat. The Yorkshire Terrier was officially registered in the books of the American Kennel Club in 1885. The Carkie stems from two wonderful companions with favorable dispositions.
