When thinking about a hybrid breed, it is natural to wonder what the purpose was behind combining two different (or sometimes very similar) breeds in order to create a new one. This, of course, isn't a new practice as dog breeds are created all the time, but the best method of understanding why a new breed came to be, is to take a look at the parental history. Since the Smooth Torkie hasn't been around long enough to make a real origin story for himself, by learning more about the Yorkie and the Smooth Fox Terrier, we discover useful information about the Smooth Torkie. The Smooth Fox Terrier for instance, is a classic Terrier breed that hasn't been changed in centuries; if it isn't broken why change it right? He was originally created during the 18th century in England and around the 19th century, his breed standard was perfected. Performing in many roles such as performers and show dogs, the descendant of Bulldogs, Greyhounds, and Beagles is most certainly a favorite among many. He is intelligent, playful, and full of boundless amounts of energy. This energy came in particularly useful for the Smooth Fox Terrier's main role (which is where he gets his name) of catching foxes. He would ride along in the saddlebag of hunters until the fox had been chased down, at which point he would be released to bring in the catch. The Smooth Fox Terrier's cousin, the Wire Fox Terrier, was also used for such a purpose as catching foxes and up until the 1900's, they were considered the same breed. Finally, in 1985, the American Kennel Club separated the Wire and Smooth Fox Terrier into two different breeds. While the Wire Fox Terrier has been ultimately more popular than the Smooth Fox Terrier in shows, the Smooth Fox Terrier is still a popular dog that is loved for his talent in hunting, showing, and being an excellent family companion. The Yorkshire Terrier, otherwise known lovingly as the Yorkie, takes his name from Yorkshire and is thought to be a descendant of the Clydesdale Terrier and the Black-and-Tan Terrier. At first, they were known as Broken Haired Terriers or Toy Terriers due to their small size, but these names didn't stick around long. Created for the main purpose of capturing rodents that lived in wool mills, the Yorkie has always had a skill for sniffing out small rodents. At one time, it was a legend that the Yorkie's long and silky coat was actually a production of the wool looms themselves! While the bold Yorkie was an excellent worker and kept the mills free of pesky vermin, eventually the attractive toy breed came to be more of a companion animal than worker. It wasn't long before he moved up in status as an accessory to lovely ladies and even as political mascots! When the Yorkie made his way to the United States in 1872, he was a real favorite of the Nixon family and shot to the top of the most popular dog breed list. Accepted by the American Kennel Club, the Yorkie is the third ranking highest most popular breed and is used to this day as a show dog and companion.
