Yorkie-ton

Yorkie-tons are a relatively new hybrid, but both of their parent breeds have strong histories as companion dogs (and one also a vermin hunter early on), even if they do come from the fringes of opposite hemispheres. The Yorkshire Terrier actually started as a working dog, the product of Scottish immigrants flooding England during the Industrial Revolution in search of jobs. With them, these immigrants brought multiple variations of Terriers, including the Old English Toy, English Black, Clydesdale, Skye, Paisley, and now-extinct Waterside, all of which are considered to be influences to the Yorkshire's lineage at one point or another. They were initially brought as vermin hunters, helping to keep the rat population low while the factories grew and nearby neighborhoods flourished. Over time, as the breed developed, they were identified with their place of origin, Yorkshire, England and were eventually attributed the name. In the late 1800s, the Yorkshire became a popular show breed thanks to a dog named Huddersfield Ben, who, along with his tens sons and one daughter, is now considered to be the origin of the modern version we know and love today. Since then, the breed has actually become slightly smaller and instead of being a well-used hunter, is more often seen as a companion breed, as their overall even temperament makes them great family dogs. The Coton de Tulear's history is not well known, but it is believed that their ancestors, of Bichon and Tenerife origins, arrived on pirate ships to the island of Madagascar as early as the 15th century, when Tulear was a thriving port city. It was never known whether these early breeds were brought by pirates as rat-catchers, companions or merely the result of unquestionably thorough looting. Over time, multiple Bichon-type dogs interbred on the island, largely influenced only by sea traffic, and eventually developed into what is now known as the Coton de Tulear, its apt title derived from both its location and its fluffy, cotton-like coat ("coton" meaning cotton in French). They were eventually given to the Malagasy Royalty as gifts and were adopted by the ruling dynasty to prevent others of non-nobility from owning them. Their history is so strongly rooted on the island, they are not only known as the Royal Dog of Madagascar, but are documented as the island's official dog. While they may not be universally well-known as a breed, they are heralded in small circles for their exceptionally happy and even temperament and adorable fluffy look.