Beyond the Show Ring
Of course, Yorkshire terriers have plenty of presence outside the show ring as well. In fact, some have gained a fair amount of fame. Many people over the years have heard Joan Rivers talk about her Yorkie, Spike. The breed is also popular with musicians, from Mel Torme to Stevie Nicks to Barbara Mandrell. Also, Jai Rodriguez of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy has appeared in fashion shows with his two Yorkies. The breed's small size makes these dogs convenient travel partners — they take up very little space on planes, buses, and trains, as well as in hotel rooms.
Mascot in Combat
In the Pacific during World War II, Corporal William Wynne bought a tiny, obviously purebred Yorkshire terrier that another soldier had found in a shell hole in New Guinea. Though Wynne took the dog to the nearest Japanese prisoner-of-war camp, no one claimed her. The dog didn't appear to understand any words in either English or Japanese, and her appearance in the jungle remained a mystery. Smoky, as Wynne named the dog, quickly gained fame and was ultimately voted “Mascot of the Pacific.”
Smoky flew twelve air-sea rescue missions and survived 150 air raids. She shared C-rations and Spam with the soldiers and bathed in Wynne's helmet. The Twenty-Sixth Photo Reconnaissance Squadron of the Air Force constructed a special parachute for her, and she jumped from the training tower. She even helped lay a telegraph wire by crawling through a seventy-foot-long pipe towing a guide line.
Wynne and Smoky toured all over the world, entertaining wounded soldiers at army and navy hospitals during and after the war. Smoky jumped through hoops, walked a tightrope, and performed other tricks.
It is completely possible for Yorkshire terriers to get along with other canines in the home, as well as cats, rabbits, and other family pets. However, this does require a substantial amount of training and adjustment time. A large dog or cat could intimidate a small Yorkie, so you'll need to give the pets time to get used to each other.
The White House
The only Yorkshire terrier known to have occupied the White House, Pasha, resided there during the Nixon administration. While often referred to as the pet of Richard and Pat Nixon, Pasha actually belonged to their daughter Tricia. Pasha had canine company from Vicki, a miniature poodle, and King Timahoe, an Irish setter.
You can find photos of Pasha and the other dogs at the White House on the Internet at www.archives.gov/Nixon. They're pictured on the lawn in front of the White House, being walked by the president at Camp David, and in front of a White House fire-place at Christmas.
