What functional requirement dictated the small size of the earliest Yorkshire Terriers?
Answer
Ability to navigate narrow machinery and mine shafts
The diminutive size of the early Yorkshire Terrier was not initially an aesthetic choice but a crucial functional requirement tied directly to its job as a ratter in industrial settings. The environment consisted of cramped spaces, tight machinery within textile mills, and narrow underground shafts in the mines. A dog that was too large simply could not effectively pursue and eliminate vermin hiding in these restricted areas. Therefore, achieving a miniature stature was paramount to the dog's utility as an effective working tool, contrasting with the later emphasis on smallness driven by lap companionship.
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