A Yorkie is not a fashion accessory

A hundred and fifty years ago Yorkies were working dogs. They were bred to chase and kill rats in the coal pits of England. They were also used for the gruesome sport of "rat baiting," where a dog was thrown into a pit of rats. The winning Yorkie was the one who killed the most rats within a short specified time frame. The famous Huddersfield Ben was both a show ring champion and rat baiting champion.

Now we are bombarded by images of tiny Yorkie heads peering out of pink Gucci bags, sporting diamond tiaras and carried around by celebrities, such as Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears. In fact, the pocket dog fashion trend is the single worst phenomenon to ever affect the breed. It results in unscrupulous breeding practices, dog theft, bad temperament (of the dog, well, and the owner) and an unhealthy and unnatural lifestyle for these tiny but active dogs. Recently, Paris was actually turned away from a pet store trying to make an impulse Yorkie purchase for a photoshoot. Hooray!

For those of you who want a dog to tote around, might I suggest the plush toy section at Target? Otherwise, take some time to learn about the breed and understand its needs - as a dog. Carrying it around everywhere will most likely result in a snappy, snarling miserable dog or a timid, scared shaking mess. Is that really what you want?

Please say "no" to purse dogs and recognize that a Yorkie is an active dog with the same needs of larger breeds. Learn and appreciate the rich history and tremendous breed characteristics of this lovely little dog.