National Yorkie Day 2024: Date, Origin, and Ways to Celebrate

Calling all Yorkie lovers! If you have an adorable little Yorkie, also known as Yorkshire Terrier, then you are going to want to hear this. Maybe you know or maybe you don’t know. But there is a day dedicated to celebrating Yorkshire Terriers. That’s right! Your cute, little Yorkie has a holiday all for themselves.

Yorkshire Terriers originate from Yorkshire, England, hence the name. Yorkshire Day is celebrated on the same day as National Yorkie Day, so it ends up being a fantastic hoopla every year. Let’s explore National Yorkie Day, the origins of how it became National Yorkie Day, and fun facts about Yorkies and Yorkshire, England. We are also going to take a look at a few ways you can celebrate that adorable little pup.

When is National Yorkie Day?

National Yorkie Day is celebrated every year on August 1st. For the year 2024, August 1st will fall on a Thursday, just in time for the weekend and celebrate big. The day is a time when you can truly celebrate your adorable pup. There are a myriad of ways you can celebrate, but we’ll get to that later.

The day celebrating your dog also coincides with Yorkshire Day. Yorkshire is a county in England where the Yorkshire Terriers originated. The county is home to many famous people and because it’s the largest county in England and the area is steeped with rich history, Yorkshire Day is celebrated with pizzazz every year.

Origins of National Yorkie Day

National Yorkie Day was founded by WoofBookGroup.com in 2009. They are also responsible for matching other dog breeds with corresponding calendar dates. The date August 1st was chosen to coincide with Yorkshire Day in Yorkshire, England. This means that if you ever decide to go to Yorkshire, England on August 1st with your cute-as-a-button Yorkie, you will have double to celebrate. The festivities on Yorkshire Day revolve around promoting Yorkshire culture, so make sure you dress up your adorable pup with a cute Yorkshire-themed outfit.

About the Yorkshire Terrier

Workers from Scotland came to the Yorkshire area and brought with them several dogs who were terrier types. They started breeding them with other dogs and that’s how the Yorkshire Terrier originated. The dogs were originally meant to hunt rats but eventually were domesticated for being in-house. The first Yorkshire Terrier to live in the US was in 1872 and was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1885. The Yorkshire Terrier became quite popular during the Victorian Era in both the UK and the US. Today, the Yorkie is one of the most popular breeds in the United States.

Yorkies are playful dogs. They are affectionate with their owners, families, and children, too. They can somewhat not be as good with other dogs, so there is that to consider if you are looking to get a Yorkie. Yorkshire Terriers are also hypoallergenic dogs, which helps if you are allergic to dogs and cats. They hardly shed, which is a great plus. Lastly, Yorkies are adaptable and playful but can also be protective of their owners. That’s always a good sign that you have a loyal dog.

Famous Yorkies

The Yorkie is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. You can be walking in San Diego or Madrid or even Sydney and you will run into Yorkies happily walking down a street. The Yorkie was made more famous because celebrities would buy them and paparazzi would photograph that particular celebrity with their dog. Let’s take a look at some famous Yorkies and their parents.

• Sylvia: she was the smallest Yorkie and even the smallest dog ever recorded. She was a teacup-sized Yorkie owned by Arthur Marples. She was only 2.5 inches tall and unfortunately, she died when she was two years old in 1945.
• Smoky: she became famous while her dad William Wynne served in the Air Force. The war dog was also known as Yorkie Doodle Dandy. She died in 1957, aged 14.
• Pasha: he was Tricia Nixon’s dog that lived in the White House when Richard Nixon was president.

Yorkshire, England

Yorkshire is the largest county in England and it has been known for its location in Northern England and the cultural traditions that have been kept alive throughout the centuries. Yorkshire’s emblem is the white rose of the House of York, which ruled England for about a century in the 1300s and 1400s.

Yorkshire culture is influenced by a combination of the Celts, Vikings, Normans, Romans, and Angles that settled in the area throughout the years. The region has a dialect, but the accent is indistinguishable from other Britons. Yorkshire people have been associated with several stereotypes over time, including one where Yorkshiremen are usually dressed in a flap cap and whippet. The rural lifestyle they led is most probable to the stereotype.

Some famous people hail from Yorkshire, including Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson, the Brontë Sisters, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Patrick Stewart, Tom Wilkinson, Sir Ben Kingsley, Dame Penelope Wilton, Mel B from the Spice Girls, Joe Cocker, and Ed Sheeran.

Wildlife Around Yorkshire

The wildlife in Yorkshire is extremely diverse and abundant. Because of its location, it is home to a wide array of animals. They include puffins which you can see by the coast near Bridlington on the Bempton Cliffs. If you look high above, you may spot a short-eared owl swooping around. There are also otters, red squirrels, and kingfishers. By the coast, you’ll be lucky if you spot whales and dolphins, too. Some cool birds that you could look out for while on walks in the countryside are black grouses and goshawks. When it comes to the flora, there are many types of trees, wildflowers, and marshes around to pique your interest. It all adds to the diversity of the county of Yorkshire.

How to Celebrate National Yorkie Day

So you have a Yorkie or are thinking of getting one and now you want to celebrate National Yorkie Day. There are so many ways you can celebrate your adorable, little pup. You can take your Yorkie on a fun adventure to a cool park you think they would like. You can take them out for delicious treats at various restaurants or coffee houses. Go and do a puppy photo shoot and show your cute Yorkie off to the entire world. Throwing a Yorkie Day party with friends and family is another fun idea. Lastly, if you want to do something truly good, you can always donate to dog rescue organizations.

Conclusion

And there you have it, National Yorkie Day is on August 1st. Hailing from Yorkshire, England, these regal and cute dogs are just amazing to have around. These gray and brown pups are probably one of the most famous dog breeds in the world because major celebrities own them. Sometimes they can be a bit loud, yes, but at the end of the day, they’ll curl up next to you while you watch your favorite program. What a great life, indeed!

The next time August 1st rolls around, you know what to do. Celebrate your Yorkie by throwing a nice party with their doggo friends. Or go buy them some delicious Pupuccinos and some of their favorite treats. After all, your beloved Yorkie is a member of the family and should be treated like everyone else!