Huddersfield Ben (c. 1865 – 23 September 1871), an early
Yorkshire Terrier, is universally acknowledged to be the foundation sire of the breed.
[Stables, Dr. Gordon (1871), ''Ladies Dogs As Companions''. Retrieved from http://rievaulx.org/history.html on 2007-03-07.][Lane, Marion (2001). ''The Yorkshire Terrier: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet'', Second Edition, Howell Book House - Wiley Publishing, Inc., .] In his day Ben won many prizes, both as a
show dog
A show dog might refer to any dog entered into a dog show. More specifically, a ''show dog'' is a dog which has been specially bred, trained, and/or groomed to conform to the specifications of dog shows, so as to have a chance of winning. Often ...
and in
ratting contests. He had tremendous influence in setting the breed type for the Yorkshire Terrier, a new breed still under development in Ben's day.
[Hensley, Carolyn, "The History of the Yorkshire Terrier," compiled from various out of publication texts. Retrieved from http://rievaulx.org/history.html on 2007-03-07.] Although larger than a standard Yorkshire Terrier, Ben regularly sired stock under 7 pounds.
Pedigree
Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Foster of
Bradford
Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...
, in
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and Humber Region of England. It is an inland and upland county having eastward-draining valleys while taking in the moors of the Pennines. West Yorkshire came into exi ...
England, owned Huddersfield Ben. The dog was bred by Mr. W. Eastwood in the town of
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a market town in the Kirklees district in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confluence i ...
, England.
[Emmily (2004-11-09), "The Yorkshire Terrier." Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2986158 on 2007-03-07.] According to Ben's pedigree, he was
linebred
Inbreeding is the production of offspring from the mating or breeding of individuals or organisms that are closely related genetically. By analogy, the term is used in human reproduction, but more commonly refers to the genetic disorders a ...
(the product of a mother-son pairing), as was his mother Lady. Lady was the great-great-granddaughter of Mr. J. Swift's Old Crab, a long-coated black-and-tan terrier born around 1850. Old Crab and Old Kitty, a
Paisley Terrier
The Paisley Terrier was a breed of terrier- type dog that is now extinct. Originating in Scotland, the Paisley Terrier was bred primarily as a pet and showdog version of the Skye Terrier, and was the progenitor of today's Yorkshire Terrier. The b ...
owned by J. Kershaw of
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax () is a minster and market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It is the commercial, cultural and administrative centre of the borough, and the headquarters of Calderdale Council. In the 15th cen ...
England, are the earliest recorded predecessors to the Yorkshire Terrier.
[Watson, James (ca. 1900), ''The Dog Book''. Retrieved from http://rievaulx.org/history.html on 2007-03-07.]
Show career
Huddersfield Ben, registration number 3612, had an accomplished career in
dog shows. He competed in Manchester in 1869 and placed second. He was shown again at Manchester in 1870 and won first place. At the
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace may refer to:
Places Canada
* Crystal Palace Complex (Dieppe), a former amusement park now a shopping complex in Dieppe, New Brunswick
* Crystal Palace Barracks, London, Ontario
* Crystal Palace (Montreal), an exhibition building ...
dog shows in 1870 and 1871, Ben took first and second prizes, respectively.
[ Throughout his show career, Ben won 74 prizes.][
]
Foundation sire
In spite of his short lifespan, Huddersfield Ben was responsible for producing most of the foundation stock of the Yorkshire Terrier.[ He was an extremely popular stud dog, being prepotent, and especially due to his reputation as one of the first to breed true to type Yorkshire Terriers. Although between 9 and 12 lb, he regularly sired stock that competed in the under 7 lb limit.
]
Death and taxidermy
At the age of 6, Ben was run over by a carriage and killed.[ His body was preserved and put on display.][
How Much Does A Yorkie Puppy Cost]
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See also
* List of individual dogs
This is a list of individual famous actual dogs; for famous dogs from fiction, see List of fictional dogs.
Actors
Advertising
* Axelrod, Basset Hound, appeared in commercials and print ads for Flying "A" Service Station advertisements in ...
References
{{reflist, 2
1865 animal births
1871 animal deaths
Individual dogs
Rat-baiting
Individual taxidermy exhibits