The Yorkshire Terrier Who Serves As a War Dog Crossword
Did you know that the Yorkshire terrier served as a war dog? Smoky, a four-pound breed, was discovered in a foxhole in war-torn New Guinea. A GI plucked her out of hiding and gave her to the sergeant of a motor pool. This sergeant didn’t know what to do with a dirty dog that wouldn’t respond to commands in English or Japanese. The sergeant sold Smoky to Corporal William Wynne for two pounds Australian. During World War II, Smoky served as a pet to several American soldiers.
The Yorkshire terrier first received its official recognition as a breed by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885. It is the oldest dog breed recognized by the AKC and was one of the first to be used in the armed forces. Its versatility has allowed it to be used as a companion and a war dog. While there is no official breed standard for the Yorkshire terrier, the dog does follow the same guidelines that other breeds must meet.
The Yorkies were popular among the working class, especially the weavers. They were often associated with looms because of their silky coats. Classes for the Yorkie breed have been held in the United States since 1878. Its unique characteristics have made it an extremely popular breed in America. You can even find Yorkies in New Guinea today. And if you’re looking for a challenging puzzle, the Yorkshire terrier will not disappoint!
Another famous Yorkshire terrier who served in the war is Stubby.
In 1917, Stubby wandered onto a Yale University military training field. He was named after the private who had trained it. He was trained to respond to the bugle calls of the 102nd Infantry and drills of the 26th Yankee Division. Eventually, he was able to smuggle Stubby onto the SS Minnesota troop ship. Fortunately, the commanding officer allowed him to keep him aboard.
Rags, who had lost his sight in one eye, became famous after the war. Donovan trained the dog to carry messages across the front lines. Rags had to leave his first master to find a new one, but his critical missive prompted reinforcements of Donovan’s unit. Hence, Rags became a 1st Division celebrity. However, it was not Rags’ fame that made her famous.
Etzel von Oerlingen was a three-year-old German Shepherd. His German breeder feared that Etzel would be ill-treated if he returned to his native land. He was then shipped to the United States for sale. While in the kennel, Etzel was aggressive towards strangers, but he changed his behavior when Trimble commanded him to.
The Eleventh Pennsylvania regiment adopted Nipper, a Yorkshire terrier when it was first trained for military use.
He was so popular that Abe Lincoln would pause and do his stovepipe hat in acknowledgment. In 1863, Sallie Ann Jarrett was back on her home turf in Gettysburg. She refused to abandon the fallen men and waited for relief for three days.
Chip was an Allied amphibious dog. During the war, Chips’ unit was pinned by machine gun fire and had to retreat to the safety of their camp. The dog sprung into action and sprang on the gun nest. Chips nipped at a soldier’s throat. In the aftermath, three more soldiers arrived, holding hands in the air. Chips’ alerting helped lead to the capture of ten Italian soldiers.
A Yorkshire terrier who served in the wars was a favorite of George Washington. The dog had a long life as a service dog. In 1885, Laurence Trimble, an artist, lived on a farm in Maine. At 22, he moved to New York with his tri-colored collie Jean. After being trained by a British army officer, he made the film “The Great White Hope.” It was so popular that it was repeated twice.
Meet Rose Camilla, an expert in the Terrier dog breed and an active writer and publisher. Camilla has been working with Terriers for over 12 years and her passion for them has only grown stronger with time. She has dedicated her life to understanding, training, and writing about Terriers.
