Yoranian vs Turnspit Dog - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

The Yoranian is a mixed breed, hybrid or “designer” breed. They are a cross between the Pomeranian and the Yorkshire Terrier and are very small dogs. They were developed in Yorkshire, England in the 19th century. It is a very playful, family dog that is not registered with any pure breed club such as the American Kennel Club or AKC.

It is amazing that this small dog’s popularity comes from him being used in the kitchens to roast meat. The British enjoyed eating their meat which they roasted on a fire.

These dogs were essentially regarded as a tool – a means to an end, and when kitchens were modernized, they were no longer needed, and they became extinct.

Referred to as the kitchen dog or cooking dog, the first mention of these little dogs was made in 1576. By 1850 the dogs had become scarce and by 1900 it seemed as though there were none left.

The Yoranian is a toy breed, as are both its founding breeds. It checks in at only 7 pounds and stands only 6-10 inches tall. It can have medium or long fur in any combination of the parent’s colors including tan, black, blue or white. They have small ears that stand upright and erect, a small muzzle, medium tail and large round eyes. They can be long and slender like the Yorkshire Terrier or barrel shaped like the Pomeranian.

The Turnspit was a small long-bodied dog, standing at between 20 to 30cm in height and probably weighed anything between 9 and 14kg in height.

The legs were somewhat crooked or bandy and Edward Jesse, who wrote ‘Anecdote of Dogs’ in 1846 described them as ugly dogs with a miserable look to them. That was probably due to him having to fit into the hamster-like wheel contraption that turned the meat being roasted in the kitchens.

They were low-bodied dogs, similar to a Dachshund or a Corgi with short, stocky legs, short floppy ears, and a short coat. The long tail curled over its back. It is believed that the coats were white, reddish-brown, gray or black.

Temperament:

The dog was certainly feisty, energetic and hard-working with not much being written about his temperament. He was a working dog, but given the chance, he would no doubt have been loving and loyal, longing for the chance just to be part of a human family and to be loved.

1.Children friendliness absolutely but monitor so that the dog does not get hurt. They are fragile. 2.Special talents – high energy and lots of enthusiasm 3.Adaptability – very adaptable small apartments are great. 4.Learning ability very high gets bored easily

The Turnspit dog had a tough life, but would no doubt have made a wonderful little pet had he just been allowed to be a companion dog.

When he was no longer needed, he was discarded.

Make sure that when you buy a dog, you don't just put him in your backyard and forget about him. Give him the love and care he deserves.

The Yoranian has some medical challenges such as: • A very fragile neck and back. They can be hurt easily. • Low Blood Sugar must be monitored. • Eye irritations and dry eyes without enough tear production. • Dental issues with decay and loss of teeth. • Patellar Luxation of slipped kneecaps causing lameness. • Retinal Atrophy can lead to blindness.

The health and lifespan of a dog is influenced by quite a few things such as food, care, love, exercise and the type of breed it is. Generally smaller dogs live longer than big dogs, and mixed breed dogs live longer than pure breeds.

The Turnspit dog, if he had received the proper care, could have lived to between 10 and 15 years of age.

Some of the health issues facing small dogs like these would include -

Hypoglycemia:

Stress can bring on a sudden drop in blood sugar. The Turnspit had reason to be stressed, working hard in horrible conditions. Dogs become weak and lethargic and can scarcely maintain an even gait. A sudden drop in blood sugar can cause a small dog to go into a fatal coma.

Pancreatitis:

This ailment seems to occur more often with smaller dogs. The pancreas becomes inflamed and your dog has vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and dehydration. Pancreatitis can come about because of trauma, metabolic disorders or infection.

1 Feeding the puppy don’t overfeed and feed small pieces of toy dog food. 3-4 x per day ¼ cup daily 2.Feeding the adult don’t overfeed/ high quality adult toy dog food. Make sure pieces are small. ¼ to ½ cup daily 3.Points for Good Health – lots of energy and enthusiasm 4. Games and Exercises high energy and enthusiasm at least 2 walks a day. loves to play inside

A dog is man's best friend, but the Turnspit was essentially just a working dog and most likely didn’t receive the proper care he deserved.

Small dogs like these would have had basic needs. Their owners would have had to pay attention to the dog's health, because he needed to work.

We look at ways in which a small dog like the Turnspit should have been cared for -

Diet:

One wonders if the Turnspit was allowed to eat any of the roast meat he worked so hard on to get ready. Every dog should have a regular meal.

Most adult dogs should be fed 2 meals of kibble a day. If the Turnspit wasn’t extinct he would have required a high quality ‘small dog breed’ commercial dog food. Home-made food would also be a requirement – some boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Dogs want and appreciate simple, wholesome foods that won’t upset their digestive systems.

Along with good food, dogs need cool, fresh water constantly available to stay healthy.

Provide your dog with a warm dry, quiet, comfortable place to sleep.

Make sure he gets to the veterinarian if he is sick, but also for his vaccines to prevent him from getting some of the worst dog diseases there are.

Spay or neuter your dog if you don’t intend to breed your dog,

Groom your small dog regularly. The Turnspit had a shortish coat and would have required a brush twice a week. Other grooming procedures for a small dog like the Turnspit would have been keeping his nails trimmed and checking the inside of his ears and his mouth for ear infections and dental disease.

Exercise for a small dog is important – walks and ball games.