Reference

Yorkshire Terriers were crossed with Australian Terriers primarily to create the Silky Terrier, a breed with a combination of desirable traits from both parent breeds. This crossbreeding aimed to combine the refined appearance and silky coat of the Yorkshire Terrier with the robust and hardy nature of the Australian Terrier.

Here's a summary of the reasons for the crossbreeding:

1. Appearance: Breeders aimed to develop a breed with the silky, beautiful coat of the Yorkshire Terrier.
2. Temperament and Robustness: They wanted to incorporate the Australian Terrier's robust and hardy nature, along with its temperament and working dog traits.
3. Size and Versatility: The resulting breed was intended to be small yet versatile, suitable both as a companion animal and a working terrier.

The Silky Terrier, which emerged from this crossbreeding in the early 1900s in Australia, exemplifies these combined characteristics source.