YORKY CLUB MAGAZINE #6 -- November 2006

The Yorkshire Terrier in the opinion of Kathleen B. Kolbert, Turyanne Y.T.

Despite our many foreign importations, and in the opinion of this breeder/judge, the Yorkshire Terrier is still the prettiest and most elegant of the Toy dogs in the American show ring today. As his name implies, he is a product of the “County of Broad Acres”, and his origin dates from the advent of dog shows in the middle of the 19th century. They were first bred by the workingmen/fanciers of Leeds and Halifax, though they were not designated as “Yorkshire Terriers” at the time. When first exhibited the breed had several designations some of which were “Scotch Terrier”, “Rough or Broken Haired Terrier”, “Broken-haired Scotch” and “Yorkshire Terrier” and the “Toy Terrier rough”. In 1860 at the Birmingham show, crude Yorkie prototypes were all exhibited as Skye Terriers. The following year at the Leads show the same progenitors of the breed were shown as Scotch Terriers.

By 1886 the breed had attained a greater state of perfection causing the Kennel Club to adopt the classification still in use today – “Yorkshire Terrier”.

The present day Yorkshire Terrier has several outstanding breed characteristics, the most important of which are coat, color and texture. Let us first discuss Head color. To quote the standard: “All tan is darker at the roots than in the middle, shading to a still lighter tan at the tips”.

In my opinion, the key word in this phrase is shading. Neither an Irish Setter red, nor a solid tan gold head is correct. This being said, it is true that some Yorkies, especially those with the requisite dark steel blue body coat, may take longer to clear in the head. However, even these specimens should have cleared by the age of two. When in doubt by checking the color at the base of the ear may be helpful. Puppies should show signs of the head color that will be present at adulthood from the age of six months. Conversely, puppies six months or older having solid black on the back of the ear will rarely clear in adulthood. They will probably retain strong thumbprints and very sooty head as mature specimens.

Our Standard specifies one color for the body coat “dark steel blue”. Further, “this dark steel blue always lacks any approach to blackness”. In the ring today it is impossible to find entire entries possessing this much sought after color. This being the case what must be considered and deemed acceptable would be a distinct metallic color on a coat that is of a lustrous silky texture. The colors should always reflect a certain amount of brilliance and light and never be drab and dull. The coat should also feel cool to the touch, even in great summer heat.
Most importantly, remember that acceptable colors by range from above a pale gray to the highly desired dark steel blue, none of which bear the slightest resemblance to black patent leather. Remember Yorkshire Terriers do not have FUR, they have HAIR just like you and I. This is a wash and wear dog and the hair should look like a persons with clean long hair that sparkles and shines, the texture will tell you when you have the real thing.

Now we will discuss tails. These are to be docked to a medium length and, per the standard, to be carried slightly higher than the level of the back. However, many Yorkies carry their tails in an upright position while gaiting, which is allowed. A tail that is carried in the “slightly higher” position mentioned in the standard should not be penalized, nor should it be construed to indicate shyness in any form. A Yorkie with its’ tail flattened against its rump looses the breed’s proper outline. Such an exhibit also would be lacking the sparkle the Yorkie should display.
As regards undocked tail carriages, in the author’s opinion such a tail should meet the same requirements as one that has been docked and as is noted above. Neither a long Gay tail, nor a long Squirrel tail are acceptable, the point being that the length of the tail should not alter the tail’s correct carriage.

I will not delve deeply into structure in this article as it is my opinion that all dogs should have good fronts and rears, level top lines and good dentition unless otherwise specified by the individual breed’s standard.
In the Yorkie balance is of particular importance, whether the exhibit is four or five pounds or six to seven pounds. Per the standard and by the eye measurement proper balance is as noted here:
Body length: The forward point of the brisket to the after tip of the pelvis
Body height: top of the withers to the ground
Back: the five vertebrae between the withers and the loin (ninth and thirteenth vertebrae inclusive)
Backline: also called the top line, from the neck to the base of the tail, including withers, back, loin and croup
By eye measurements this is a square dog the body height and body length all of equal measurements.
The Standard does not describe eye measurement but it does say the following:
The body is very compact, rather short, with a level back line and with the height at the shoulders the same as the rump. It also emphasizes that a well-balanced outline is very important and is obtained by having the ideal length of neck, the ideal length of straight level back as well as the ideal length of leg. This overall harmonious effect, where every part fits properly, gives one the desired well-balanced Yorkshire Terrier.
Additionally, it is equally obvious that a yorkie with no neck, short legs and too long a back can never achieve the balance required by the standard.

Correct movement:
The Yorkshire Terrier is a trotter. The motion is harmonious, smooth, typically with an air of self-importance and vigor. He moves in a straight line with free and easy strides. The tail should not be flying back and forth like a rudder. The coat should not be flying in all directions caused by eggbeater like leg movement. Rather, the correctly built Yorkshire Terrier should move very smoothly and with ease.

My greatest concern, both as a breeder and as a judge, is that some breeders are selling bitches as show quality but not for breeding. Typically, these bitches are under four pounds and much too small to be successfully bred. Good breeders will not breed bitches under five pounds. Our gene pool is very limited as we have less than a dozen breeders who have developed a line. The litters are very inconsistent: in any litter at maturity you can have a two pound adult, a five pound adult and a fourth generation throw back that matures to be seven to ten pounds. For a small bitch to have birth weights so irregular causes problems.
Obviously, these factors do not influence choice of a male Yorkshire Terrier.

In short, the Yorkshire Terrier has evolved from a workingman’s companion to one of the most glamorous stars of the Toy Group.

Reference for this article: The Illustrated Discussion, Breed Standard, Early Book by P.H.Coombs and Mrs. Kolbert experience of 40 years in the breed and a Judge since 1979.
This article was edited for Yorky Club, and published on YC Magazine #6 - November 2006