YORKY CLUB MAGAZINE #11 -- December 2008

"More about Color and Texture" by Hugo Ibanez

After finishing my last article about color and texture, I felt there was much more to be said on the subject. Serious breeders always have a preoccupation, better yet, a desire to tackle those traits that are difficult to acquire, such as color and texture. One article was not enough, one more was necessary. This is a follow-up from my first article and will feature the opinion of some of the most famous Yorkie breeders in Europe and in America on the subject. As you know, my articles are aim to the novice, the one who will succeed us one day. Let’s hope this article will bring him a better understanding of such an intricate subject. Obviously, the first question that I proposed to them (the breeders), was the cliché question – how do you define color and texture? (every breeder perceives them differently). The answers were not surprising. Roberta Rothenbach (Rothby’s) expressed it beautifully, reflecting most breeders “Tell me what color is red, or yellow or green? It is all in the eye of the beholder and their interpretation of it”.

And, indeed it is. In my previous article I indicated that the way we perceive color has much to do with enviroment, geography, light and culture. Certainly, not an easy task for breeders as well as for judges. However, there was common ground. Almost all breeders agree that in order to have the right color or close to it, a Yorkie must have the right silky texture. In other words, without the texture there is no right color; however, a Yorkie could have the right texture but lacking the correct color, in point, light or silver color.
But, don’t despair - my fellow breeders – there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is much easier to define a silky coat, more concrete, than to define color. Remember the silky coat will leads us to the right color.

So, what is exactly a correct silky texture? Well, veteran breeder, Mrs. Gordon (Wilweir) offers us this simple experiment: “ you take a piece of wool yarn, a piece of cotton thread and a piece of silk thread. The first two have no shine and can never produce a glossy coat. The silk thread is shiny. Secondly, try breaking the first two with you hand, they will break easily; however, when you try to break the silk thread ouryou will find it is a great deal harder.” Mrs. Gordon, adds “Obviously, the silky hair won’t break as fast, nor will it snarl up, making the silky coat easier to grow and groom.”
Another take to define or to detect texture comes from the late and controversial Jay Ammon (Montclair).
One day, years back, discussing the subject, she told me that to determine and detect the correct texture you should not go farther that looking the puppy’s feet, pasterns, and hocks. As I remember correctly she said that no correctly true silky coated puppy or adult has soft, fluffy, puffy coated feet. She sent me some drawings to illustrate her point. I have revised the drawings several times and I have concluded that Jay - just to make a point - exaggerated a bit particularly on drawing B . The hair to be silky; definitely, does not to have to be that sparse as the drawings “B” indicates. Well, I am sharing them with you.

Yet, another take to detect correct texture comes from my friend, veteran breeder Bernice Unden (“Debonaire”, Sweden), “If you look at the reflected light from the eyes of a Yorkie (using a flashlight), you will find out three colors: green, yellow or red. These colors are connected to coat texture. Green reflection, always correct – silky texture. Yellow, is a toss-up, either correct or wrong texture and red, always wrong texture.” Bernice assures us that this is not a scientifically proven theory, it is simply an observation from a long experience in breeding.
Betty Anne Durrer says that silky coat “always lays perfectly flat and has the feel of almost human hair, more like the hair of a young straight haired blond child” and then she adds “but don’t think for a minute that silky hair has to be sparse to be silky” “Silky coat should resemble human hair and it should be thick not sparse. Sparse can be silky but going by the old standard – quality and quantity were to be desired”, reflects Mrs. Gordon.

Well, leave it to my friend Barbara Bedsted (Kesar) to inject some humor on the subject “I have seen human hair that I wouldn’t wish it on a Yorkie.’ Then, she gets serious “ yes, a silky Yorkie hair should resemble hair that one usually see in TV commercials advertising shampoo” I totally agree with Barbara. The Yorkie coat not should only resemble those commercials but it should be that texture, that shine, that volume, that bounce – Eva Longoria-Parker comes to mind when she shakes her head and a cascade of lustrous, luminous hair comes to place looking totally strait.
Roberta also agrees and then she goes on to elaborate “you can and do have different density of hairs per square inch. There is a basis of inheritance in a dog for not only color and texture, but also for the thickness of the individual hair shaft and the density per square inch.”

Another question that I posed to the breeders was, how much latitude do you allow to depart from dark blue to light blue to almost silver?

It seems to me that it is becoming from seldom to too often that we see light Yorkies in the ring and some judges are beginning to believe that, that is the correct color. I personally can testify to that. The last two Yorkies that I showed had a hard time because the judges thought they were too dark.
Barbara backs me up “In my opinion, in the USA we are accepting way too many dogs that are very light blue” and then talking about the judges, she said “they err on the side of light or dyed to the detriment of the breed. But while it’s easy to blame the judges, many breeders don’t know correct color and texture and educating judges is no easy task”
And, I say, Amen!
This is what doyenne Joan Gordon had to say: “ Jan (referring to her sister) and I never accepted a light blue or almost silver dog. They are as wrong as a dog who is black with an unclear tan” She goes on to explain, “We are talking about genes, and if you breed wrong color and texture in, you are upsetting the dog’s ability to produce the genes that are required to give you the correct point.” Mrs. Gordon also point out something very important and essential that many times overlook in the standard which is required that in order to have the correct color and texture “a dark color on the tail with darkened on the tip of the tail”, and then she concludes “This helps to keep the gold from running out of its territory and the blue to stay where it belongs, assuming the dog texture is correct.”

Betty Anne says “At one time I accepted the light silk, but now I am less forgiven of the lighter color when it starts to show up in a dog under one year old. I would accepted it more in a bitch if she is very good more than in a male.”
Roberta is more forgiven “I have always felt that color, although of prime importance, is just one component of the entire dog. It will be more appropriate to allow for variations in color, much like they do in the standard of Silky Terrier and the Kerry Blue Terrier.” And then Roberta goes on to say “ I would not keep a Yorkshire for show or breeding if it did not posses breed type, beautiful balance, perfect top line, lovely head and earset along with the beautiful coat and color which is the hallmark of our breed.” And then she concludes
“No dog regardless of breed, should be judged on parts of its anatomy or standard. Each feature becomes a total of the dog and dogs should be judged on their entirety not bits and pieces.”

Richard Haynes (Eburacum,UK) - a nut as I am about Yorkie history - says “You judge the whole dog – I want the whole package. I will forgive some unevenness of color, whether light or dark, but I want it natural not artificially enhanced (Richard is a breeder/judge).”
Talking about being nuts about history, it seems appropriate to inject a bit of history here. Richard just found out details of the original Standard (1886) not known before that states “A bright steel blue” was required for the first 25 years by the Kennel Club in England. This was written by the first Yorkshire Terrier Club, The Halifax Yorkshire Terrier Club.
According to Richard’s research, Mary Ann Foster showed Ch. Ted year after year until he probably was nearly white (Ch. Ted was one of our founder fathers).
The Yorkshire Terrier Club was formed in 1898 – still the bright blue was in effect. But by 1911 (Richard’s research) the standard required “a dark steel blue”. This was a reaction to the light colored dogs that were being shown in the North of England. The implication here, as I understand it, is that “bright” in those days was equivalent or similar to “light”.

Needless to say the repercussion of that trend of showing light dogs until 1911 is tremendous, but more about it at the conclusion of this article. Richard also found out something very interesting that in both cases when “light blue” was required and “dark blue” later, both required that “a darker end of the tail was asked for”.

II could not resisted to ask the breeders if there is any evidence that breeding a light blue Yorkie to a dark one or a light gold to a dark gold will produce the correct color. Mind you, this theory has been going on for years. Logically, it makes sense; genetically, it does not.
It is a crazy idea mixing a black dog with a silver one. It is like mixing paint, it does not work.” Affirms Mrs. Gordon We might breed a light dog if the dog is exceptional in other ways and it’s color pattern was where it should be and if the dog did not have a running gold and if the dog still was darker on the end of the tail. If the texture is correct a dog with a very intense gold (nearly red) will darken both colors but of the offspring or this breeding will have to be bred to correct texture or you will be right back where you started with a mixed bag of colors.”
Roberta agrees “They do not mix together or dilute one another.” And then, she observes “unfortunately, with our litters being as small as they are, there is not enough pups to really show your percentage of each color. There is not enough puppies to draw the correct conclusion.”

I am changing the subject abruptly for something that it is truly important, “the breaking point”. What does it mean? Well, in Yorkie puppy parlance, means “the black pigmentation of each and every body hair is diluted to produce a shade of even steel blue, an entirely different factor changes the black on the head, legs and chest to a rich golden tan free of all black or gray hair.” This is Mrs. Gordon definition.
Now, my question is, at what age the puppy should be breaking?
Mrs. Gordon says “a coat breaking is an inherit gene (one for the blue and one for the clearing gold) and runs in families, knowing your family lines will give you a good idea of when it will start and when will be achieved” and she concludes “these are genes that can be manipulated with planned breeding”.
The break takes place usually anywhere from 12 to 18 months of age. The later the better for a color which will not fade and will last into the dog’s old age.” Says Roberta.
Betty Anne assents “The ones who will have a better gold, usually take longer to clear in the head but will have the final correct gold and the deeper blue.” Betty Anne warns us “the puppies with the pale gold will start clearing early and body starts breaking at about 3 months of age. They will be too light as adults.”
Indeed, I have personally found out that the most beautiful color and texture will not reach their pinnacle until they are 18 months old. The dark blue will remain the same during this time but what it will come to fruition at 18 months is the gold. It will be totally clear – that is the real gold.
The subject of color and texture is endless and mystifying; frankly, I have information and material to write at least 3 more pages on the subject. Unfortunately, there is no more space nor time to continue.

My last question that I posed to the breeders was, what advice will you give to the novice as to how to choose a puppy that hopefully will have correct color?
But, before I get to the last question, there was another that I could not resisted asking the breeders. It has nothing to do color or texture but with priorities.
II know we all want everything and many times we found our selves wishing Dr. Frankenstein was around to combine each dog best qualities, all elements of type in to one. So I asked the breeders if they have to choose among: breed character, head, silhouette, movement and color/texture, which one will be their # one and in descending order, their other choices. Ana Mesto comes to mind, she said in my last article “A good structure does not justified bad color and good color does not justified bad structure.”
Most breeders chose structure/character first; second, movement and third color and texture.
“There is no point in growing a designer’s coat on an unsound dog, an unsound dog will move wrong and be clearly visible with any length of coat.” Mrs. Gordon.
I am not surprised at all that vintage breeders made such a choice their priority. Color and texture is not possible in the show ring without the other components, but more importantly in a breeding program.

And, back to my last question, what a novice should look for in show puppy?
A novice needs the best structured Yorkie with great temperament, to start without these two basics, the novice will fail immediately in the show ring and in the whelping box. The novice without these elements probably will no succeed and finally will give up.” Roberta also says “ you must breed for the entire package, of course, but it takes years to get there if ever and Lady Luck must also be sitting besides you.” Roberta reflects “Forty years later, I am still learning.”
For any one selecting a puppy, the only advice I can suggest is that they never buy a show puppy under the age of six months, that way, they will know if the bite is correct and they will have a better idea of size, movement, color, topline, tailset and temperament. At six months you can usually determine how the gold will be and certainly you will know the puppy coat texture.” Wise advice from Mrs. Gordon.
Another important observation comes from Betty Anne “get the best you can buy with many good dogs behind his first couple of generations.”

Most breeders offer basically the same advice. If there is anything that I would like to add to those wise advices, would be find a mentor, a surrogate a breeder whom you trust to help you make that crucial choice. As a novice you will not have the experience, the Eye, if you will, to calibrate the right puppy with the most correct elements of type. As Roberta said previously, after 40 years and she is still learning.
Finally, you must understand why we have so much trouble and tribulations with color and texture as well as other elememts of type. As I indicated before, I was coming back to touch a bit of history. Learning a bit about Yorkie ancestors will give you a better understanding of our breed and the Yorkie founding fathers, the consequences and difficulties with which we are confronted today.
In 1845, one of them was described “resembling a Scotch (not Scottish) terrier, weight about 8 or 9 lbs., with good terrier head and eye but with a long body. The legs and muzzle only were tanned and hair on the body would be about 3 or 4 inches.” His mate was described as “a drop-eared Sky under 12 lbs with plenty of coat of blue shade but destitute of tan on any part of the body.” The third dog to play his part in the breed’s foundation was “a bitch, an old English Terrier with tanned head, ears, legs and sort of grizzle back.” Most of these English Terriers also had white markings.
These genes from these dogs are the beginning of our breed. It seems that after 163 years, those initial genes would have disappeared or have been diluted; apparently, they did no disappear, they just laid dormant, in sleep mode.
Some canine experts believe our purebred dogs are locked in a genetic trap due to the evolutionary and hereditary process. What does it all mean? It means that after so many years it is difficult to eliminate influences of breeds used in early foundation stock. Why? Well, it could be argued that at the beginning all were somewhat inbred, as any given breed would have a relatively small member of founding sire.
What are the consequences?
Well, as you can see we are attempting to breed the perfect dog from imperfect ancestors. 163 years seem legendary, but, genetically, Yorkies are newbies (babies)
As you can see our ancestors were “tutti frutti” which makes our breeding more complicated. Nevertheless, considering all the odds, we have succeeded in most of the elements of type. All we have to do to reassure our success just take a pick of pictures of Yorkies appearing in books and magazines from the last century, it would seem – to our reality now – that many were just pets.
No one knows better than you that as much we have progressed, we can not get complacent, still the hill that we must climbed is too steep.

PS – I have received some e-mails from breeders/exhibitors concerned about the direction of the Yorkie head is heading. It seems it is moving away from the standard.
My next article will deal with The Yorkie Head. Please, send me your thoughts, ideas, opinions, advise either in German, French, Italian, Spanish or English.

iestugo@aol.com