Page 26 - ShowSight Presents - The Yorkshire Terrier

THE YORKSHIRE
TERRIER
Despite our many foreign importations and in the opin- ion 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 this 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/fanci- ers 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 Leeds show the same progenitors of the breed were shown as “Scotch Terriers”.
By 1886 the breed had attained a great- er 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, col- or 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 light- er 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 Yor- kies, 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 col- or 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 very rarely clear in adulthood. They will probably retain strong thumbprints and a very sooty head as mature specimens.
Our Standard specifies one color for the body coat “Dark Steel Blue”. Fur- ther, “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 consid- ered 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 NEV- ER 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 Slight- est resemblance to BLACK PATENT LEATHER. Remember Yorkshire Ter- riers 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 person 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. How- ever, 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 squir- rel 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
“THE PRESENT DAY YORKSHIRE TERRIER HAS SEVERAL OUTSTANDING BREED CHARACTERISTICS,
THE MOST IMPORTANT OF WHICH ARE COAT, COLOR AND TEXTURE.”
296 • SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2015
by KATHLEEN B. KOLBERT