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Originally Posted by katelin  Great topic and input from everyone. I've been mulling over a couple questions for some time, and perhaps this is the time to ask:
First of all, I'm not talking about breeding dogs that are known to be unhealthy or produce unhealthy pups, so keep that in mind as you read my questions.
1. If only "serious" breeders breed Yorkies, will they be the only ones to own them? As the second most popular dog in America, how do the rest of the people get a Yorkie? You know what I'm talking about. The people who are most passionate about the breed and its "standards" are also very passionate about not selling their dogs except as spayed/neutered, and maybe not even then. Ordinary dog lovers don't seem to have a chance....
2. Have we gone too far with the breed standards? Have you noticed that in the past few years there hasn't been a Yorkie finalist at Westminster or Crufts? It seems that even the most dedicated breeders can't seem to breed exactly to the standard. Why is that??
I'm really not trying to start a fire storm here, but I've been wondering about this for a long time... |
1. People should educate themselves enough so that they will only want to buy from people who are breeding for health and quality. Why would you want to get a yorkie from someone who doesn't care enough to put some time into education and some money behind their selections. If you buy crap they are going to produce crap, you can't make gold out of straw. Selling your pups with a spay/neuter contract protects your kennel name as well as the breeders who came before you. If the pup is going into a pet home and isn't going to be bred or shown why wouldn't you want to get it fixed unless there is a health concern? Breeders are dealing with lifan and death and the future happiness of families, shouldn't they all be "serious"?
2. I can see that you have noticed that our fair breed is not an easy one to perfect. The metalic tones that the standard calls for require a complicated blending of genes to create just the right texture as well as the correct pigment. We've added alot of things into the idea of the yorkie that isn't exactly in the standard but is the present trend as well. The standard describes the body as neat, compact and well proportioned. Sounds pretty simple huh? But when you go onto a discussion it says well balanced, neat, small, sound, square appearing, with a straight level back. We have becomevery demanding of this breed but I have noticed that they have of many other breeds as well. I think as a society we are always atriving to improve something, to redefine it, to perfect it so to speak. I don't think the yorkie has ever looked better but now we need to concentrate on some health issues or beauty won't matter a whole lot.