[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by katelin

I've been of the opinion for awhile that the AKC standard is too restrictive for Yorkies. I'd love to see two size categories. It seem that now many dogs are both too small and too large to show. What does that say about the breed and our current standard?? Why is there so much variation in color, coat, size allowed in some breeds but not in Yorkies? It can't be because the purists are trying to save the breed, because the current standard isn't even close to the original Yorkie.

Having said that, I do try to breed to the standard. But I think a little more flexibility wouldn't hurt.

I may be wrong, but I didn't think they had restrictions on what was too small to show. Since many show dogs are used for breeding, I thought that they just showed dogs suitable for that purpose. The yorkie is a relatively new breed as dog breeds go, but I can't see a real need for changing the standard. There doesn't seem to be a real need to purposely try to breed larger, the public seems to want smaller and smaller. Right now there is no limit on how small a yorkie can be, only a limit on what size a female yorkie can safely be bred. I guess I don't see the advantages to changing the standard, although I realize it is very difficult to achieve, but when you do get it, it is something really remarkable to behold.