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Originally Posted by Nancy1999  The AKC Breed Standard and YTCA Code of Ethics states that they do not recognize chocolate.
"This includes all gold, born blue, liver (also known as red or chocolate), and parti-colors. One of the reasons for avoiding breeding "off-colored" Yorkies is because it could be a genetic defect that may affect the dog's health. Some health problems can include, but aren't limited to, severe skin problems, allergies, total hair loss and in some cases long-term illness and/or death." See Yorkshire Terrier Club of America (Awards)
Those that advertise this color as "RARE" are being dishonest in that they are just trying to enrich themselves with more money, in spite of the lack of pigment in the dogs they produce which could bring a genetic nightmare to the breed. These dogs should all be neutered. Shame on this person. |
I'd like to comment on the Genetic portion of this thread.
With the exception of Blue born Yorkies (who more often than not, do have skin, coat and health problems), the Parti, chocolate and golden colored yorkies are no more prone to genetic or health problems than the traditional colored yorkies are. I wish YTCA would accurately note this on their site but instead the information they've written, leads people to assume that ALL off colors could be genetically defective and be more prone to health problems - they are not! The health problems YTCA has noted, are the health problems associated with the blue born yorkies and not the parti's, chocolates, goldens or black and tans.
Put simply - Parti's have a gene that causes spotting, chocolates have a double dose of a gene that dilutes the pigment/coat color, goldens lack a gene that produces the black saddles and black and tan colored yorkies lack a grey dilution gene that causes their coats to turn to the desired steel blue color. All these colors are considered to be "off color" but they are no more prone to health or genetic problems than the standard blue and tan yorkies are.