[Pinehaven]

Parti yorkies may not be the YTCA standard but AKC in the late 1990's, did extensive DNA testing of parti litters and tested back as far as possible to the related adults (to the parti litters) from the Nikkos lines. AKC also spoke with Old time breeders, who were breeding in the 20's - 70's to see if these breeders ever experienced off color in their breeding program. It was determined that off color, including parti did appear in the earlier days and continue to appear in litters today (much to a breeders surprise).

Many of the new parti lines we see today (parti litters being produced by two traditional colored yorkies) are tracing back to one dog born in the late
1950's, CH Wildweir Pomp N Circumstance, including the Nikkos parti dogs. Wildweir Kennels was one of the kennels AKC interviewed about Parti color showing up and Wildweir told AKC that they had Parti colored pups being born
in their own litters.

It is thought by YTCA that 2 of the foundation stock that began the YT breed was the Scotch Terrier, the Skye (Clydesdale and Paisley being offshoots of the Skye) and the Old English terrier.

These foundation dogs, were not papered, and their heritage was unknown. They may have had a look or color that was desired but as for the recessive genes hiding within, no one can say what genes is or isn't there.

Historical writings and Illustrations indicate that there were "off colors" prior to the Yorkshire terrier becoming a breed ... scotch terriers with white markings, English Terriers that weren't black and tan and Skye terriers that
were brown in color.

If recessive genes are being traced back to a dog born in the 1950's (50 years ago), why can't the recessive genes be coming from dogs that began the breed 70 or so years earlier?