[yorkiekist]

Originally Posted by Pinehaven

The maltese are no different from some of the other early dogs used in the breed like Swift's Old Crab, crossed scotch terrier, with coat 3-4" long, Kershaw's Kitty a drop eared skye who was solid blue without any tan, neither of these dogs had the coat or had the look of todays YT but by selective breeding over the years, the dogs evolved into what we see today.

If the maltese was used to breed to the early blue and tan YT type dogs to lengthen their offsprings coats, and that blue and tan dog did not carry the piebald gene, none of the pups would be white or parti colored. As for the reason to not use the Maltese because they have dropped ears, many early YT's had their ears cropped in order to get that prick eared look.

The American book of the dog: The ... - Google Books - ear cropping in the YT

The Paisley and Clydsdale already had correct silk and blue color. If I were breeding for these qualities I wouldnt add Maltese.