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Originally Posted by jencar98  This was posted on another thread and if anyone would care to watch, I think you would have to agree that when you breed for specific traits you often don't know how that might affect other traits. Could it be that by breeding for the confirmation ring (pretty coats specifically) the terrier instinct is being diminished? YouTube - Russian "Tame Foxes"
I realize that Donna, Gail and possibly a few others might not keep their yorkies crated but I don't think they are the typical show breeder. From what I've experienced most show breeders do keep their yorkies crated, they don't free roam in their homes, nor allowed to play in yards. It's one of the aspects of being a show breeder that I've always thought was sad, that their yorkies are for the most part caged animals....loved (?) yes, but still caged.
I've posted before about the temperament of my 3, a show breeders dog, a puppymill girl and my parti yorkie....of the 3, Razz my parti boy has retained the most terrier like personality.
I don't really understand how those that show can be so adamant that blue/tan are to be striven for bc that is what the original breeders of yorkies intended the dog to be...a blue/tan terrier. But, then those same show breeders don't think the "ratting" instinct is of equivalent importance, when it obviously was important to those original breeders????.....Elle??? |
I saw the video earlier. It's interesting. I have to wonder what inbreeding co-efficient those foxes had and how much (if anything) that had to do with it.
What I've asked in this thread is if the American standard is too vague and if that vagueness could lead to loose interpretations of the standard that could affect the breed over time.
Something I've noticed is that a Yorkshire is not fully mature at the age at which many are being championed. Most here would agree that the coat doesn't mature until 2-3 years yet many dogs are championed at just over a year. How would some of those dogs fare if judged at 2-3 years? Would the coat still be the correct color? Would the proportions of the dog change? Does the standard apply to a 15 month old dog the same as it would for a 3 year old?
I can say that my dogs definitely show quite a few changes between those ages. Early on, they show more snout and look a little 'lankier' until they hit the 2 year+ mark. Then the skull fills out and the nose looks more in proportion and they fill out and lose the lanky look to the body and are a more balanced dog overall. I think they would stand a better chance in the ring later rather than sooner.
I know there are some dogs that have long show careers and win for several years. I wonder if some of those championed early on would do as well later in life. Obviously for dogs shown in the puppy class allowances are made for the age, but for those in the 12-18 month class, are they judged the same as a veteran dog? If so, isn't that mis-applying the standard and couldn't that affect the breed's traits over time? I don't yet show so these are just questions I have, but are things I wonder about.