[gemy]

This thread has gone off topic, and I remained confused again about Partis.

I've brought up on a number of occasions the paucity of CHIC numbers for the Yorkshire Terrier one
of the top five most popular breeds in USA and Canada. The YTCA has in my opinion moved in the right direction with the two tests they require, although BATS not being one as a prebreeding/screening test is something I don't understand, as well as Hyperuricosuria.

I also agree the new entries to the CHIC database will be illuminating as to the commitment of YTCA breeders to the CHIC program. And to follow the analogy, to the Parti breeders as well. If as seems to be a common statement; health is foremost in "any" breeding program, then do your utmost to take advantage of the best of health tests available. And yes it is costly, and not so convenient to find a board certified opthamologist, but it is just one of the hurdles a dedicated breeder will overcome.

Personally for me, personal recommendations of breeder xyz by YT member abc, are a very small part of what is my assessment process of a breeder I am looking at buying a purebred dog from. A large part of that assessment is founded on health tests done, and not just the minimum but above and beyond the minimum. I'd look at temperament tests, working ability of the dogs (and yes Yorkies were a working breed, which today has morphed into a "companion dog", certainly if that is their current main function, shouldn't breeders be breeding for a stable, loving, confident dog? I'd look at how the breeder supported me the "new" owner over the lifetime of my pet, but particularly in the first three months of ownership, when everything is all brand new, and I have the heeby jeebes over diet or stool, or barking, or teething, or the countless other things we worry about.

For me the Yorkshire Terrier that I love is the standard steel blue and tan, with a lively personality, confident, courageous, and very lovable. But they are stubborn, can be yappy, and do like to go their own way at times.

Are Partis cute, well I think so. Are they Yorkies, should they be shown? Quite frankly after two exhaustive threads on this topic, I am leaning towards them actually being Yorkshire Terriers, but they are off coloured and off standard as it exists today. Will the club change their standard? I very much doubt it in my lifetime, and I hope to live another 30 years of so.