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Originally Posted by bjh  Lol, I grew up around horses. Have you ever rode a horse with a bad trot? I got my first horse when I was in the 7th grade. She had the smoothest trot and canter. Over the years I would occasionally ride a horse with a horrible gate. A smooth gated horse can spoil you. 
As for judging a the proper yorkie gait, I know what I perceive as a proper gait. It seems that a some of the yorkies that win do not have the reach and drive but they have a rinky dinky movement. I guess some judges look for more than just proper movement. I have seen a few yorkies too with a hackney front movement. I don't like seeing a yorkie strung up on a real tight lead, it is hard to judge their true movement when they can barely put their front legs on the ground. |
Tight leads in our showing class were absolutely penalized. No stringing up of dogs.
Generally speaking the Yorkie should move like a terrier. Starting from the head to 90 degrees or almost there; ie an alert forward looking gaze. Tail carried high, and certainly not tucked, and not carried too far over the back.
The front paw should reach on footfall under the chin, not beyond it or behind it. The rear paw should match front extension. The paws on trot front and back should not cross each other on line of travel. The hock joint should be springy but not lax, and certainly not stiff. the distance the paw should travel from the ground ideally would be at the height of the ankle to the paw tip. There should be no hackneyed gait, or paddling. The top line should stay straight. The hindquarters should not evidence roll.
As our standard does not in any detail describe ideal gait what do you think about the above description?