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Mike1975 · 11-27-2015, 12:25 PM

One last thing... I promise

There is no doubt that its all in the eye of the beholder.
But, if we know and understand the history involved for each and every trait, it would be easier to visualize more subjectively what we want.

For example, in 1894 the color was "Bright steel blue" but in 1903 the color changed to "Dark steel blue".
What happened?

In Herbert Compton's book "The twentieth Century dog" published in 1904, there is a standard given by Mr F. Randal, the first secretary of the Yorkshire Terrier Club.

This was not the same standard as was written in Mr Drury's book "British dogs, their points, selection, and show preparation" written one year earlier (1903). It had slight changes - although the color described as "dark steel blue".

Mr Compton shared the opinions of Mr F. Randal and Mr Fred Poole for this change.
Fred Poole represented the Northerners and the "Halifax and District Yorkshire Terrier Club", while Mr F Randal, represented the Southerners and the "Yorkshire Terrier Club".

It seems that there was a debate about color and the saturation point of blue.

Both gentlemen were satisfied with yorkies shown in THEIR district, but not with yorkies shown elsewhere.

Mr Randal stated that:
" In my opinion the type of Yorkshire Terrier shown in London and the South cannot be improved. I consider the dark, steel-blue (not silver) a great improvement on the pale-coloured dogs, which seem to generally preferred in the North, and are easier to breed than the darker ones."

On the other hand Mr Poole stated :
" I am quite satisfied with type, as I think a good specimen of today is as near perfection as it is possible to get. My club, the Halifax and District Yorkshire Terrier Club, is the oldest society in existence of its kind and going very strong, with plenty of members. All the champion dogs of the past and present owe their origin to Halifax, such as Halifax Marvel, the sire of these three noted dogs : Ch. Ted, Ch Merry Mascot and Ch. Ashton Queen."

It seems that Mr Randal's view prevailed.

Joan Gordon wrote in her book "The new Complete Yorkshire terrier" :

"Silver was never a desired color as can be demonstrated by the early write-ups of winning dogs. When bright steel blue was replaced by dark steel blue, one of the breed's original rules established by the originators of the breed was violated. A course was laid that would lead to black yorkies with tans intermingled with sooty, gray or black hairs. For the use of "dark" was to define the depth of color desired. The point remains that "bright" more lucidly illustrates what was originally desired.

Bright gives illumination to steel blue showing that it should reflect light. It would seem likely that the General Meeting of the Yorkshire Terrier Club in London, January 5, 1911, was a very lively encounter.When the last of the old guard fell before a hail of words from the new recruits to the breed, a new standard was drawn up.
The pet dog of the North, became the Toy dog of the South..."

The standard that was laid down by the Yorkshire Terrier Club that was represented by Mr. F. Randall, was also written in Leslie William's book "A manual of toy dogs". This book has 3 editions. The first edition was written in 1904, the second in 1910 and the third - which I provide - was written in 1919. According to the Yorkshire Terrier Club history, Mr F. Randall was the first secretary of the Club from 1898 - 1904. Then again from 1907 - 1910.

From my research and according to books that I've found, there are references for bright steel blue, until 1922.

At least 2 authors provided us with the "bright steel blue" color in the standard after 1904.

Mr Watson in his book "The dog Book" written in 1905 and Mr Leighton in 3 of his books written from 1907 to 1922.
"The new book of the dog" - 1907
"Dogs and all about them" - 1910
"The complete book of the dog" - 1922

Mr. Leighton, in all 3 of his books, provided us with almost the same standard as given by Mr Coombs back in 1891.

I say "almost" because in the standard provided by Mr. Coombs, there is no reference for "All tan should be darker at the roots than at the middle of the hairs, shading off to a still lighter tan at the tips.".

On the other hand all these "bright steel blue" standards, make reference to the hair under the chin :
" Under the chin, long hair, about the same colour as on the crown of the head, which should be a bright, golden tan, and not on any account intermingled with dark or sooty hairs."

11-27-2015, 12:25 PM	#4
Mike1975 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2012 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 174	One last thing... I promise There is no doubt that its all in the eye of the beholder. But, if we know and understand the history involved for each and every trait, it would be easier to visualize more subjectively what we want. For example, in 1894 the color was "Bright steel blue" but in 1903 the color changed to "Dark steel blue". What happened? In Herbert Compton's book "The twentieth Century dog" published in 1904, there is a standard given by Mr F. Randal, the first secretary of the Yorkshire Terrier Club. This was not the same standard as was written in Mr Drury's book "British dogs, their points, selection, and show preparation" written one year earlier (1903). It had slight changes - although the color described as "dark steel blue". Mr Compton shared the opinions of Mr F. Randal and Mr Fred Poole for this change. Fred Poole represented the Northerners and the "Halifax and District Yorkshire Terrier Club", while Mr F Randal, represented the Southerners and the "Yorkshire Terrier Club". It seems that there was a debate about color and the saturation point of blue. Both gentlemen were satisfied with yorkies shown in THEIR district, but not with yorkies shown elsewhere. Mr Randal stated that: " In my opinion the type of Yorkshire Terrier shown in London and the South cannot be improved. I consider the dark, steel-blue (not silver) a great improvement on the pale-coloured dogs, which seem to generally preferred in the North, and are easier to breed than the darker ones." On the other hand Mr Poole stated : " I am quite satisfied with type, as I think a good specimen of today is as near perfection as it is possible to get. My club, the Halifax and District Yorkshire Terrier Club, is the oldest society in existence of its kind and going very strong, with plenty of members. All the champion dogs of the past and present owe their origin to Halifax, such as Halifax Marvel, the sire of these three noted dogs : Ch. Ted, Ch Merry Mascot and Ch. Ashton Queen." It seems that Mr Randal's view prevailed. Joan Gordon wrote in her book "The new Complete Yorkshire terrier" : "Silver was never a desired color as can be demonstrated by the early write-ups of winning dogs. When bright steel blue was replaced by dark steel blue, one of the breed's original rules established by the originators of the breed was violated. A course was laid that would lead to black yorkies with tans intermingled with sooty, gray or black hairs. For the use of "dark" was to define the depth of color desired. The point remains that "bright" more lucidly illustrates what was originally desired. Bright gives illumination to steel blue showing that it should reflect light. It would seem likely that the General Meeting of the Yorkshire Terrier Club in London, January 5, 1911, was a very lively encounter.When the last of the old guard fell before a hail of words from the new recruits to the breed, a new standard was drawn up. The pet dog of the North, became the Toy dog of the South..." The standard that was laid down by the Yorkshire Terrier Club that was represented by Mr. F. Randall, was also written in Leslie William's book "A manual of toy dogs". This book has 3 editions. The first edition was written in 1904, the second in 1910 and the third - which I provide - was written in 1919. According to the Yorkshire Terrier Club history, Mr F. Randall was the first secretary of the Club from 1898 - 1904. Then again from 1907 - 1910. From my research and according to books that I've found, there are references for bright steel blue, until 1922. At least 2 authors provided us with the "bright steel blue" color in the standard after 1904. Mr Watson in his book "The dog Book" written in 1905 and Mr Leighton in 3 of his books written from 1907 to 1922. "The new book of the dog" - 1907 "Dogs and all about them" - 1910 "The complete book of the dog" - 1922 Mr. Leighton, in all 3 of his books, provided us with almost the same standard as given by Mr Coombs back in 1891. I say "almost" because in the standard provided by Mr. Coombs, there is no reference for "All tan should be darker at the roots than at the middle of the hairs, shading off to a still lighter tan at the tips.". On the other hand all these "bright steel blue" standards, make reference to the hair under the chin : " Under the chin, long hair, about the same colour as on the crown of the head, which should be a bright, golden tan, and not on any account intermingled with dark or sooty hairs."