I feel a correct top line is a MUST as well for a dog involved in a breeding program. HOWEVER, there is an exception to every rule. Now, if you take into consideration that the breeding dog in question is correct to standard in every other way and the topline is off due to something OTHER than say a roached back, then I would look at him/her gentically. Find out if this off topline seems to be something that might be dominate (many others have it in his lineage-INCLUDING progeny) or is might it be recessive? If recessive then I would certainly encourage any progeny go into responsible show homes and contact is kept to keep track of what THAT dog is producing-if anything- and/or those pups go to spay/neuter homes and a money back incentive is given. Just so you can still produce w/ the dog in question, but you're taking all procautions to still find out what your dog can/will produce when bred to certain lines yet still keep the progeny in check from reproducing themselves as needed. There are way too many Yorkies out there as it is and I think we're going the way of the AKC German Shepherd in this breed! That is to say that they're being mass produced and everyone has their own opinion of what a Yorkie's phenotype should be. I say stick w/ our standard and watch those frames! If we bred only the most perfect Yorkies in every way, we would wind up w/ a closed genetic program. Dogs and bitches w/ minor faults MUST be bred at some point, BUT those dogs should only be bred w/ someone that can announce those faults comfortably and breed accordingly and know what is dominate and what is recessive and keep track of any and all progeny to ensure (to one's best ability) that "they" are not reproducing...or if they are, the breeder passes on the knowledge of what to breed to and what not to and help them in the right direction of maintaining our breed standard as best we can.
jm2c.
ps I think frame is where it's at! That's the shocks/struts and body of a car-if that's off, everything will fall apart much sooner than it should! Especially w/ loads of wear and tear- and how many of us have inactive Yorkies? That's what I thought! *grin* Busy bodies need a frame that can hold up!
