My neighbor has a 7-year-old, 5 pound Yorkie that definitely has a roach back. People notice and comment on the curvature of his back. It isn't noticeable all the time - only occasionally.
However -- she didn't know this because she had never heard of such a thing - and her little dog is just a pet - and she isn't in to Yorkie Yorkie Yorkie stuff.
I can tell you that her little dog (still at 7) is a rough, tough, playing, jumping little dog. He runs up to her in the yard and jumps all the way up to her arms so that she can catch him and hold him. And - she says he drives her crazy running around the house and playing all the time. He has more energy than anything she has ever seen. She's wishes he just sit for a while once in a while. It certainly hasn't held him back - and I know it has never been a concern, and he has never had any special care ---he doesn't need it.
So - other than his appearance (and this often isn't even very noticeable), I doubt you need to worry about anything.
Good luck -- Carol Jean |