Color Question

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by Pinehaven

I thought the standard was Blue and Tan (not gold). There was no mention of Gold in the YTCA Standards page? That's where the standards come from? Or is there another set of standards? Just curious.

On the head fall they mention golden tan and deep rich tan's, which i'm assuming is the 'golden' color people are refering too.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Pinehaven

I thought the standard was Blue and Tan (not gold). There was no mention of Gold in the YTCA Standards page? That's where the standards come from? Or is there another set of standards? Just curious.

There is only 1 Standard in the USA as set forth by YTCA and AKC. The Canadian club and British have their own standard, but is very much the same as the US, however, they do have disqualifications written in theirs. Something that the YTCA is in the process of doing right now.

[Pinehaven]

Originally Posted by kalina82

On the head fall they mention golden tan and deep rich tan's, which i'm assuming is the 'golden' color people are refering too.

Thanks for clarifying. I do see that it says "golden tan" in their reference to head color. I'm still a bit baffled as to why we have so many black saddled Yorkies (I have my own). Black/tan and Black/gold color seems to be accepted by most, yet that color should also be considered off standard, shouldn't it?

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Pinehaven

Thanks for clarifying. I do see that it says "golden tan" in their reference to head color. I'm still a bit baffled as to why we have so many black saddled Yorkies (I have my own). Black/tan and Black/gold color seems to be accepted by most, yet that color should also be considered off standard, shouldn't it?

Yes, you are correct, it is off standard. Puppies when born are black with tan points. As they mature, the coat should turn to a dark steel blue. Yes, there are alot of black yorkies and some are in the ring and obtain their championships. It doesn't make it correct.

[Breny]

Thanks everyone for your input !!! I appreciate it ! I am starting my search...don't know yet what I'll choose but I'm starting now so I can be chosey. I'm excited to start my search for my new girl

[Timmy]

She's absolutely adorable!!!


"Always remember whatever you do is your choice and no one elses"

I have a black & tan and gold & blue baby and they are no where near show quality but I love them anyway.

[YorkieRose]

This bitch does not put me off, color-wise. She may have lightened due to hormonal changes..very common. If I get a bitch too light, I breed her to a deep steel blue, as ideal as possible, which should with every breeding IMO.

I would pick a Yorkie that has gone too light ,as to one that is black..in a black, the color gene has not diluted at all..hard to change. I think it is easier to bring in proper color and darken a line as opposed to ridding it of soft/cotton, black coats.
I like to use the terms, gold, tan, tri-color gold, shaded gold..instead of designer colors cream, rust, beige...no offense.

[katie'smom]

I also am stumped about this color issue. My dogs I feel are a little light in color, but I have had people tell me that they have wonderful coloring. I suspect too that the hormone thing could affect changes because Katie is 2 1/2 and I can still see changes in her coloring at times. Her mother however had what i would consider to be almost perfect coloring! Max has a deeper blue that she does, but his face is lighter. I see so many variations I am not sure what is right anymore. I think Katie is light but then i see show pictures of winners that I would consider lighter than her! So how do we really know? And if the black and tan is not correct coloring then why do they list it as a choice on the registration papers? Someone please clarify a little!?

[JCarlson2004]

I can't offer any advice because I'm not a breeder. But I just want to say that she is stunning!

[tegamom1]

Originally Posted by kalina82

she is pretty but IMO i wouldn't use her colors to breed just because its a pretty, unusual color. It is still a flaw according to breed standards and if i were a breeder i would want to stick with what is expected of the breed. I understand that some people feel parti's, chocolates, creams, reds, etc can still be bred if its only for a pet but i don't understand why.

We had a yorkie come in for a liver and spleen biopsy today. i was all excited to smush on her, but when i saw her i was like whaa? she was extremely small, had a pointy face, wirey hair and weird coloring. Is this what people want when they are looking for rare or unusual coloring, i asked myself. Sure she was a nice dog, but totally did not look like a yorkie to me. She was so far off base with yorkie standards that i felt bad for teh owners. did they know what they were getting when they purchased a yorkie puppy only to have it turn out looking like a wirey, Silky looking, red/black mess?

There are so many other things to think about when you start wanting to get into breeding non-standard colors/attributes. if you stick to the breed standard you can get puppies from excellent lines and breed them to produce excellent puppies that you can sell for pet quality. Just because they have champions in their lines doesn't mean you can strictly sell your puppies as pets. That's what i would do if i were to breed. but that's just my opinion. You have to look at what you want to accomplish and what you want to provide.

Genetics is tricky. You do not know what other genes hair color is tied to. For example, White in almost every other animal and breed of dogs also connected with Blue eyes, and deafness. Think Dalmation. If you get a Dal with mostly white ears and no black 'eye liner' , that dog is probably going to be deaf. I'm not saying this against parti's and biewers. I think about the white in biewers possibly complicating things and causing deaf puppies If there gets to be too much white on the dog.
we don't know yet what the "chocolate gene" is tied to, if anything. same goes with the red, cream, and what have you.

its something to think about. Maybe you might find that after you've been breeding for certain colors a certain bad personality trait or physical trait starts emerge more and more in your dogs that you really dont want. What if it causes a lot of health problems in the dogs future and their own can't afford to take care of it. Or what if its a bad personality trait (ie aggression/shyness/aloofness/fear) and the people you sold the dog to end up being liable for something the dog did?

Another example: when the 'doodes' started to become popular i saw a lot of problems with them in the vets office. Quite a few of them were returned to the breeder or euthanized because of aggression. These dogs either had straight up aggression or they were SO fearful that they bit people who came to close because they were terrified.

what would you do as a breeder then, knowing that you may have caused these problems by producing a dog that people only thought they wanted because it looked pretty?


just food for thought. I intend no blame, finger pointing, or anything like that. These are just things i've thought about recently with more and more people posting that they would like to have these "rare" yorkies because they are 'pretty' or 'cool looking'.

[Pinehaven]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Yes, you are correct, it is off standard. Puppies when born are black with tan points. As they mature, the coat should turn to a dark steel blue. Yes, there are alot of black yorkies and some are in the ring and obtain their championships. It doesn't make it correct.

How can black coated yorkie obtain their championship if they are obviously off colored, as per the standard? I guess they must be perfect in every other way? As rigid as the standards seem to be, I'm surprised that black coats are even allowed in the show ring?

[Breny]

Originally Posted by JCarlson2004

I can't offer any advice because I'm not a breeder. But I just want to say that she is stunning!

She is beautiful. I love her in pink !!!

[YorkieRose]

Sorry, I do not agree..she is a very common bitch color. Look at Durrers, many of hers are this color. Parkside had several bitches her color in the ring here last year..but the saddle was the same color from neck to tail, not a deep steel blue at all...this bitches rear has faded too much, but hormones will do it when she comes into heat....her gold is tri-gold and her saddle has diluted.
Correct color is in the eye of the breeder..some look at soot black and swear it is steel blue, other think light silver is correct...
Color is an easier fault to correct as opposed to a structure fault, bite problem, temperment ...JMO

[bobbiej]

I have chocolates in my line, I also have blondes. I have a friend in TN who has been breeding yorkies for a very long time and we have never had a chocolate or blonde with any unusual health problems. I have a small chocolate male that is 5 years old and has never been sick a day in his life. My little blonde is 3 and niether has she. My friend has a chocolate that is 12 years old and she is perfectly healthy, can see and hear and all the other things that have been mentioned. I love my "off colors". They are just as sweet and loving as my "standards". There are a lot of people who like the "off" colors and since I have never met anyone who has had any unusual problems with them, I will continue with my "off color" breeding line. Guess it'a all a matter of opinion, but it would sure be a boring world if we all looked alike!

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Pinehaven

How can black coated yorkie obtain their championship if they are obviously off colored, as per the standard? I guess they must be perfect in every other way? As rigid as the standards seem to be, I'm surprised that black coats are even allowed in the show ring?

The standard is written dark steel blue.....it's up for interpretation....it's how the judge sees it. There are so many variables that happen in the ring....you may have a correct color pattenered yorkie in the ring, but structerly incorrect....the black colored may have everything else about them that is correct......get it. Judges, judge by the qualities of the dog, breeders look at faults......