The Yorkie but not as we know it.....

[Corrine Parrott]

My bear RIP looked like a regular yorkie pup except the size of his feet. He grew to 13lbs. turned blue silver and champagne and had long floppy ears. I received a picture of his breed when he was born. He line was from Pike's not another devil son of manley. But I am sure he was part poodle.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by roxies_mom

Here's an interesting link I found. If you scroll down far enough you'll see a yorkie. It's kind of a cool article.
Google Image Result for http://www.dogguide.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/1828_117512538563.jpg

Such cute stories!

And my Jackson is definitely ALL dog. Even though he is spoiled by me, he loves nothing more than to go out side and explore, dig holes, catch mice, lizards and anything else he can get his hands on, he LOVES being a dog and it makes me so happy to see him enjoying life so very much. He would much prefer to be outdoors than inside. Here's a great example:

[Woogie Man]

I just love the 'throwbacks' and wish there were some way for them to be properly acknowledged. Actually, I love ALL Yorkies, but those with the original traits are wonderful.

If you look in The Complete Yorkshire Terrier, you'll see some great illustrations of how they first looked. My Archie is this type and he is an exceptional dog. He is 11 pounds and has many of the early traits. Not to today's standard, but really a great little man. Everybody loves him and he has terrific instincts. Here's a recent photo of him....

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

I just love the 'throwbacks' and wish there were some way for them to be properly acknowledged. Actually, I love ALL Yorkies, but those with the original traits are wonderful.

If you look in The Complete Yorkshire Terrier, you'll see some great illustrations of how they first looked. My Archie is this type and he is an exceptional dog. He is 11 pounds and has many of the early traits. Not to today's standard, but really a great little man. Everybody loves him and he has terrific instincts. Here's a recent photo of him....

Aw, he is a CUTIE!

[roxies_mom]

Originally Posted by Britster

Aw, he is a CUTIE!

lol that's what I said and then saw your post so I just want to echo what you said!

[Woogie Man]

Originally Posted by Britster

Aw, he is a CUTIE!

Thanks.. I love that second picture of Jackson....obviously a true terrier to the core!!

[yorkiekist]

Originally Posted by shell820810

This is from a breeders club in the UK

Genetic Work

Other news Nov/Dec 2006 is that there is a breeding programme under way to ensure the survival of the pre 1920's Yorkshire Terrier. This is organised and supported by our society. It is extraordinarily difficult to find pedigree KC registered individuals who carry the characteristics of the original Yorkshire Terrier. This original gene pool is essential if the breed is to continue devoid of defects caused by modern inbreeding. We are currently in consultation with rare breed societies who have given invaluable help with reference to identifying individuals carrying the correct genes without being close relatives.

Shows

To complement work on genetics an informal meeting and show took place where pre 1920's Yorkshire Terriers were exhibited.

Philosophy

The dog should be a healthy, robust individual. The individual should be kept in a practical way as originally intended and without modificatins which arrived later. Females should be able to birth naturally. The dog should of suitable temperament for family life.

Standard Setting

1) The overall look should be terrier type with a clear stop where the muzzle joins the head.
2) Ears are folded, where breeding has produced a pricked ear this can be countered by the weight of hair thus producing the typical pre 20's Yorkshire Terrier look. Hair should be allowed to provide cover for the ear but no more.
3) Weight should be over 7lbs and up to 23lbs.
4) The dog should be well built and muscular. There should be plenty of bone.
5)The nose should be black and button like.
6) The leg should be well set on, square and carry the dog forward in an athletic manner with a straight gait.
7)The back should be straight not curved.
8) Tails should be long, well set on and carried below topline with feather.
9) Face furnishings should be of practical length excessive length or shortening must be avoided.
10) Hair on the head, body and legs should also be clipped to practical length. Feather on the legs should be tidy but of suitable protective cover. The hair around the eyes should be trimmed suitably so the dog can see without being impeded.
11)Teeth should have a good scissor bite.
12) The dog should have a happy demenour and give the impression of being an old traditional type of faithful dog.

I would prefer the smaller more delicate Yorkie we have now.

Interesting. I am wondering how anyone can know about the "defects" in the breed pre 1920? How do they know that "modern breeding" caused these "defects"? Most of the technology for health "defects" testing was not aound pre 1920. Where would they get an "original gene pool" when alot of the dogs used to produce the Yorkie are extinct? Why are the ears to be folded? Some will stand no matter how much hair is on them. If you look at alot of pre 1920;s yorkies, the top-lines are not straight. So why the straight topline in the "standard"? Alot of the bigger Yorkies as well as other bigger breeds need c-sections. So why is that in the "standard"? It seems to me someone is just looking for a good reason to breed larger Yorkies. JMO

[roxies_mom]

Originally Posted by Sweetlips6

I too, smiled when I read the pre-1920 yorkie description. What a happy little dog, with a purpose for life!
Even though I love my little 5 pounder, and the smaller ones are adorable, it almost seems unnatural to keep breeding such small babies. What next a 1 pounder? How cute - it fits in my shirt pocket
And don't think for a second that that little 3 lb yorkie with the little fru-fru dress would not love to dig a big dirt hole or kill a mouse.
My husband says all the time that he feels sorry for Bonnie because I won't let her be a dog. But I can't because she is too small and I worry that she might get hurt. I do feel I don't let her have any "fun" because I am over-protective.
Chewing on a bully stick is no substitute to running free and catching a crow. LOL

It is true that the smaller they are the more fragile they seem to be physically and health wise. Roxie is 5 lbs. also and I remember when I first brought her home and how tiny she was at 10 weeks. She'd get lost in the fresh cut grass outside! There were times when I was so nervous about her size and doing everything right so she would be healthy and safe that I wondered why did I want this? She is my first small dog and it really was intimidating to me. I personally wouldn't want one smaller from fear of having a nervous breakdown. I love the bigger yorkies (I do love them all) too and would love to have one someday.

[lgoodall]

I like the smaller Yorkie. I love to pick my baby up, and carry him around. He fits so well in my arms. Going back to the original Yorkie will be difficult.My book on Yorkies states that there was alot of intermingling to get the first dogs to actually be called Yorkshire Terriers. It was a breed unique to Yorkshire County. Mid nineth century Yorkies weighed approximately 12 lbs. They were first shown at a dog show in 1861 in New-Castle -on Tyne in England Queen Victoria had a Yorkie. But they did have very humble beginnings as ratters

[luvfla]

Keegan is very much like the original except his tail was docked. He is very dense, floppy ears etc. & he is a KILLER!!! Clarence on the other hand is a pretty face...he'll stand in the doorway braking as if to egg Keegan on, but nay-nay his little mouth would not DREAM of touching it to a snake!
Sophie is a baby so we don't know where her spirit is going to land. If she follows her actions of late, she'll be like Keegan...fearless!

[QuickSilver]

It's nice to see a breed standard that emphasizes vigor and health.

I love my little 4 lb Thor to pieces, but I'm sure if it were up to him, he'd weigh at least twenty pounds. He is absolutely at his happiest running around in the grass, chasing after birds. I think he gets very tired of always being the smallest dog in the park.

[Lynn WDW]

Baxter is 6 3/4 lbs. which I think is tiny and I am amazed at the people who think he is big for a yorkie. He is all dog and tries to convince me of it daily. Heaven forbid he ever sees a mouse. He stops all bugs that get in the house. I would love to turn him loose outside and let him have a go at catching some of the many squirrels that live in our yard. But I'm not totally convinced he's a dog yet.

[celstu1]

Originally Posted by Lynn WDW

Baxter is 6 3/4 lbs. which I think is tiny and I am amazed at the people who think he is big for a yorkie. He is all dog and tries to convince me of it daily. Heaven forbid he ever sees a mouse. He stops all bugs that get in the house. I would love to turn him loose outside and let him have a go at catching some of the many squirrels that live in our yard. But I'm not totally convinced he's a dog yet.

Its funny... I hear this a lot that people think 6 & 7 lb yorkies are BIG! Everyone who meets my Dex who is 5.5 - 6lbs thinks he is TINY! Noone I ever met even said my Fletcher is big and he is at 9lbs! To everyone I meet they are both tiny dogs! I love Fletcher's size, it's perfect... however my Dexter is the one people always flock to. I don't know if it's the teddy bear face or his tiny size. Whenever I have him with me people stop to pet him and talk to me all the time.

[KYsweetheart]

My Ally is the smaller Yorkie... she is probably 5 lbs.

[AmyChristine]

I really love this breed, large, small, whatever the size is. The first yorkie I ever met was 14 lbs and absolutely beautiful. I think the most important thing to preserve about the breed is not size but temperment they should be a sturdy, confident dog. Vigor and Health should be important to every breed, especially terrier types. The standard has changed over the years, slowly and carefully, but also imo practically to meet the needs of the breed and fancier alike. Like other's posted I don't believe that the size alone contributed to health problems.