How much white makes a parti?

[Pinehaven]

Originally Posted by YorkyDiva

But aren't the Parti Yorkie breeders insisting that all Yorkies are carriers of the Parti genes?

No, since the breed began from different dogs and different bloodlines, not all yorkies carry the parti gene, just as not all carry for chocolate, golden, and the grey dilution gene that turns the black coat to steel blue.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Breezeaway

The standard Yorkie is NOT born all Black. It is born black and tan/gold. It looks like a little doberman when born. Then after about a week or so they look like fat little rottweilers....

Nancy may have just worded it a bit off... Pups are born black with tan points....and yes, I've had them born with white on their feet and on their chest....a white that turns to tan.....

I've never ever seen a Parti up close and personal......so, I can't tell you what they look like at birth.

[AlicetheYorkie]

Originally Posted by Pinehaven

AKC told me that if a dog has 30% or more white, they will list it as parti colored, but that doesn't mean that the dog is actually a carrier of 2 copies of the parti gene (a copy of the gene from each parent). Even though the dog is being called "parti" it may in fact only be a loudly marked parti carrier who only has one copy of the parti gene, received from one parent, not both.

Ya know I never saw it explained that way and it makes sense. Alice was the only pup in the litter that was predominantly white - there were 2 others that had white just on the chest area (like OP's pup) and the mother had the same white marking but the father was traditional black/tan. So I was leary at first that only one dog was really white, I thought it was a defect (mind you I didn't even know partis or biewers existed at the time) but I trust the breeder and she assured me it was not and that all 3 of her dog's litters had 1 strongly colored white parti. Interesting stuff genetics is sooo confusing lol.

[YorkyDiva]

Originally Posted by Pinehaven

No, since the breed began from different dogs and different bloodlines, not all yorkies carry the parti gene, just as not all carry for chocolate, golden, and the grey dilution gene that turns the black coat to steel blue.

Oh, ok got it! Thanks for answering my question.

[Breezeaway]

Parti color puppies are born parti color they do not get white later.
Here is what a litter can look like when born. In this there were 2 parti color puppies. The other two are Black and gold in color.