AKC was formed to uphold the epitome of each breed, and most breeders strive for that perfection. Since around 1859 these standards of pedigree have been evolving. The most famous being Westminster and Crofts for example. Not just anyone gets to show there.

People show dogs and breed dog to obtain and preserve the accepted standards for each breed.

We generally want the whole package - intelligence, breed personality, health and conformation in the breed,and these are usually very carefully planned

I am not a breeder- don't have the knowledge or experience for that - but that was surely what I went for when I was shopping for a breeder. To get the best and heaviest pup I could. It turned out to be a harder task than I thought as there are indiscriminate breeders out there who are not striving for that perfect specimen.

This is a Yorkie forum, and while we are generally in love with the canine species one should not be surprised to find a preponderance of members who want to hold "true to the breed" to continually improve the breed.

Farmers and ranchers strive for these same type standards in crops and animals. Seems like fairly sound thinking when looked at that way. They want to breed in the good traits and breed out the problems.

We can't tell some one who and what to love, but don't citizen us for wanting to create and support the best.

When I first came to YT I was one of those uneducated people who thought it would be a "fun" thing to do to keep me busy after retirement to be a breeder. I had bought a little yorkie and was in love with the breed. Thankfully I found YT and some very nice people who explained to me without harsh words what it really meant to be a responsible breeder of our beloved yorkies and changed my mind for me. I would LOVE to be one of those who had the resources to show my dogs and raise them but alas I am not and I for one am thankful for people Gemy being one of those who helped me see the light. I am a very sensitive person its just my nature and get my feelings hurt to easily my DH tells me but they were very understanding with me. I tried also OP to be very open minded and take the expert advise I had sought out :). Have a nice evening all.

Actually studies show infant mortality rates are higher in the hospitals than out nowadays.

I've had 4 out of 5 births in a birth center and would never go back to a hospital. The last one was mandatory because it was twins and I went into labor 2 months early and the parents wanted a hospital birth, but had they been my children, I would have had them at home.

The very reason Yorkies are smaller now is due to breeding of small dogs because that is a fashion item some people want. A good example of interference by humans to the detriment of the dog.

By bad humans in my opinion but I sure there are many who would have kept them the size they started out as. There are bad humans everywhere who do bad things just because they can but there is nothing that can be done about that. The standard is now what it is.