Body Structure
 

Hi.

Penny is half pug and half yorkie (a standard yorkie not one of the small ones(

She is 9 month now, nearly 10 month and probably about fully grown.

One thing I have noticed which is different to my labrador is Penny's back (width ways) is hers is flat and wide! Like my other dogs backs (and I thought all dogs backs) are rounded.

Is this pug or yorkie? Or does she have a deformed back? Thanks

I believe that would be the Pug genes. Most of the Pugs I know have wider backs that give the illusion of a flat area.

Oh right, I honestly thought it was yorkie who were flat across the top of the back.

Ideally Yorkies have a straight/flat topline, lengthwise from the neck to the tail. That is why you will hear exhibitors say that a topline is so straight that they could set tea on it. :)

Width wise, chest girth is curved on a standard Yorkie. The standard Pug is built much more stocky, wider chest.

I agree with Kristen...sounds a bit more like a pug back-line.

Rounded backs
 

Other than a few breeds sighthounds for one no dogs\ back should be rounded upwards and for sure no Labs' that rounded back is called a roach back.


Pugs will have deeper wider chest and more rounded ribcage as compared to Yorkies but as far as I am aware they should have a straight topline.

The thing about a mixed puppy, is you have no idea what it will look like.

I have 2 puppies that are half yorkie and half powderpuff Chinese Crested (the ones with hair). I have kept up with all 5 of the puppies from the litter.

The mother is a black and white Crested with full hair and weighs 10 lbs.

The father is a Yorkie with a black saddle and weighs 4 1/2 lbs.

The puppies are 6 months old. There is no chance any other father was involved with the mother while she was in heat.

Puppy number 1 was the biggest puppy. He is 15 lbs and he looks like a Yorkie/poodle mix. He has curly hair that looks like poodle fur and his size is that of a poodle.

Puppy number 2 is about 6 lbs and she is black with a tiny white spot on her chest and she looks like a miniature version of her mother.

Puppy number 3 (Rowan) looks like a Yorkie/Schnauzer mix. He is black with gray (where Yorkies are tan) although he is turning more of a tan color. he is 7 1/2 lbs.

Puppy number 4 was the smallest puppy and she weighs 4 1/2 lbs and looks like a mini version of her mother, absolutely adorable.

Puppy number 5 (Raksha) looks like a Yorkie. She is just under 8 lbs. She is taller and longer than Rowan but he weighs almost as much as her as she is all leg and he is much more solid.

5 puppies and all different. Some look like they are mixes of other breeds. I have no doubt that if a rescue were to have gotten Rowan they would have told people he was a Schnauzer mix, even though he has no schnauzer in him. The biggest puppy would have been listed as a Poodle mix, again, no poodle in his gene's. Without knowing the mother was a Chinese Crested I am sure none of them would have been listed as part crested. Sometimes you just get what you get and you just love it for what you get.

My daughter adores Raksha and Raksha is the cutest and funniest and sassiest little dog. Rowan is my best buddy. He is fearless and loving and I couldn't ask for a better puppy. he looks more Schnauzer, but that is okay, I love him just the same.

I would say that a mix gets different aspects from both parents and hopefully gets the best health from both.

Good luck, I am sure he is a cutie!