breed standard

[JiggityJig]

Ummmm...."toy" and "terrier" are two completely different designations, are they not? Not mutually exclusive.

Here is some interesting background, and I'd be interested to hear from others how accurate they thought this was:

For a long time in almost the whole of England, serfs, or bonded labourers, were not allowed to hunt. This rule dated from the 11thcentury. To keep these poor people from ignoring that ban, they were only allowed to have very small dogs which were thought to be not suitable for hunting. The king's foresters supervised this very strictly by measuring all the dogs they met. The dog had to be able to pass through a hoop 7 inches in diameter then – it was small enough and could be kept.

At first the dogs were used to catch rats and mice, although they weren't really suited to this – cats were better at this job. Nevertheless the dogs were helpful in supplementing their poor owner's diet as they now and again caught a rabbit or other small game despite the ban.

So over time, sturdy little terrier-like dogs were bred which did not contravene the rules but which could be used as hunting dogs by their owners. But the further development to the Yorkshire Terrier of today was still a long way off.

[sashajade]

Originally Posted by JiggityJig

Ummmm...."toy" and "terrier" are two completely different designations, are they not? Not mutually exclusive.

Here is some interesting background, and I'd be interested to hear from others how accurate they thought this was:

its called a yorkshire TERRIER for a reason, they were bred from other TERRIERS. also that is from the 11th centery, yorkies were not around then.

[JiggityJig]

My point was that a terrier CAN be in the "toy" size division. They are not contradictory.

[sashajade]

Originally Posted by JiggityJig

My point was that a terrier CAN be in the "toy" size division. They are not contradictory.

very true.

[sashajade]

in 1861 when yorkies were first shown they were called the scotch terrier then in 1886 they were called the yorkshire terrier. the breeds of dog that are thought to make up the yorkie were larger sized breeds than the yorkie we see today but they did then breed with smaller breeds and over the years both sizes pop up.

[sashajade]

if you look on www.doggroups.com and look up yorkshire terrier you will find out some good info on the breed.

[sashajade]

also look on http;//www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/a2986158

[doortego]

[QUOTE=JeanieK]1891
Two classes
Under 5 pounds
over 5 pounds, but not to exceed 12 pounds.

1904
Three Classes
5# ands under
7# and under
Over 7#


1912 - 1966
The AKC accepted the Canadian Standard, which (in my book) does not list a weight standard

1966
Weight up to 7 pouinds was added to the standard and has remained.



/QUOTE]

Apparently there have been small Yorkies for at least 116 years if the standards included a class for under 5 lbs in 1891.

I don't really understand the controversy about the sizes.

I love my little 3 1/2 pounder and she seems healthy to me.

Is the Yorkie the only breed that seems to have such a size difference?? Are there 3 lb Maltese, Chihuahuas etc?

Just curious

[sashajade]

thanks for putting that on here im not sure they dont seem to be much difference with those breeds, i guess theres ones like poodles that come in 2 sizes. i love the little ones to and if im honest i think the little ones are normaly cuter looking than the bigger yorkies but it shouldnt be about looks they shouldnt come b4 health, my heart goes out to the poor little ones who have low suger cos they are so small.

[Chrissy0277]

Is the Yorkie the only breed that seems to have such a size difference?? Are there 3 lb Maltese, Chihuahuas etc?

I know I have seen some chihuahuas that were like 10 pounds or more and some maltese that were the size of a bichon

[doortego]

I have seen some pretty hefty chihuahuas too. I'm just not real familiar with anything but poodles, yorkies & cocker spaniels.

I had a tiny (less than 5#) toy poodle that was perfectly heathy but then I know that there are large standard poodles which are also fine. It is rather amazing to think there can be that much difference. I know humans come in all different sizes too but usually no more than double or perhaps triple, but in the poodles it would be like ten times the size.

[BamaFan121s]

What's wrong with the way the standard is set now? IMO, the reasons listed here should be a basis for promoting breeding to the standard, not an excuse to change it to accomodate for all those who went against it and bred anyway.
That's like saying, "well, since everyone is going to go 90 MPH on the highway anyway, we may as well change the speed limit for them..."

[ARCHIE]

Originally Posted by JiggityJig

Okay, I'll say right up front that I could be entirely off, so I hope that someone with more knowledge shows up to comment....

...but my impression has always been that, smaller sizes (ie: smaller than say 10 lbs! I'm not talking teacup sizes here!) were ALWAYS a desired trait when this breed started being developed, because of the whole purpose of them (fitting into small places as rat hunters).

And I'll throw up another comment fully admitting that I need someone to educate me....but, for the people desiring LARGER yorkies, why not move on to the Silky breed? With all the teapot yorkies that exist, it's already very hard sometimes to tell the difference between the two. And Silkies are adorable and wonderful dogs in their own right!

People purchase Yorkies because of temperment also. If I wanted a Silky I would have purchased a Silky. The two breeds may look similar but the temperment is better on the Yorkieshire Terrier. They have more of a personality. I wish people would remember that the original Yorkie was much larger and it was "MAN" who changed the breed. There will always be larger Yorkies, not necessarly breed but the genes are still there in the breed. It can't be helped sometimes, however, the tiny ones are deliberately breed to be smaller because they bring in more money. I, for one, would never purchase one. It would scare me to death to have something so small.
All the talk about this breed is not to be believed. If you are not showing why would anyone care so much about size. There will always be larger Yorkies!
Believe me, there is nothing in the world better than to own one. If something
ever happened to Buddy I would purchase another big Yorkie. You have the best of both worlds. They are big enough for families with children and they have what we all love about the breed, personality and a beautiful coat. Carol

[sashajade]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

What's wrong with the way the standard is set now? IMO, the reasons listed here should be a basis for promoting breeding to the standard, not an excuse to change it to accomodate for all those who went against it and bred anyway.
That's like saying, "well, since everyone is going to go 90 MPH on the highway anyway, we may as well change the speed limit for them..."

breed standard was CHANGED to fit fashion it was nothing to do with the breed, yorkies were LARGE and the breed standard fitted with this. all the little tiny yorkies are not what the breed first was so in fact if fashion hadnt changed then yorkies would still be large and that would still be the breed standard now. the breed standard shouldnt just be about looks, it should be about the health of the breed then looks and imo its the other way around at the moment, its fact that you are more likely to have health problems with a little yorkie than you are with a larger one so in other words breed standard says forget weather your yorkie is healthy forget weather they will suffer from low suger forget weather its more easy for them to get injured as all we care about is your yorkie is little and cute the coats right the heights right the weights right thats all that matters who cares if it was unheathly for the breed to be bred down in size.

[sashajade]

just like when they said who cares if bull dogs cant breath properly anymore cos we want there nose flat, you cares if the apple head of a chi can cause brain damage, who cares if breeds are unhealthy at least they look good.