A good bite is thought to be a dominant trait. Therefore both dogs can have a good bite but carry the recessive gene for a bad bite. Unless the dog or bitch is homozygous for a good bite a bad one will pop up from time to time. Those sneaky recessives, you know.
A rye mouth is where the jaw is actually twisted. It often causes the bite to be fine on one side and off on the other.

What is 'the muzzle is not too long'. Someone recently told me that to judge the proper length of the muzzle you should lay two fingers over the muzzle and if the muzzle if more than two fingers long it is too long and if it is shorter than two fingers it is too short. Is that a good rule of thumb. Of course I guess it would also vary depending on the person and the size of their fingers and also the size of the dog.

Well, I don't show a dog with structural problems so it's up to the each individual breeder/exhibitor as to which fault they can live with. I personally strive for the perfect yorkie but of course we all know there isn't one. So, if in a litter one or if any do not fit my criteria they all go as pets. And I will try again. Some I believe show yorkies just to get a champion so they can sell puppies as championed sired for more money. I see so many bad representations in the ring I sometimes just sit and shake my head and wonder why these people aren't reading the standard....as some would say...sh"t happens...it's just how the genetics shake up...
Rye mouth is a cross bite...
Donna

I do too. There was YTCA talk a few years back of adopting it as the Standard so there could be no room for interpretation (sp).

Is the illustrated standard online or do you have to order it?

I got mine while I was in NY but I believe you can order it from the YTCA website. It was only $10. and well worth it.

Not to long is one of those things that are left to interpretation. Some prefer a more terrier head like is shown in the Illustrated Discussion and some prefer a more baby face like you'll see in Loraine's Pastoral dogs. I would look at proportion. The muzzle should be in proportion to the rest of the head and body of the dog, lending balance without ever looking coarse. You don't want to look like a silky but not a chi either.

I got mine when I became a member.....

Now Tami....my dogs are from Pastoral, decendent from Johnnie and they don't have baby faces.

Most of the Pastoral line does have rounder eyes and a shorter muzzle. The heads are so consistent in Lorraine's breeding that I can usually pick them out as being Pastoral. The Ozmillion dogs have a certain look as well, a bit more terrier, you'll see that look alot in England. What I'm saying is it really is a matter of taste as to how long the muzzle should be.

There is a varied of 'looks' when it comes to the head. I am not stuck on any certain look, I like to look at the whole package. Some yorkies look like they have longer muzzles when their facial hair is tied up but once it is let down they look beautiful. I am still struggling with the down faced look. Sometimes I will look at a yorkie and think it looks down faced but other times it will not look that way.

They do have a pretty head......but, I don't agree with you about the rounder eye.

Go-Go is out of Junior Pastoral Junior League whose out of Johnnie and Charmer is out of Baxter/Pastoral The Blues are Back also out of Johnnie......neither one of them had a rounder eye....very almond shaped and not baby faced.

Cup Cake the lil girl she just finished has a softer head, but very almond eyes.

I have a certain type that I like....but, am more of topline and movement person, but I do like a softer head.

My Go-Go does have a longer muzzle, you could really tell it when she was a pup, when her facial furnishings grew out the muzzle didn't look as long.

Down faced is very easy to tell. Look at a yorkie from the side profile....when it's head is level....the nose will definately show a downward slope....But, if you had the illustrated standard you'd really be able to pick them out.

I think some yorkies have a tendency to arch their neck when they are on a lead and sometimes that makes them appear down faced when they are not.

Nice discussion going on here. Good information.

Down muzzles - I hate this. Just not correct or appealing to me. Yes, you are right, some photos can seem like a yorkie has a down muzzle and then another photo taken of that same dog right after that first shot and the second photo does not show a down muzzle. It is always best to see a dog in real life to tell for sure. I think with the camera shots, it all depends on angles and lighting how it can through off a muzzle or not in the photo.

Bites -I would never keep a yorkie with an undershot or overbite. And I would never show one ever that did. When the pups are about 12 weeks and again at 6 months I take them to my vet and have their bites evaluated. My vet is pretty good and can tell by the jaw alignment is as to how the bite will turn out. Also at 6 -7 months, depending on the dog and size I take them in and have any baby teeth pulled. He is very good and knows which are the baby teeth. Never made a mistake yet. All my yorkies have scissors bite. I have not seen even, not that I can remember.

Eyes - love those almond shaped eyes - and love those long eyelashes you get on some - makes them look so doe like and sweet. :) Need that darker eye trim line around the eyes too.

Do you mean lead with their head? That at times is due to an incorrect lay back.

Your discription of doe like and sweet is so accurate.....especially when they're laying on the grooming table resting with their eyes closed.

But, you're right you have to have a vet that works with you and knows what they're doing.

I have to agree that a straight topline and good movement is a must for me. No matter how long and gorgeous a coat is - for me you better have a good foundation (bone structure). I had a dog one time in the old days that really taught me about a strong topline. He was of Mayfair line. Wow, really nice! I always remember that picture they told us back then - to image your dog being able to balance a cup and saucer on the top of his back while moving. I could really image him (Foxfire) doing this. He probably could have done this. Since then - I have to have good toplines. In movement - I like them having a nice reach. I will take videos and watch them move to see if they have this or not.

I have seen down noses and do not like them at all. It just looks odd to me.
LOL - many years ago when yorkies showed - we did not poof their topknot out, like they do today. I actually hate it - so hard to get right on a moving head. Mine take so long to learn to hold their head still. Now with the poof topknot - it can really change the look of the head. I am getting better with the topknots now, but I still cannot poof much. :D
JMO - I wish we would go back to just a pulled up topknot. You would be able to see the real head then.

I've also heard that a line run from the outside of each eye to the tip of the nose shoudl create a 90 degree triangle. There's a good article about it in the April 2009 addition of Yorky Club magazine.

You will see also some judges placing their fingers on the face of a dog - measuring and checking length/placement with eyes, muzzle, stop of head to muzzle, shape of head under the topknot, etc... in the ring to check.

It's true you can really hide a sloopy stop with a good poof. I love a great topline as well. The cup pciture is a good illustration. Connor has a heart shaped ribcage and I know he'd have no trouble balancing a cup. I hate slab sided. straight shoulders, and easty-westy ears. We all have our little pet peeves I guess.

My Charmer has that topline.....there is nothing I could do to him in the ring, his topline never faultered. Moves like he's on skates. I remember someone asking me to not work him in the ring so, their bitch could go BOW, since the Major was in dogs.....I really tried, it didn't work....the dog didn't know how to make hisself look ugly.
About the poof; Marie Cardona's gave us a lesson at Bluebonnet a couple of years ago.....take less hair, taking less hair gives you the better poof.....in other words just make a smaller semi circle. Don't tease in two sections. Once you've determined where your parts are, tease tightly so the part won't be lost. Start at the base of the nose and take small sections at a time and tease.....once you've teased every inch of hair, tease the outter sides more, then spray, use a very soft bristled brush and lightly smooth all around. Band it, about 1/2 inch from the scalp, take a small bit of hair from the back and pull, that will set your poof. Then take a bit of hair from the center, that will give you more poof. Then I take a rattail comb and dip it into the gel and gently insert it inside the poof to harden it. Then take each side of the pony tail and pull to anchor the whole thing, so that your topknot won't bob when the dog is gaiting.....from that point you can use the method you like most, parting the hair directly behind the poof and putting it to each side of the head then pony tailing the back and banding it to the front pony tail before you do your turn over......or had your bow

Mary, thanks for the tip on the topknot. I am still struggling with learning how to do a proper topknot.

I love a nice topline too. I watch the dog show videos a lot and the really good toplines really stick out.


You some of you explain about structural faults. I have seen many yorkies win that do not have the reach and drive. Is the drive due to the amount of stifle angulation? If a puppy at 6 months does not seem to have a lot of drive can they develop more drive as they get older and get more leg under them?

I have been told by a number of show breeders that if a dog has more than two faults they should not be shown. If a dog has ears that are a bit larger than you prefer or a muzzle a little longer than you prefer would you consider that a fault or would you just consider structural faults like topline, ear set, tail set, proper front, rear, etc.

Thanks to all of you for your valuable input.

We all see yorkies in the ring that "we" as exhibitors feel they shouldn't even be in the ring, let alone winning.....Each judge has there own criteria on their preferances. However, if you see what the good breeders take into the ring, it's pretty much consistent and they win consitently; they're structurily sound and great representations of the breed. Those breeders are showing for the right reason, to get approval of their breeding stock and not just to put a Championship on a dog. In otherwords, they've done their homework and know what it takes to breed a great dog to add to their breeding program.

Topknots are not easy to learn......not only do you have to get the basics down, but you have to consider the dogs head size, earset (tall/short-tight/wide) muzzle, etc.

The rule of thumb is 3. If you find 3 faults the judge will find more.....don't even show it or breed it.....

Ear size or muzzle is a preference, not a fault. Topline and tail set almost go hand and hand. Bad topline, ear set, tail set, bad fronts, and rears, angulation, lay back are structural faults.

Having a good front and rear has much to do with reach and drive. I start watching about 8 weeks of age for attitude, then again at 12 weeks to see which one is really catching my eye. I pretty much know by 5 months whether the pup has good drive and reach, just by watching it run and play. If a pup has everything I like, the final decision is when I take it in the ring at 6 months of age whether or not it really has what I think I'm seeing and what it takes to make it.

Wow! The exhibitors on this thread could sell a book on all of the information being given. I would definetly buy it.
After reading this issue of the Yorkshire Magazine, I made a comment to my husband how some of the dogs looks so different and still win. One or two of them were really unique. Round eyes, long looking neck, and long legs. Maybe it was just the picture, but I had to show him that picture.
I had to copy all of the information that you guys gave on topknot poofs, for when Sasha's hair is long enought to put in a topknot.
I emailed a lady in my area, who used to show yorkies and I think maybe judge them also, to see if she would put her hands on Sasha to see if she has what it takes to make it to the ring. Especially about enough leg under her and reach. Hopefully, she can help me. I also asked her which vet in our area has she used in the past when questions of dental concern arrise.
My breeder lives 2-1/2 hours away, so when I have a question- like about her teeth, I have to do like YorkieTalk and take pictures and send them. Seeing a dog in person is way better in giving help than pictures, but you here on this thread are great.
Exhibitors, thumbs up as you are willing to help those of us who are so interested in showing a Yorkie to keep the Yorkshire Terrier as close to the standard as possible so that our loveable Yorkies will continue to live up to the standard for many centuries to come.

I prefer a dog that is up on leg, they look so elegant when their in show coat and gaiting around the ring. However, they should be balanced, not appearing to be on stilts....I prefer a neck that doesn't appear to be sitting on the dogs shoulders....again my preference, just a more elegant look. Although it won't look elegant if it doesn't have the correct head carriage, hence again that has to do with the lay back (should be at a 45 degree angle). Round eyes are definately not my preferance....I prefer almond eye.

Start training your lil Sasha to handle a topknot....just take a small amount of hair and band it......make sure you take it down at night....she needs to get use to the feel.

Layback meaning what? head carriage or the angle of the back when in motion?

The angle of the shoulders and their spacing at the top of the back. If the aren't at the right angle, a dog will lead with it's head, not at an upright position.

Just got back from the vet.
 

Hello everyone!
We just got back from the vet. The Dr. looked at her teeth and saw that the permenant teeth are coming in good and that they are pushing out the baby teeth, which are very loose. He said that they should come out on their own within the week since she just eats dry kibble. He wants to look at her mouth again in 1 month unless something else arrises. He said that he rathers wait untl he really "has" to put them under to extract teeth because he said that you usually have trouble with the canines.

I'm so glad that we went because that he noticed that she has the beginning of a yeast infection in her ears. She hadn't been scratching them and I just thought they were getting dirty. He gave me some drops to put into her ears twice a day for 10 days. He told me to always put cotton balls in her ears when bathing and going out to potty in the rain.

I also had a reply from a lady in my area that used to show Yorkies and she is willing to look at Sasha for me and give me pointers. I will be seeing her in 3 weeks. (she is taking care of an ill family member). I'm so excited to see what she says. I'm prepared for a fault or 2 but hope that overall, she likes how Sasha looks, moves and feels. Crossing my fingers.

I thank all of you for your replies.
Kayla

Ok! to keep the ears from having problems again. Get from Revivalanimal.com an ear cleaner with a drying agent called Vet Solutions.....use it after you bathe her.