I am sorry I did not mean to offend anyone. I have two yorkies that are not near standard, one is worse then the other and the bigger problem is they are full borther sister and look so different.

I guess the best way to word it is I do worry about how the public perception of how a yorkie is 'supposed' to look is starting to be distorted. There are so many yorkies being bred that are going further and further from the standard to the point that thye no longer are recognizable as yorkies.

I am getting much more exposed as a groomer the variances, and I feel it is going too far away. And that worries me...I know the word 'ugly' is harsh, and I apologize.
I am also a pet owner, dog groomer, wannabe show/breeder (someday...).
I cringe when people rave how cute my Kenzie is, how sweet and little she is...and they think that is how all yorkies should be...I am correct them, tell them why to me small yorkies are not so cute, bad stops, luxatting patellas, overly large ears...etc are not 'cute' and not healthy.
I guess when I wrote the post I was thinking on a scale of beauty comparing yorkies to show yorkies...

Oh am I quite upset with myself if I offended anyone! I am sorry!
I guess I am not overly sensitive myself regarding my two yorkies, I adore them and I bristle when people call them rats but where i have been studying too long on show quality and what tolook for...I desensitized myself of qhat is cute and not and never gave any thought of being offended that my dogs were 'ugly' yorkies.

I am sorry to those that took offence!

I will be blunt that there are a few dogs I have seen that I cannot see the yorkie, I try but there is no way I could honestly say there is yorkie anywhere in dogs, I think are ugly...

Now for my shamful confession....the CUTEST yorkie I have seen is a MIX! I yorkie mixed with a chihuahua, yup her name is Peanut, I had the honour of working at her owners shop and I ADORED....no WORSHIPPED her. She had the full fledged yorkie face, spirit and attitude, chihuahua coat (long haird) and body and tail. One ear up and one down....CUTE AS A BUTTON.

This lady in my town with her 'yorkie' I dunno...if someone had to lable it they would never say yorkie...yet it came from a breeder and she brags about how all the puppies look like it.

I am sorry again if I offended anyone it was not my intent, I just wondered about the corrilation between the number of show yorkies in a region compared to the number of yorkie's that deviate from the standard.

I agree with top knot, I don't think she meant any harm by the statement, and probably meant more that they shouldn't be bred, not that they didn't deserve as much love, care or pampering as any other yorkie out there :thumbup:

Ugly might not have been the best word to use but the point is valid. The more pet quality dogs that are bred to each other the farther we will get from the standard. With labs being so popular you can see the variation in that breed as well. You have the large english type head and the narrower one, etc. It seems few breeds have more variations than the yorkie though. Some of it is because the breed has changed so much over the years as it's evolved. If you look at old show pictures of Huddersfield Ben (the foundation dog of the modern yorkie) or Bradford Harry ( the first american champion) you'll see a topline that is high in the loin and a low tail set. Our idea of the perfect yorkie has changed and will probably continue to do so. In my opinion we're headed in the right direction, I love the look of the modern show dog. I do believe that because of the popularity of the breed alot of quality is being lost in the haste to make money.

k2p1e I personally didn't take offense and that was a good post -

I did see what you meant but the re-wording did make a difference :) :) :) - I know the title of this thread is probably why the word 'ugly' was used and you were just staying on topic...I just had a feeling a few people would get hurt feelings and hopefully they'll know now you were making a comparasion -

I didn't know you were a groomer ? you see ALL sorts of yorkies I bet

I do alot of yorkies, I was working a another shop for a few months (my shop is opening in 2 1/2 weeks, yikes!).
I see so many types and I have so many cusotmers that want to know if they could breed their, far from the standard as you could possibly get yorkies with mine...this horrifies me especially since their yorkies are nasty, bad tempered, knee popping luxatting patellas, overweight....

I usualy stop them cold with my friendly response, I would only ever breed to improve the breed, that includes mandatory health testing, showing and finishing my yorkies and years of study...oh and my dogs are fixed because they are not close to the standard.

It is sad to say that many of the yorkies I groom are very spoiled, biters, do not know how to behave...I wish their owners would take MORE pride in their dogs and train them and work with them.
My dogs are spoiled, no one ever questions that (how many people make a career change so they can take their dogs to work?)
BUT...they know how to behave in public, don't bite, nip or growl, they behave for their grooming (that took time but it happened), they are socialized and know enough that inside is not where you pee unless there is a puppy pad...
I dohave some yorkie cusomter's that take great care of their pets, they come every 4weeks, look great, pains to groom cause they want on your lap but are NICE dogs...

show yorkies
 

Here in England many of us are interested in the standard but also very interested in the health of our yorkies. My two are both show standard and have both done well in the showring. I do not breed but know many breeders and when I choose a yorkie I am interested in temperament as well. My two are so friendly. I groom them myself so they are used to being handled which does help in the showring. Price does however sometimes reflect quality and this is understandable but regardless of how much we pay when the showing is finished our pets are still important.