Change of Yorkshire Terrier Standards

[keithgs1]

I don't understand why you have to have a Yorkie weigh 7 pounds or less to be considered a real Yorkshire Terrier. Why don't these clubs like AKC recognize Yorkies that weigh over 7 pounds? My Yorkies are all over 8 lbs. In fact most Yorkies I see are over 7 lbs. These standards should be changed to toy, miniature and standard. They do this for a lot of other breeds. We should petition these groups to change the standards. What do you think?

[navillusc]

I think application of the "Standard" is only for judging dogs at conformation shows. If your Yorkshire Terrier is a pet, the standard is not an issue. Also, the "Standard" is what "breeders" should be trying to achieve in their breeding programs.

[Lucyana1129]

I don't think I've ever heard someone say that a yorkie over 7lbs is not a real Yorkshire terrier however im sure it happens. Unfortunately this holds true for many breeds. Not only the yorkie. We shouldn't change the standard simply to be accepted by others. I have a boxer dog that at 2 years, weighs 45lbs. People always tell me there's no way she is a real boxer dog. Likewise, ive had people tell me Bentley is too big to be a yorkie (he is 5lbs). A yorkie over 7lbs is just more to love IMO. However, I feel that if the standard was toy, miniature, and standard, it would encourage bybs to breed for the smallest possible even more than they do now. I don't think it's a good idea.

[MyDearSam]

I absolutely hate that the standard has been set to such a small size. It seems like the efforts to produce ever smaller dogs is going to result in the extinction of the breed.

I would love to see a standard of 10, 15, or even 20 pounds for Yorkies. The breed might have a chance of survival then, instead of being frail creatures ever in danger of illnesses and injuries who are thought of more as cute accessories than beloved companions.

[keithgs1]

I agree!

[Nancy1999]

A dog can complete in shows and be over 7 pounds, it's just considered a fault, but many have won championships and have been over the limit. The toy size is nothing new, Yorkies have been competing in the toy group for over 140 years. Many here have Yorkies over 7 pounds, and they are considered "REAL" yorkies!

[Lovetodream88]

I have seen many real yorkies that are 16 pounds two are at my house right now

[Yorkiemom1]

I would LOVE to see a 20# Yorkie, try to go down a rat hole to do the job that breed was designed to do initially!!!!! You have to understand what a Yorkie is bred to do....the history behind the breed. Yorkshire Terriers are ratters. That is their job and the standard for a Yorkshire Terrier ensures that the breed is able to continue to do what it was designed to do! Again, the standard dictates what is acceptable in the conformation ring....if people threw out the breed standard, and started breeding willy nilly to get Yorkies of any size and color and personality and "look", there would absolutely be total irradication and extinction of the breed as it is was originally bred to be! The standard is the template which we go by, which responsible breeders try to nail with every litter they produce. We do miss and these adorable, lovable, precious babies are no less Yorkies, and they are equally accepted by AKC for registration as Yorkies, you just can not use them to exemplify what the breed is SUPPOSED to be looking like! The AKC recognizes any purebred Yorkie of any weight...you just can not SHOW and expect to win with a Yorkie that does not exemplify the breed standard! Kind of like a 60 year old woman, weighing in at 250#, competing in Miss America pagent. Yes, she is female, just as nice as she can be, even temperment, hard worker, great wife and mother, but she is not quite "the standard" expected in a Miss America contestant!

[normarae63]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

I would LOVE to see a 20# Yorkie, try to go down a rat hole to do the job that breed was designed to do initially!!!!! You have to understand what a Yorkie is bred to do....the history behind the breed. Yorkshire Terriers are ratters. That is their job and the standard for a Yorkshire Terrier ensures that the breed is able to continue to do what it was designed to do! Again, the standard dictates what is acceptable in the conformation ring....if people threw out the breed standard, and started breeding willy nilly to get Yorkies of any size and color and personality and "look", there would absolutely be total irradication and extinction of the breed as it is was originally bred to be! The standard is the template which we go by, which responsible breeders try to nail with every litter they produce. We do miss and these adorable, lovable, precious babies are no less Yorkies, and they are equally accepted by AKC for registration as Yorkies, you just can not use them to exemplify what the breed is SUPPOSED to be looking like! The AKC recognizes any purebred Yorkie of any weight...you just can not SHOW and expect to win with a Yorkie that does not exemplify the breed standard! Kind of like a 60 year old woman, weighing in at 250#, competing in Miss America pagent. Yes, she is female, just as nice as she can be, even temperment, hard worker, great wife and mother, but she is not quite "the standard" expected in a Miss America contestant!

Wonderful analogy!

[navillusc]

I have heard of litter mates of champion Yorkies...one was 2.5 lbs. and the other 23 lbs.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by navillusc

I have heard of litter mates of champion Yorkies...one was 2.5 lbs. and the other 23 lbs.

It happens! I have had one 4#, and a sibling mature to 16#! Loving them both, but I missed the mark! the 16# looks like a typical Yorkie, has that effervescent personality of a Yorkie, is adorable and playful, great coloring developing black/gold, and devoted to his momma...me....but I couldnt put him in a showring and expect to win with him! Doesnt make him any less a Yorkie, or any less loved....just not what we want the Yorkie breed as a whole to develop into! GOD BLESS THE BREED STANDARD! KEEP IT TIGHT!!!

[MyDearSam]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

I would LOVE to see a 20# Yorkie, try to go down a rat hole to do the job that breed was designed to do initially!!!!! You have to understand what a Yorkie is bred to do....the history behind the breed. Yorkshire Terriers are ratters. That is their job and the standard for a Yorkshire Terrier ensures that the breed is able to continue to do what it was designed to do! Again, the standard dictates what is acceptable in the conformation ring....if people threw out the breed standard, and started breeding willy nilly to get Yorkies of any size and color and personality and "look", there would absolutely be total irradication and extinction of the breed as it is was originally bred to be! The standard is the template which we go by, which responsible breeders try to nail with every litter they produce. We do miss and these adorable, lovable, precious babies are no less Yorkies, and they are equally accepted by AKC for registration as Yorkies, you just can not use them to exemplify what the breed is SUPPOSED to be looking like! The AKC recognizes any purebred Yorkie of any weight...you just can not SHOW and expect to win with a Yorkie that does not exemplify the breed standard! Kind of like a 60 year old woman, weighing in at 250#, competing in Miss America pagent. Yes, she is female, just as nice as she can be, even temperment, hard worker, great wife and mother, but she is not quite "the standard" expected in a Miss America contestant!

I cannot argue with your expertise. Sorry I spoke out of turn.

[chachi]

I am all about the standard changing. I understand wanting to preserve the look of the yorkiee but there is alot more that goes into the yorkie than just looks. I also think its a little insulting to the bigger yorkie owner to say they dont fit a look that is wanting to be passed on. MY 14 lb yorkie looks all yorkie except for his sizee. He is the perfect dog for people with children. He fits into our outdoorsy lifestyle so I love his look and temperment and the fact he is a sturdy dog in a small package. Not everyone wants smaller sized yorkies some of us have come to love a larger yorkie and why shouldnt they fit somewhere in the standard after all yorkies were bred down and in generations past were a larger dog

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by keithgs1

I don't understand why you have to have a Yorkie weigh 7 pounds or less to be considered a real Yorkshire Terrier. Why don't these clubs like AKC recognize Yorkies that weigh over 7 pounds? My Yorkies are all over 8 lbs. In fact most Yorkies I see are over 7 lbs. These standards should be changed to toy, miniature and standard. They do this for a lot of other breeds. We should petition these groups to change the standards. What do you think?

I have a yorkie over 7lbs and personally, I wouldn't like to see the standard changed.
The intent is to keep them under 7lbs, but if you occasionally get one or two that are over, that's fine as they make good pets. But my concern would be that people would then think it's ok to breed these bigger yorkies and then size/weight could keep creeping up & up. If I wanted a big breed I would have bought a big breed dog. I wanted a lil dog, and while she's bigger than both the breeder & I thought she'd be, she's still a lil dog & she's perfect for me.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

I have a yorkie over 7lbs and personally, I wouldn't like to see the standard changed.
The intent is to keep them under 7lbs, but if you occasionally get one or two that are over, that's fine as they make good pets. But my concern would be that people would then think it's ok to breed these bigger yorkies and then size/weight could keep creeping up & up. If I wanted a big breed I would have bought a big breed dog. I wanted a lil dog, and while she's bigger than both the breeder & I thought she'd be, she's still a lil dog & she's perfect for me.

That's the way I feel about it too, if people really want a bigger Yorkie, they are fairly easy to find, and you could always get a Silky, which is a few pounds heavy and very similar in features. I really wanted a small dog, I needed to be able to lift him easily for baths and I wanted him to fit in the kitchen sink, so the size they are now works out perfectly for me.