STANDARD
FOR THE YORKSHIRE TERRIER As defined by the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America
And adhered to by the American Kennel Club
GENERAL
APPEARANCE
That of a long-haired toy terrier whose blue
and tan coat is parted on the face and from the base of the
skull to the end of the tail and hangs evenly and quite straight
down each side of the body. The body is neat, compact and
well proportioned.
The dog’s high head carriage and confident manner should give the appearance
of vigor and self-importance.
•
Head
Small and rather
flat on top, the skull not to prominent or round, the muzzle
not too long, with the bite neither undershot nor overshot
and teeth sound. Either scissors bite or level bite is acceptable.
The nose is black. Eyes are medium in size and not too prominent:
dark in color and sparkling with a sharp intelligent expression.
Eye rims are dark. Ears are small, V-shaped carried erect
and set not too far apart.
•
Body
Well proportioned and very compact. The back is rather short, the back line level,
with height at shoulder the same as at the rump.
•
Legs and Feet
Forelegs should
be straight, elbows neither in nor out. Hind legs straight
when viewed from behind, but stifles are moderately bent
when viewed from the sides. Feet are round with black toenails.
Dewclaws, if any, are generally removed from the hind legs.
Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed.
•
Tail
Docked to a medium length and carried slightly higher than the level of the back.
•
Coat
Quality, texture and quantity
of coat are of prime importance. Hair is glossy, fine and
silky in texture. Coat on the body moderately long and perfectly
straight (not wavy). It may be trimmed to floor length to
give ease of movement and a neater appearance, if desired.
The fall on the head is long, tied with one bow in center
or parted in the middle and tied with two bows. Hair on muzzle
is very long. Hair should be trimmed short on tips of ears
and may be trimmed on feet to give them a neat appearance.
COLORS
Puppies are born black and tan and are normally
darker in body color, show an intermingling of black hair
in the tan until they are matured. Color of hair on body
and richness of tan on head and legs are of prime importance
in adult dogs, to which the following color requirements
apply:
•
Blue
Is a dark steel blue, not a silver
blue and not mingled with fawn, bronze or
black hairs.
•
Tan
All tan hair is darker at the roots than in
the middle, shading to still lighter tan at the tips. There
should be no sooty or black hair intermingled with any of
the tan.
•
Color on the body
The blue extends over the body
from the back of the neck to root of tail. Hair on tail is
a darker blue, especially at end of tail.
•
Headfall
A rich golden tan, deeper in color
at sides of head, at ear roots and on the muzzle, with ears
a deep rich tan. Tan color should not extend down on back
of
neck.
•
Chest and Legs
A bright, rich tan, not extending
above the elbow on the forelegs nor above the stifle on the
hind legs.
•
Weight
Must not exceed seven pounds.
•
Disqualification
Any solid color or combination
of colors other than blue and tan as described above. Any
white markings other than a small white spot on the forechest
that
does not exceed 1 inch at its longest dimension.
Approved April 12, 1966. Approved Addition
of DQ October 1, 2007
DISQUALIFICATION
CLARIFICAION
Letter to the Judges for Disqualification Clarification
TO:
AKC Judges, AKC Judging Operations
FROM:
Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Board of
Directors
DATE:
September 26, 2007
SUBJECT:
Clarification of the Yorkshire Terrier
DQ to be initiated on October
1, 2007
The Disqualification reads as follows:
Any solid color or combination of colors other than blue and tan as described
above. Any white markings other than a small white spot on the forechest that
does not exceed 1 inch at its longest dimension.
•
DIRECTIVE
The new Disqualification is an ADDITION to the Yorkshire Terrier Breed Standard.
It is there to disqualify Yorkshire Terriers with colors OTHER THAN those as
described in our Breed Standard. The American Kennel Club is registering parti-colors,
solid colors, and chocolate and tan dogs as Yorkshire Terriers even though
they do not meet our Breed Standard as written. AKC will not deny registration
on color alone. These dogs have been shown at AKC matches and non-AKC events.
Immature dogs not having a totally clear tan or
immature dogs that are not yet totally blue are acceptable
under our Breed Standard and should NOT be
disqualified. To do so would be a misinterpretation of the Disqualification
AND of the Breed Standard.
The Yorkshire Terrier whose coat is of prime importance has a slow metamorphosis
from the black and tan puppy to the blue and tan adult. Some of these dogs take
three or more years for their coat to mature; therefore our YTCA Members chose
NOT to specify an age for color maturity. Only dogs of solid color, unusual combination
of colors, and parti-colors should be disqualified.
In summary:
•
DISQUALIFY
•
Solid color dogs such as a solid color gold or solid
color chocolate
•
A chocolate and tan dog or other unusual combination
of colors
•
A white dog with black and tan markings (parti-color)
•
DO NOT DISQUALIFY
•
Puppies, Class dogs and young Champions whose tan
has not yet totally cleared. This is typically seen
around the head area where thumb prints may exist.
Young Puppies may still have an intermingling of black
hair in the tan.
•
Puppies and young adults whose black body coat has
not yet totally turned
to blue.
•
A dog that has a small white spot not to exceed 1
inch on the fore-chest.
A Blueprint or Guide (Illustrated Discussion) as to what the Parent Club considers
to be the correct Yorkshire Terrier can be obtained by contacting the club secretary.(Address
above) You may also check our website YTCA.ORG (with frames) under Judges Education.
