How Parti Yorkies Came to Be ...
by Sue White
Many skeptical Yorkie owners and breeders, absolutely refuse to believe that the Parti colored Yorkie is anything other than a recent "behind the kennel bred" mutt. They say: "There is NO white gene in our Purebred Yorkies" or "There is NO record of any Yorkie ever breeding to a white or parti colored dog" or "No show breeder who's been breeding and showing for 30 or 40 years, has ever produced a parti colored Yorkie." I'm going to try to educate people on color genetics, recessive genes and how the Parti gene remained hidden in the Yorkshire terrier breed for years.
We know from our Yorkie history, that early records were not kept on the foundation breeding stock. I seriously doubt, that back in the days where spaying and neutering was not done, that the farmers and working class families didn't have the "occasional" unplanned pregnancy in their canines. If anything, it happened more then, than it does today. History also notes that the Maltese was bred to the Yorkshire terrier to enhance the texture and length of the Yorkshire terriers coat, since most of the early dogs thought to have started the breed, were broken haired dogs with shorter, coarser coats. It's documented in some of the earliest records that the foundation stock of our breed, were cross-bred dogs and dogs without pedigrees (who's heritage is unknown). Even if these dogs didn't look parti colored they could very well have harbored the recessive Parti gene in their DNA makeup. Whether their mother/father, grandmother/grandfather or great grandmother/great grandfather ... was parti colored, no one would really know, since record keeping at that time in history, was little to none.
The Parti gene can only be expressed if a parti gene carrier is bred to another parti gene carrier. A carrier will look like a traditional colored Yorkie but is born with maybe some white on it's chin, chest and/or feet. In this case where a parti carrier is bred to another parti carrier, 25% of the offspring will be traditional Yorkies (not carrying the gene), 50% will be traditional colored Yorkies who do carry the recessive parti gene and 25% of the offspring will be actual Parti colored dogs. AKC has allowed Parti colored Yorkies to be eligible for registration since 2000. Prior to that time, parti colored offspring were normally given away without papers or destroyed (yes, destroyed). I know of several breeders who have destroyed a litter of "surprise" parti colored pups.
The most prolific known line of Parti Yorkies is the "California line" or Nikko's line. These dogs are all descendants of an AKC Champion named Nikko's Rolls Royce Ashley. Two dedicated breeders in California, fought to get this line of Parti colored Yorkies, registered by AKC. This line of Parti carriers and Parti colored Yorkies comes from a well known show breeder who's been breeding and showing for over 40 years. Forty-two litters and generations of dogs from this line were DNA'd prior to AKC's approval of registration.
The Yorkshire Terriers breed standards have changed over the years. The "Standard" color is blue and tan, any other color is considered to be "Off Standard." Until the new color disqualification rule went into effect, off standard colored, black and tan and black and gold yorkies have entered the show ring and won their champion status. Standards have changed and not only do we now have smaller sized dogs than in the late 1800's, but some of our "off standard," darker coated dogs have been allowed into the show ring.
Hopefully these types of changes along with a better understanding of color genetics, will open the door for the continued, growing acceptance of the Parti colored Yorkie. Parti Yorkies ARE RARE, they are hard to find and as supply and demand goes, they do cost more than the traditional colored Yorkie.
Parti colored Yorkies are healthy animals and they are not a genetic freak of nature as some people, groups or websites suggest. In this day of scam artists and people looking to make a fast buck, my suggestion is to buy from reputable breeders who have their dogs DNA'd and/or their dogs are from known lines of Parti producing dogs. There are other Yorkie lines of parti carriers and producers but the California line is the best known. So do your research, get references and have an open mind. This gene has been in some of our Yorkie bloodlines for years and years and years ... and if you think it's not possible, don't be surprised if one day, your own purebred Yorkie produces a pup of a different color!
Back to the above illustration ...
Terriers from the 1860 Book of Field Sports by Henry Downes Miles, is Illustrated by DJ Watkins-Pitchford, are pictured running freely together.
The Skye Terrier, The Scotch Terrier, The English Smooth Terrier, The Crossed Scotch Terrier, The Dandie Dinmont and The Bull Terrier.
Two of the 6 dogs pictured are parti colored ...
It would be very likely that the parti gene (and other genes for color) remained hidden in some of our yorkies over many, many generations. This gene has gone unnoticed for so many years because two dogs bred together have to carry the gene in order for the color to be produced. Each dog who carriers the recessive gene and breeds on, passes his recessive gene onto 50% of his offspring.
References
The Inheritance of COAT COLOR in DOGS, talks about early off colors found in the Scottish Terriers (descendants of the Scotch terriers, Scotch terriers also part of the early Yorkie history) - http://www.scotties.com/coatcolor.html
Captain W.W. Mackie's 1870s Travel Diary in Search of the Old Time "Scotch Terriers" - notes white markings seen on Scotch terriers - http://www.tartanscottie.com/captain_mackie_scottie_diary.htm
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History of the Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkies are a "man made" breed that originated in the Yorkshire area of England early in the 19th century. Several different dog breeds were bred
together to create a small terrier that could kill vermin, like rats.
Although differences of opinion exist, it is generally thought that larger terrier dogs with different colors and textures of coats were used to develop the yorkie breed. This mix of coat colors and textures may account for the difference in coat types and colors that we have today in the breed. Coat color can range from light silver to blue to black or the beautiful parti color.
Early yorkies lived with the working man of England where being small was an advantage since small dogs eat less and could be kept less expensively.
However, since larger dogs were used to develop the breed there are still larger yorkies being born today. Yorkie weights range between 3 and 12 lbs
although some people live with smaller and larger dogs. Show dogs must not exceed 7 lbs.
It is not recommended that the tiny yorkies live with small children as they are very fragile and can be easily injured.
Yorkies have a non-shedding coat that is hypo-allergenic. People with allergies and asthma can frequently keep yorkies as they have hair like
people instead of fur. They are easy to keep clean and don't have that "doggy odor" that other dogs can get. Yorkies are beautiful in their long
flowing coat and if you don't have the time to keep them in the long coat they look really cute in a puppy cut or a modified snauzer or westie cut.
As smaller dogs, yorkies have smaller exercise needs and can get enough exercise in an apartment or condo. This is ideal for the elderly or
homebound person.
Yorkies think they should always be near you. They like to sit in your lap while you watch TV, sleep with you at night, and will lay by your feet if you can't hold them. They may be small but are capable of jumping into your lap and bed if they want to. The Yorkshire Terrier is an active beautiful companion.
Don't be fooled,you don't own them - they own you.
They are classified as toy dogs but have retained their terrier temperaments and personalities. Yorkies are self confident and not intimidated by anyone or anything. This frequently gets them into trouble. Yorkies think they are the big dogs on the block andthis can be dangerous if they decide to scrap with the wrong dog. Many yorkies are injured every year due to their fearlessness.
However, for the most part, yorkies get along with compatible dogs. Yorkies love to play and
are very friendly to people. They love to be the center of attention, they seem to say "look at me, aren't I beautiful".
Yorkies love to travel, and can easily be taken along. Being very intelligent dogs, yorkies can learn anything they want to and easily adapt to change. Being so smart, they can be trained to potty outside or inside on papers or the newer wee-wee pads.
Yorkies usually get along with, and play very well with other yorkies. It's great fun to see two of them playing together and sleeping together.
If you have two, there is one to warm mom's lap and one to warm dad's lap.
