THE THREE K’S by HUGO IBANEZ-HORNUNG
I n this case, we are considering the American Yorkshire Terrier. I believe it all began to take mean- ingful shape and structure in the 1950s with Wildweir and then by Trivar and Mayfair-Barban in the 1960s. All American Yorkies to this day are influenced by these three Kennels, and now it seems that many European lines are being infiltrated, influenced and affected by them as well. You may very well ask why to ignore beyond 1950? In my opinion, what breeding was done or took place before the 50s has no consequence to our pedi- grees today. None of those lines before the 50s were utilized or integrated after the 50s, if they were, it was too little to merit. Nonetheless, the writer has no intention to underestimate the importance and influence of those breeders who paved the way for the increase of interest that were to come in the 50s after World War II. Probably the most influential and successful of the early breeders was Goldie Stone. Mrs. Stone used the Petit prefix and her bloodlines were based on Harryngay which she obviously acquired before World War II. She was active in the show ring until 1955. The object of this article is to say that pedigrees have consequences and outcomes. You should be careful what you are dealing with and wishing for. I
“...THE ARISTOCRACY OF YORKSHIRE TERRIERS IN AMERICA, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY BUT ALSO THE WAY THEY WERE PRESENTED IN THE SHOW RING.”
am not saying this in any derogatory or demeaning way, what I am saying is sim- ply pay attention to your pedigrees and follow the road-map carefully. Along the way, during the bumpy ride—fasten your seatbelts—you will discover what works best or not for you. Pedigrees are the road to success if only you learn how to read and interpret them, then, you will navigate smoothly to BIS. Remember, the more history you have on your dog (pedigree), the more intelligent your decisions in selecting mating pairs. Recognizing while studying your pedigrees that the mother genetically is more important than the sire since male puppies of the litter receive all of their
sex-linked genes from their mother— none from the father. In the 1950s, the twin sisters Joan Gordon and Janet Bennett of Illinois began to acquire stock from England, Scotland and Ireland to establish their line Wildweir. In the 1960s Morris How- ard and Johnny Robinson of Maryland Initiated their breeding program under the prefix Trivar and based directly on English bloodlines. Also, Ann Seranne and Barbara Wolferman of New Jer- sey may the entrant under the prefix Mayfair and later Mayfair-Barban, also basing their bloodlines on English stock as well. All three began to develop their own strains and consequently a different look or appearance, visage, if you will. I hesitate to use the word type, type expressed more details and particular than “looks”. Anyway, it became appar- ent that the three Ks were heading somehow on different paths. When I began in the 1970s these three Kennels were the elite, the aris- tocracy of Yorkshire Terriers in Ameri- ca, not only because of the quality but also the way they were presented in the show ring. I was privileged to know them and became friends. Mrs. Gordon, the pioneer of the 50s is the only survivor of the Three Ks. I have to say she has
“THE MOTHER GENETICALLY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SIRE SINCE MALE PUPPIES OF THE LITTER RECEIVE ALL OF THEIR SEX-LINKED GENES FROM THEIR MOTHER.”
92 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2017
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