INSIGHT ON THE YORKSHIRE TERRIER
steel blue gene. Breeders who ignore this fact could cause the Yorkie of the future to end up as a black and tan Terrier, rather than the dark steel blue and shaded gold Terrier that our standard requires. RO: Although it’s not a trait of the breed, over grooming can give an ex- aggerated, or unnatural, appearance. 4. Do you think the dogs you see in this breed are better now than they were when you first started judging? Why or why not? CH: I believe they are worse. As we are losing many of the old time breed- ers and exhibitors, the breed does not appear to be attracting a lot of new- comers and real mentors for them. KK: In February of 2016 I judged the Yorkshire Terrier Club of Greater New York Specialty. We had an entry of 136 dogs. I was very impressedwith the overall quality of the entry. Top lines have improved greatly. Size and proportions were excellent. Presenta- tion and condition of the coats were outstanding. I did notice one thing which concerned me. Throughout my career, both as a breeder/exhibitor and a judge, we have always had large bitch entries in the Best of Breed class at our Specialties. I have always be- lieved that this was a very good thing. Unhappily, this year the Best of Breed bitch entry was very small. Is this a reflection of the fact that over the past seven to ten years we have seen very few new breeders/exhibitors join
RO: Elegant, lively and loving.
CAROLYN HENSLEY I am from Southern California. Out- side of dogs, I breed, train and exhibit Arabian horses. I’ve been in the dog world for over fifty years, showing for over 45 years and judging for 16 years. KATHLEEN KOLBERT I live in Naugatuck, Connecticut. In the summer time I work in the gar- dens. Alsowhen time permits, I aman avid reader of James Patterson, Dani- elle Steel and Sidney Sheldon. I have been in dogs 52 years, showing for 50 years and judging for 37 years. ROBERT OWEN I live in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and am a retired public school edu- cator. I am currently the President of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of Ameri- ca so I spend a lot of my time working on board business. When I amnot do- ing that, I travel with my family, solve Sudoku and crossword puzzles, and generally enjoy retirement! I bought my first Yorkie 47 years ago and began showing her a few months later. Yor- kies have been my passion ever since. After finishing quite a few champions and judging numerous matches and sweepstakes, I applied to the AKC to judge in 2009. 1. Describe the breed in three words. CH: Longhaired Toy Terrier. KK: Elegant, vigorous and self-important.
2. What are your “must have” traits in this breed? CH: Sound, balanced, not exagger- ated in any manner, specifics in coat color, quality, texture and quantity, able to hold level topline without be- ing hard stacked and moving. KK: An elegant, sound, long-coated Toy Terrier, identified by his straight silky steel blue and clear shaded gold coat, with a beautiful head. RO: I want a level top line, high head carriage and correct movement. 3. Are there any traits in this breed you fear are becoming exaggerated? CH: Length of leg and neck resulting is a body without substance losing compactness. Toomuch angulation in rear and too straight in the shoulder. Artificial coloring as a result of short cuts due too. No mastery in breeding as the specificity of coat colors are one of the most difficult to achieve natu- rally resulting in the breed beginning to lose the correct blue and gold shad- ings as called for in the standard from the genetic pool. KK: In the past few years, the body coat is getting blacker and blacker. This coat color lacks the silky texture that is cool to the touch and which is the essence of the breed. As breed- ers we should remember the proper steel blue coat color carries the black gene. However, the reverse is not true. Black coat does not carry the desired
66 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2020
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