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.

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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
„X Solid color dogs such as a solid color gold or solid color chocolate
„X A chocolate and tan dog or other unusual combination of colors 
„X A white dog with black and tan markings (parti-color)

DO NOT DISQUALIFY 
„X 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.
„X Puppies and young adults whose black body coat has not yet totally 
turned to blue.
„X 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.