Chocolate Yorkshire Terrier

The Chocolate Yorkshire Terrier (also referred to as Chocolate Yorkie, Red Yorkshire Terrier or Red Yorkie, and Brown Yorkshire Terrier or Brown Yorkie) is a Yorkshire Terrier carrying a double recessive gene for a red or brown coat.Retrieved from http://www.shooterdog.com/alexfaq3.htm on 2007-03-17.] The result is a Yorkshire Terrier whose color and coat do not conform to the breed standard.cite web | title =Yorkshire Terrier Breed Standard | publisher =American Kennel Club | url =http://www.akc.org/breeds/yorkshire_terrier/index.cfm | accessdate =2007-02-17] The gene will also often result in brown or liver pigmentation of the eye rims, nose and paw pads, another flaw in a Yorkie. Yorkie puppies should be born with a black coat, but Yorkies having the double recessive gene for a brown coat are a lighter color at birth.

The American Kennel Club has many colors on the list as acceptable for a Yorkie, which means that some off-color Yorkies may sometimes be registered. However, the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America (YTCA) opposes the breeding of these dogs: :"Blue born puppies and red/chocolate born puppies are not acceptable colors of the Yorkshire Terrier. The Yorkshire Terrier should only be born black/tan and later turn to a dark steel blue. The blue born puppies and red/chocolate born puppies are recessive colors being passed to the progeny and a repeat breeding should never occur. Puppies of these colors should not be sold as "rare colors." Yes hopefully it is very rare to get them, but these are totally unacceptable colors and it’s not so much that they are rare, as that they are not true representatives of the breed. . . A breeder should not knowingly breed a dog that is producing such a known defect. The breed could shortly become other than what it is. . . The standard laid down by the YTCA is very specific about the Yorkshire Terrier. It states the puppy should be born black/tan and change color to a blue/tan dog later in life." [From an article printed in TYT Magazine © 1998 by Cher Hildebrand.]

Breeders of Yorkshire Terriers generally agree that breeding of such off-color dogs should not be repeated. [Retrieved from http://members.aol.com/CYorkie/GeneticsBlueRedChocolate.html on 2007-03-17.] Breeding of non-standard Yorkshire Terriers is usually done only by backyard breeders and puppy mills.

The "Chocolate Yorkshire Terrier" is not considered to be its own breed distinct from the Yorkshire Terrier. It is not recognized by any kennel club and it has no breed club; the same is true for brown and red Yorkshire Terriers. The off-color is a mutation to the Yorkshire Terrier breed and not in line with the breed standard.

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