[Dan & Penny McDonald]

If there is anyone out there with informed comments on Yorkie Show Judging Flaws I would appreciate some feedback. We presently share our lives with our third Yorkie friend who is now just 7 months old. Our first two Yorkies were lovable pet quality dogs and each developed luxating patella and the resultant arthreitis with age.

When we purchased our present Yorkie we searched far and wide for a companion with breeding that would lessen the potential of this congenital deficiency. Not that money matters, but we paid $1,800 for Condon's Celtic Keavy. She has a pedegree that has champions in each generation and even one relative that had a book written about him. On paper, she is a top of the line dog.

HOWEVER, at 7 months she has no been diagnosed with luxating patella in both legs and will be staged for that problem at one year to determine the level and appropriate action.

The breeder also advised us that Keavy would be 'show quality' yet as her hair changes with her development she is showing some disturbing coloration that seems contrary to the published show standards for Yorshire Terriers as published by both the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America and the AKC.

The bottoms of both front paws have pure white hair between the pads. The white is not visible as she sands or walks but only by holding up the paw.

She has a very small pure white goetee just below her lower lip.

She has a pure white patch just below the anus.

I contacted the breeder with my concerns and was told that I was bing too critical. The breeder advised there was champion after champion with similar white coloration as I described.

I know the luxating patellas alone make Keavy not showable, but I am begining to believe I paid show dog prices for a marginally pet quality dog. Any input would be greatly appreciated.