From the AKC Standard:
“Yorkshire terriers are born black and tan and are normally darker in body color, showing an intermingling of black hair in the tan until they are matured.
White Yorkie
Color of hair on body and richness of tan on head and legs are of prime importance in adult dogs, to which the following color requirements apply: Blue: Is a dark steel-blue, not a silver-blue and not mingled with fawn, bronzy or black hairs.
Disqualifications:
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.”
Permit my feeble brain but if I had interpreted this correctly, there is no room for the AKC standard for white Yorkies and all white Yorkies are disqualified and therefore not breed standard? Then again some forums do tell us that White Yorkies are accepted as breed standard but cannot be shown.
White Yorkies, otherwise known as Parti color Yorkshire Terriers are very unique, although the Parti color gene has been in the breed since the 1800s. Some people say it is a genetic fault and some others thrive on the fact that the White Yorkie is different and beautifully unique and not odd.
We trace the science of white yorkies as a recessive gene. Some sort of chromosome that doesn’t present itself in litters unless both parents carry the gene. It is not necessary for the parents to be White Yorkies, they can bear white Yorkies so long as they are carriers of the gene.
Parti Yorkies can be traced back to the 1800s. A much closer trace can be documented to Rolls Royce Corniche and Rolls Royce Ashley, both champions.
Genetic information reveals these possibilities when breeding White Yorkies. The outcomes of combinations are as follows:
1. Parti color mated to Parti color = All puppies will be Parti color.
2. Parti color mated to Parti color carrier = Two Parti color and two Parti color carriers.
3. Parti color carrier mated to Parti color carrier = One Parti color and two Parti color carriers and one traditional color that will not carry the recessive gene.
4. Parti color mated to traditional color that does not carry the Parti color gene = All traditional color puppies that carry the Parti color gene.
5. Parti color carrier mated to traditional color that does not carry the Parti color gene = Two traditional color Parti color carriers and two traditional color that do not carry the Parti color gene.
