PROPOSAL FOR THE EVALUATION AND POSSIBLE REVISION OF BREED STANDARDS

The World Dog Federation intends to submit to the Judges Commission and the World Standards Commission a technical and regulatory evaluation concerning the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier.

Over recent years, both breeds have been affected, within different canine federations and pedigree registries, by numerous cases of genealogical intermingling and by matings between dogs registered under the two different breed designations.

This situation now requires a thorough technical assessment.

From a morphological, structural and proportional point of view, the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier share a considerable number of characteristics. These similarities become even more evident when considering the development of colour varieties within the Yorkshire Terrier, where dogs can often be found whose colour, type and overall morphology show an extremely high degree of similarity to the Biewer Terrier.

In light of these circumstances, the World Dog Federation considers it necessary to formally place two possible technical directions before the competent Commissions.

First option: maintaining the two breeds as separate breeds.
The Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier would continue to be recognised as two independent breeds, each with its own breed standard, pedigree registry and clearly separated breeding programme. Under this approach, the principle of reproductive separation should be strengthened, with matings between the two breeds no longer being considered part of ordinary breeding practice, with the long-term objective of achieving true and stable genealogical separation.

Second option: unification of the standard.
The Commission may consider whether the Biewer Terrier should be incorporated within the Yorkshire Terrier standard and classified as a specific colour variety. Under this approach, the significant structural and morphological affinity between the two populations would be formally recognised, and breeding would be organised within a single breed divided into different colour varieties.

This is a decision of considerable importance and must therefore be supported by a detailed examination of pedigree data, bloodlines, morphology, genetics, breeding practices and the actual situation found within the various international registries.

One of the reasons why this evaluation has become necessary is that, even today, there is not yet complete consistency among breeders regarding the permanent reproductive separation of the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier.

The World Dog Federation therefore considers it essential to establish a clear and stable technical direction capable of producing, within the coming years, one of two possible outcomes:

1. the establishment of two genuinely distinct populations, genetically and genealogically separated, should the independent status of the two breeds be confirmed;

or

2. the definition of one breed with several colour varieties, should technical, genealogical and morphological analysis demonstrate that this is the most coherent solution for future breeding.

In either case, the fundamental objective must be to bring an end to the current situations of genealogical intermingling and to establish clear, verifiable and internationally applicable breeding criteria.

At present, no final decision has been taken.

The World Dog Federation nevertheless intends to formally place this matter before its technical Commissions so that it can be studied, discussed and evaluated on the basis of scientific, genealogical and zootechnical evidence.

The Federation also considers it important to inform in advance its member associations, breeders, judges, owners and exhibitors about the opening of this evaluation process, in accordance with the principle of maximum transparency that the World Dog Federation intends to maintain in all of its technical and institutional activities.

Any future amendments to breed standards, breed classifications or pedigree regulations will be adopted only after the completion of the study process and following the formal decisions of the competent bodies.

We thank all members, breeders and canine professionals for their attention and for the contribution they may provide to this important discussion.

World Dog Federation