One of the most persistent misconceptions I meet is that a chocolate or black Terrier (black yorkie) is "just a mixed breed". I understand where it comes from, but it is simply not true, and I would like to explain calmly and clearly why.
Colour is not proof of a mixed breed
The chocolate and black colours in Terriers are not the result of crossing with another breed. They are the result of recessive genes that have always been present within the Terrier. When two dogs each carrying such a hidden gene meet, a puppy of that colour can appear, even though both parents look classic. This is basic genetics, not mixing.
My dogs have proven ancestry and a pedigree. The chocolate line stays chocolate and the black stays black, precisely because I breed deliberately and keep the colour lines pure, not by chance.
Recognition and papers
My coloured Terriers are bred and registered under the Kennel Club of Slovenia (KZS), with official pedigrees. That is exactly what separates responsible breeding from random reproduction: documented origin, health testing and a clear plan behind every mating. Outside the FCI system, coloured Terriers with appropriate pedigrees have long been bred and shown successfully in many clubs worldwide.
In breeding chocolate Terriers and black Terriers, the breadth of the gene pool matters most to us. We look for sires all over the world, not only close to home, because this is the only way to preserve diversity and avoid close relatedness. The first criterion is always health, the second temperament, and only then colour and appearance. We keep the colour lines pure, but never at the expense of health.
We are the only kennel in Slovenia breeding black Terriers and chocolate Terriers under the Kennel Club of Slovenia (KZS), one of the few kennels breeding Biewer Terriers, and one of the few in Europe breeding these colours selectively and deliberately.
Why the myth is harmful
When people believe coloured Terriers are "just mixes", two harmful things happen. Serious dogs with real pedigrees are undervalued, while at the same time truly careless reproduction hides behind the same words. That is why documentation, honesty and knowledge matter so much, and why I always take the time to explain the background to anyone genuinely interested.
Literature and sources
Schmutz, S. M., & Berryere, T. G. (2007). Genes affecting coat colour and pattern in domestic dogs. Animal Genetics, 38(6), 539–549.
Candille, S. I. et al. (2007). A β-defensin mutation causes black coat color in domestic dogs. Science, 318(5855), 1418–1423.
Guidelines of the Kennel Club of Slovenia (KZS) on pedigree registration.
This text is based on current professional knowledge and on our kennel's experience. It does not replace consultation with a veterinarian or cynologist.
