Genetics

Liver/Chocolate Yorkshire Terriers: The B Locus Mutation in Yorkies

Chocolate Yorkies are real — but they're not AKC breed-standard. Here's the genetics behind liver/chocolate coloring in Yorkies and what it means for buyers.

June 10, 2024 · 4 min read

What Makes a Chocolate Yorkie

Yorkshire Terriers with the b/b genotype at the B (brown) locus express chocolate/liver coloring instead of traditional black. In these dogs, the typical steel-blue adult coat appears brown rather than blue, and tan points appear a warmer, redder gold rather than the traditional cooler gold. Nose leather, eye rims, and paw pads are brown instead of black. The dog is otherwise a structurally typical Yorkshire Terrier.

AKC Registration and Breed Standard

Chocolate is not an accepted color in the AKC Yorkshire Terrier breed standard, which recognizes only blue and gold (and parti). Chocolate Yorkies cannot receive AKC conformation points and are not eligible for show. They can still be AKC registered as 'Not For Show' color dogs. AKC registration does not indicate breeding quality regardless of color — it's a registry, not a quality certification.

The 'Rare Color' Marketing Concern

Some breeders market chocolate, parti, or gold Yorkies as 'rare colors' commanding premium prices. Color rarity should never be the primary value proposition of a breeding dog. A chocolate Yorkie from DNA-tested, health-cleared parents is infinitely more valuable than a chocolate Yorkie from untested parents — regardless of how 'rare' the color is marketed as. Always prioritize health over color.