How to Get Started the RIGHT way! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Colton322 · 05-23-2011, 02:20 PM

Hi Everyone!

I've been browsing around yorkietalk for a little over a year now, and I honestly can say I just feel like I cannot soak up enough information.

I have always loved animals. In fact, I have a little over a year left before I start Veterinary School. Apart from veterinary medicine, I am also very interested in working with, training, showing, and breeding dogs. Before red flags go up, let me say that I am NO WHERE near ready to begin this journey. I have read several books, websites, and a lot of information on here, but I still feel like I have more to learn and experience. I'm not even sure the yorkshire terrier breed is the breed I'd choose, but from what I've read and researched a lot of you are very reputable breeders. So I'm wondering if any of you have any advice. I know a lot of you recommend getting a mentor. How do I go about doing this? I want to breed because yes, I love dogs and I enjoy working with them, and I'd honestly like to better the breed (whichever breed I choose to work with). I also would not go into this lightly, and I definitely don't want to do it to make a buck. So if any of you can offer any advice I would greatly appreciate it.

gemy · 05-23-2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colton322

Hi Everyone!

I've been browsing around yorkietalk for a little over a year now, and I honestly can say I just feel like I cannot soak up enough information.

I have always loved animals. In fact, I have a little over a year left before I start Veterinary School. Apart from veterinary medicine, I am also very interested in working with, training, showing, and breeding dogs. Before red flags go up, let me say that I am NO WHERE near ready to begin this journey. I have read several books, websites, and a lot of information on here, but I still feel like I have more to learn and experience. I'm not even sure the yorkshire terrier breed is the breed I'd choose, but from what I've read and researched a lot of you are very reputable breeders. So I'm wondering if any of you have any advice. I know a lot of you recommend getting a mentor. How do I go about doing this? I want to breed because yes, I love dogs and I enjoy working with them, and I'd honestly like to better the breed (whichever breed I choose to work with). I also would not go into this lightly, and I definitely don't want to do it to make a buck. So if any of you can offer any advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Well you have already taken step 1, ask lots of questions, spend lots of time on research.

But (isnt' there always a but), usually one does have an idea on what breed they want to breed. Usually one develops a passion, an admiration, a falling in love if you will with a particular breed or even two

The mentor you are talking about is usually breed specific. I think you do need to narrow your field a bit. And then come to your decision.

For example what breed do you own right now? Or mayhap when you were growing up?

Every breed is challenging to breed, to improve that breed. Yorkies have a certain set of challenges, as do Dalmations, rotties, Shepherds, Spaniels,e tal.

Find the breed that is your passion, then learn all you can.

manolos mom · 05-23-2011, 04:14 PM

Hello, First of all you need to find a reputable breeder in your area that would mentor you. Go to the YTCA.ORG website scroll down to find one in your area. Also do your research on specific breeders. My mentor is a structure nut, straight toplines good ear set and tail set, silk coats. My mentor also likes leg. Health is also something you need to look at. This is what you should be researching before you pick a show breeder Good Luck to you!

Colton322 · 05-23-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemy

Well you have already taken step 1, ask lots of questions, spend lots of time on research.

But (isnt' there always a but), usually one does have an idea on what breed they want to breed. Usually one develops a passion, an admiration, a falling in love if you will with a particular breed or even two

The mentor you are talking about is usually breed specific. I think you do need to narrow your field a bit. And then come to your decision.

For example what breed do you own right now? Or mayhap when you were growing up?

Every breed is challenging to breed, to improve that breed. Yorkies have a certain set of challenges, as do Dalmations, rotties, Shepherds, Spaniels,e tal.

Find the breed that is your passion, then learn all you can.

Honestly that is my problem! It's not that I am not passionate about a specific breed, it's that I'm passionate about several! I currently have 3 yorkies and a Siberian Husky. I love my yorkies, but I also have an interest in Dalmatians and Golden Retrievers. I have narrowed my field to yorkies, dalmatians, and goldens.

Thank you so much for your comments though!

Colton322 · 05-23-2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manolos mom

Hello, First of all you need to find a reputable breeder in your area that would mentor you. Go to the YTCA.ORG website scroll down to find one in your area. Also do your research on specific breeders. My mentor is a structure nut, straight toplines good ear set and tail set, silk coats. My mentor also likes leg. Health is also something you need to look at. This is what you should be researching before you pick a show breeder Good Luck to you!

Thank you! I've looked at the YTCA several times. I also thought about looking at some dog shows I plan on attending, but I've heard BYB now are titling their dogs to get more money. Is this correct?

topknot · 05-23-2011, 07:02 PM

First oiff if you are going to breed someday - you do need to know which breed you are interested in. I assume yorkies are most interesting to you , since you are here. Yorkshire Terrier is not an easy breed to know well and takes many, many years from experts to teach you. You have to know the breed standard inside and out/ And most important you need to go to shows to see what a good yorkie looks like. You are in a good area since most of the top winning yorkies show in your area and around there. At the shows you can talk to some breeders that have been breeding a long time and get to know them. Sometimes you can find some good classes to attend at the shows about structure and health issues. Specialty shows that are breed specific are the best and often there are breed specific classes you can attend there. Getting breed magazines is also a learning tool for good photos and some good articles. For health concerns you can also check out the vets that specialize in your area with top breeds and talk with them, even do some volunteer work at their clinic to learn.
Best of luck! Just remember that if you are going to bring in pups into this work and be responsible for them - you have to know evrything you can about the breed to breed the best you can. It is all about the future of our breed and the life of every pup you bring into the world and what kind of life will they have. You will be their only advocate.

topknot · 05-23-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colton322

Honestly that is my problem! It's not that I am not passionate about a specific breed, it's that I'm passionate about several! I currently have 3 yorkies and a Siberian Husky. I love my yorkies, but I also have an interest in Dalmatians and Golden Retrievers. I have narrowed my field to yorkies, dalmatians, and goldens.

Thank you so much for your comments though!

Find out which breed your life is best suited to. Not all can breed large breed due to space. Not all can breed top breeds due to expenses. Yorkies, I believe, are the hardest to breed and breed right. There is a lot to know about this breed and it takes so long time (years) before you know if the yorkie you have is worth breeding.

Colton322 · 05-23-2011, 07:16 PM

Thank you, topknot! I have spent a lot of time reading and studying breed standards, and I cannot stress enough that this is not something I will take on half heartedly. I know it's going to be a huge responsibility and not one I plan on taking lightly. If my four dogs could talk, they'd tell you they're treated like royalty. But in all seriousness, I do plan on doing a lot more research before making any decisions. I just know everyone has to start somewhere, and like I said in the title I definitely want to do it the "right" way.

topknot · 05-23-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colton322

Thank you, topknot! I have spent a lot of time reading and studying breed standards, and I cannot stress enough that this is not something I will take on half heartedly. I know it's going to be a huge responsibility and not one I plan on taking lightly. If my four dogs could talk, they'd tell you they're treated like royalty. But in all seriousness, I do plan on doing a lot more research before making any decisions. I just know everyone has to start somewhere, and like I said in the title I definitely want to do it the "right" way.

I thought so. Yes, you are right - it does take a lot of research. Once you go to the shows you will be in for a treat. Yes, we all have to start somewhere. and glad that you want to do it right before just jumping in. I was lucky and had top people teach me. I am still learning after 30 years with this breed. My first ever breeding was to a good quality champion that had been evaluated many times by experts and had gone through the health screenings. If you are going to breed - breed the best to the best and hope.

Colton322 · 05-24-2011, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topknot

I thought so. Yes, you are right - it does take a lot of research. Once you go to the shows you will be in for a treat. Yes, we all have to start somewhere. and glad that you want to do it right before just jumping in. I was lucky and had top people teach me. I am still learning after 30 years with this breed. My first ever breeding was to a good quality champion that had been evaluated many times by experts and had gone through the health screenings. If you are going to breed - breed the best to the best and hope.

I really am excited about the dog shows. The more prestigious shows used to come on Animal Planet at 5:00 so I used to set my alarm to get up to watch them.

This is a random question, but can you eventually get to the point to where you can pretty much predict if two dogs qualities will balance each other out? I know God has the biggest hand in what happens, but I just wondered if over time it gets easier to see how things will pan out. For example, if you bred a yorkie with a silky coat with a little wavy hair to a yorkie with a silky, straight coat would that breed out the wave? I hope these questions aren't making me seem incompetent.

topknot · 05-24-2011, 05:56 PM

If you are very knowledgable of the lines you may be able to make a prediction - they can be typey. But you have to know the lines/pedigree well and this is what takes years to know.

You can get a mix of pups with the wavy coat the first litter and a wavy coat can become dominant in the line, but depends on the pedigree and what hold it has on the line. You should never want to breed a yorkie with a wavy coat. I have seen too many yorkies out there in the public (as pets) with wavy coats and can get so bad they look like poodles almost. The weight of the coat can weigh a wavy coat down and not show as much, but once you cut it back you see the wave spring up. You will notice that most of the wave is in the rear area of the coat - with yorkies, but can be in the whole body coat. Just keep a good understanding and goal on the standard. There is nothing prettier than seeing a straight silky coat in movement. Beautiful!

You need to learn the lines - study up on pedigrees. This will help you. Best of luck in your researching and learning.

05-23-2011, 02:20 PM	#1
Colton322 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA Posts: 31	How to Get Started the RIGHT way! Hi Everyone! I've been browsing around yorkietalk for a little over a year now, and I honestly can say I just feel like I cannot soak up enough information. I have always loved animals. In fact, I have a little over a year left before I start Veterinary School. Apart from veterinary medicine, I am also very interested in working with, training, showing, and breeding dogs. Before red flags go up, let me say that I am NO WHERE near ready to begin this journey. I have read several books, websites, and a lot of information on here, but I still feel like I have more to learn and experience. I'm not even sure the yorkshire terrier breed is the breed I'd choose, but from what I've read and researched a lot of you are very reputable breeders. So I'm wondering if any of you have any advice. I know a lot of you recommend getting a mentor. How do I go about doing this? I want to breed because yes, I love dogs and I enjoy working with them, and I'd honestly like to better the breed (whichever breed I choose to work with). I also would not go into this lightly, and I definitely don't want to do it to make a buck. So if any of you can offer any advice I would greatly appreciate it.

05-23-2011, 04:14 PM	#3
manolos mom Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 7,982	Hello, First of all you need to find a reputable breeder in your area that would mentor you. Go to the YTCA.ORG website scroll down to find one in your area. Also do your research on specific breeders. My mentor is a structure nut, straight toplines good ear set and tail set, silk coats. My mentor also likes leg. Health is also something you need to look at. This is what you should be researching before you pick a show breeder Good Luck to you! Last edited by manolos mom; 05-23-2011 at 04:15 PM.

05-24-2011, 05:56 PM	#11
topknot Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: GA Posts: 3,787	If you are very knowledgable of the lines you may be able to make a prediction - they can be typey. But you have to know the lines/pedigree well and this is what takes years to know. You can get a mix of pups with the wavy coat the first litter and a wavy coat can become dominant in the line, but depends on the pedigree and what hold it has on the line. You should never want to breed a yorkie with a wavy coat. I have seen too many yorkies out there in the public (as pets) with wavy coats and can get so bad they look like poodles almost. The weight of the coat can weigh a wavy coat down and not show as much, but once you cut it back you see the wave spring up. You will notice that most of the wave is in the rear area of the coat - with yorkies, but can be in the whole body coat. Just keep a good understanding and goal on the standard. There is nothing prettier than seeing a straight silky coat in movement. Beautiful! You need to learn the lines - study up on pedigrees. This will help you. Best of luck in your researching and learning. Last edited by topknot; 05-24-2011 at 05:59 PM.

05-23-2011, 07:02 PM	#6
topknot Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: GA Posts: 3,787	First oiff if you are going to breed someday - you do need to know which breed you are interested in. I assume yorkies are most interesting to you , since you are here. Yorkshire Terrier is not an easy breed to know well and takes many, many years from experts to teach you. You have to know the breed standard inside and out/ And most important you need to go to shows to see what a good yorkie looks like. You are in a good area since most of the top winning yorkies show in your area and around there. At the shows you can talk to some breeders that have been breeding a long time and get to know them. Sometimes you can find some good classes to attend at the shows about structure and health issues. Specialty shows that are breed specific are the best and often there are breed specific classes you can attend there. Getting breed magazines is also a learning tool for good photos and some good articles. For health concerns you can also check out the vets that specialize in your area with top breeds and talk with them, even do some volunteer work at their clinic to learn. Best of luck! Just remember that if you are going to bring in pups into this work and be responsible for them - you have to know evrything you can about the breed to breed the best you can. It is all about the future of our breed and the life of every pup you bring into the world and what kind of life will they have. You will be their only advocate.

05-23-2011, 07:16 PM	#8
Colton322 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA Posts: 31	Thank you, topknot! I have spent a lot of time reading and studying breed standards, and I cannot stress enough that this is not something I will take on half heartedly. I know it's going to be a huge responsibility and not one I plan on taking lightly. If my four dogs could talk, they'd tell you they're treated like royalty. But in all seriousness, I do plan on doing a lot more research before making any decisions. I just know everyone has to start somewhere, and like I said in the title I definitely want to do it the "right" way.