Showing info for newbies

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Brooklynn

I still love being a gopher LOL! Take my friend Kristie she comes to the dog shows with me and helps me and others and has never thought about showing yet but when she's ready she'll already have a big head start. I still help others in the grooming area and ringside...I still go and take ringside tables, get arm bands and whatever anyone needs especially those that have been doing this forever...I've gained several mentors even now by being a gopher

Donna,

This is what I meant about not taking short cuts, not being in a hurry and doing your homework. Going to shows is one of the best places to find a mentor and learn everything show. I know it's very difficult to take that first step, but if people see your face at shows enough they begin to trust you.

[topknot]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Yep! Being a gopher is fun...none of that stress of grooming and going in the ring, yet the ability to be around those knowledgeable exhibitors and beautiful dogs.

To this day my husband has never been in the ring, he knows how to put up a topknot, iron a coat., put a dog in wraps......but, boy he's always at ringside, helping exhibitors.....and holding dogs.

You made me laugh! At the last show - my hubby was asked to hold dogs. I even have a photo of it. He likes it. He is such a good papa!

Gophering - I knew I was handling better when I was asked by my handler (back in the old days) to go into the ring with an extra dog she had. She would not have asked me unless I was doing something right. I felt like I had finally made it and was getting there.

[Brooklynn]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Donna,

This is what I meant about not taking short cuts, not being in a hurry and doing your homework. Going to shows is one of the best places to find a mentor and learn everything show. I know it's very difficult to take that first step, but if people see your face at shows enough they begin to trust you.

Everyone knows Kristie now and she's only taken a dog in the ring for me a couple of times because I couldn't be in the ring with Radar when Tonia was showing him. But Kristie is known around the ring now and when she's ready to get her feet wet in owning a show yorkie I doubt she'll have trouble finding someone reputable selling her one

[Bravo916]

Seeing the overwhelming amount of PM's my post has generated I think I need to clarify.

I am not defending the OP's breeding practices nor ethics--I am simply saying that she did an ok job at writing the Cliffs Notes for show basics. I think the overall disapproval she is getting doesn't have a thing to do with her showing article.

[WalnutHill]

Right, it's because my dad breeds pet puppies. Nothing I can do about that. I have 2 yorkies myself and have never bred a litter.

Originally Posted by Bravo916

Seeing the overwhelming amount of PM's my post has generated I think I need to clarify.

I am not defending the OP's breeding practices nor ethics--I am simply saying that she did an ok job at writing the Cliffs Notes for show basics. I think the overall disapproval she is getting doesn't have a thing to do with her showing article.

[Bravo916]

Originally Posted by WalnutHill

Right, it's because my dad breeds pet puppies. Nothing I can do about that. I have 2 yorkies myself and have never bred a litter.

Unfortunately, that may close a lot of doors for you. It may not be fair but that's the reality of it.

[WalnutHill]

You're preaching to the chior. I have been fighting an uphill battle for 2 years - but I'm still here, and I will be for a LONG time. I may have come to love yorkies the 'wrong' way, if there is one... But that's just how it is.

[Brooklynn]

Originally Posted by WalnutHill

Right, it's because my dad breeds pet puppies. Nothing I can do about that. I have 2 yorkies myself and have never bred a litter.

I didn't know anything about the breeding of pet puppies. I can only go by what I feel regarding showing and my advice on what the thread is about. I gave my opinion I couldn't begin to write an article lol....I think there has been enough threads and posts regarding showing here on YT for newbies to get the jest and that is what I try to convey is get a mentor and attend shows and get yourself known around the ring
Like Bravo said...breeding pet puppies whether it's your father or not in my opinion will hurt you some in being serious with this endeavor. Please I'm not trying to be unkind it's just the way it is with show exhibitors or at least with most.
I hope I've helped in some way

Donna

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by WalnutHill

You're preaching to the chior. I have been fighting an uphill battle for 2 years - but I'm still here, and I will be for a LONG time. I may have come to love yorkies the 'wrong' way, if there is one... But that's just how it is.

Your father's breeding yorkies may create problems for you, but may not have, other than the fact that you are using his website to post your article under his Kennel Name and your using his Kennel Name on YT. Might want to change that. What your father is doing should not affect what you are attempting to do, if done correctly.

On the other hand.....your attempt to help newbies with the basics, keeping in mind that at the forefront should be finding a good mentor, and I repeat myself, with that done all else will fall into place.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by WalnutHill

You're preaching to the chior. I have been fighting an uphill battle for 2 years - but I'm still here, and I will be for a LONG time. I may have come to love yorkies the 'wrong' way, if there is one... But that's just how it is.

I'm not completely sure what you mean by "the wrong way"...? Just reading this thread, and I actually think it's been informative and helpful. Someone else mentioned seeing some "disapproval"...but that's not really my take on it. I see some experienced folks sharing, well, their "experience" - and I think that's what was requested.

To WalnutHill...I'm not familiar w/ your Dad's history w/ yorkies, so I just looked at the website. I'm only an opinion from the outside looking in (not a breeder, nor in the exhibitor world in any way)...so, not sure this is worth anything -- but I could see where there could appear to be a conflict of interest in intention with your kennel name when you're showing...in terms of quantity of litters etc. on your Dad's site. Is that also what you're referring to when you say the "wrong way", btw? From what I understand (again, from the outside), experienced exhibitors support/believe in a very targeted and meaningful breeding program...correct me if I'm not saying that right...?

[YorkieRose]

Is there anyway you could construct a site for your father to sell his puppies?
None of this is easy, but you will find the going almost impossible with the connection. Of course, you can achieve anything you work for, but the work will be backbreaking...it is like one step forward and 10 back...

So many clubs do not even allow membership..but belonging to a club does not mean a breeder is ethical etc...if you add an online blog I know many would read it..I, for one!! I sincerely wish you well.

[WalnutHill]

Okay, let me explain what I mean - most people decide they are going to breed and show Yorkies, so they start attending shows, find a mentor, watch for a while, eventually buy and show a dog until it's finished, then mate it with another finished dog, etc. I did not come to be involved in Yorkies that way. My father is a pet breeder - didn't have a show mentor, just another pet breeder mentor. After I had my second child, my father asked me to help build a website for him. I started working on it, did tons of research, and fell absolutely in love with Yorkies (the only breed he breeds). When I got involved, he was USDA licensed and sold puppies to Hunte. As soon as I started helping out, that stopped immediately. I cancelled the USDA license and refused to sell to hunte. I took his breeding dogs to be OFA and CERF tested. I started a regimin of teeth cleaning and vet checks. Now I am in the process of creating a line out of the dogs he has. I am convincing him bit by bit to spay females that are not of breeding quality, but also trying to create a line out of nothing. The first dog I showed (and that is one of my pets) was bred by my father. I know she is not top quality, but her overall structure is decent, and I learned a lot with her.

So, that's what I mean by coming to love Yorkies the 'wrong' way.

[YorkieRose]

I heard you loud and clear...
My father bred Boxers when we lived in the UK, he sold to show people ...he began breeding Yorkies he imported from the UK when I was in my late 20's...here in the USA..
I helped him and started breeding myself...had no idea I was hurting myself...but I had one thing in my favor and show people recognized it...we only bred from show quality stock.
SOOOOO...I was convinced by show people if I have good quality pups I should show them...which I did..BUT I had to over come a lot of "bad press" and it took some time..been doing this for nearly 40 yrs...I wasted at least 10undoing the PET THING!

I commend you for helping your father improve...mine retired long ago and is quite please I was able to "undo" things.

IN the UK breeders are respected for the quality of puppy they produce whether they show or not...I still know breeders who sell to show people and have never stepped foot in the ring...and breeders use their studs..even return dogs/puppies back to them...very different mind set.

[topknot]

Sarah, first I wanted to say kudos for having your dad's dogs tested and giving them routine health care/visits. I thought that might have been your idea.

I can tell you right now though, from the years and years of experience and knowledge I have (and still learning) that your idea of breeding to your dad's dogs and working on improving the line is not going to work. You are going to spend a lot of money and time and never get the litters that you will be happy with for showing. It just doesn't work that way. When I returned to showing/breeding I looked for the top quality of dog I could. It took a long time to find what I was happy with, because I knew that what I got would be my foundation and my name. I have seen people try to do what you want to do for years and think that as long as they breed to something better, it will improve in time and it does not. You cannot take short cuts in breeding for the best. It just does not work.

My best advice to you is to completly split from your dad's dogs/web site and start off on your own. I know you have put in a lot of work and you can still help him with his web page and recommendations, just have your own web site too just for your own dogs, beliefs, information, etc... You have a lot of good ideas and should be yours and not your dad's. Your site represents you and your name. In the show world your reputation is everything.

I hope this has helped and not meant to be rude or mean - but only to give help and good advice. Like I said, you had a good idea on the tips/information. Put this on your own web page and make it your own.

Wishing you all the best.

[Mardelin]

Sarah, you have have begun turning your father's breeding program around, how great, you are now teaching him the correct way. There are pet breeders and that is ok, as long as they are doing it the right way and don't attempt to pass themselves off as those that breed show quality dogs or sell dogs on open registration. Just fulfilling a pet market.

As Tina says.....what you are attempting to do; getting a show quality dog, based on your father's breeding, it ain't gonna happen.....so many have attempted it, only to realize 5, 10 years down the road, it ain't working. The ole saying of you can't get a silk purse out of a sows ear......(and I don't mean this in an insulting way, really I don't) is oh so true. To get the best, you have to start with the best your money can buy......buying from those that have been doing it for years with great success.