Looking for a mentor

[swan]

Hello Everyone, I am new to the site, I thought I would give this a try and see what the people were like here.

I am hoping to meet people who are experienced breeders who have the kindness and patience to answer some of my questions.

I am constantly trying to learn as much as I can and my real goal is to be as knowledgeable as possible.

I look forward to hearing from the community.

[auntielaurie]

First of all welcome to Yorkie Talk.
Wanting a mentor is great and much needed if you are planning on breeding . You can get tons of information from this forum but imo you are going to need someone to be by there side watching and learning everything you can. Find someone with as much experience as you can that will take you under their wing.
I had a mentor for about 5 years before I started my breeding program. Along with having a mentor I used the web for research and bought breeding books. I found lots of whelping videos on you tube. There is so much information and so much to learn. Even now I refresh my memory before a whelp. I also couldn't do it without my husband there to help me if needed. A breech birth, a large puppy, dead puppy, are just a few of the problems that could and do happen. You need to know how to revive a puppy. There is so much to learn. Breeding is not easy. It is a downright nightmare at times. You really need to have money put away for emergences because they will come up.
You must know the AKC standards so you can find the best breeding stock you can afford.
So those are just a few of my thoughts. The people who say you don't make money breeding are so right. If you love the breed and are willing to put your time and money into it then in the end it will be worth it, not money wise but by having little yorkies at your feet, running through the house. Nothing better..well almost nothing, my grandchildren I couldn't do without them! One more thing, I wanted to breed way before I did. I knew that I would not be able to work and be a breeder. You need to be able to be with your yorkies. So once I retired I had already had my mentor and was ready to begin my breeding program.
Good luck. I hope you can find a mentor close to where you live.

[bjh]

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. You will find so much valuable information here. Do you mind sharing with us what your goals are? Do you currently own yorkies and have you ever bred dogs or shown dogs?

If you are really serious about doing things the right way then I suggest you start by going to some local dog shows. Also go to the YTCA website and you can find members in your area and also there are some regional clubs in Florida.
Breeder Referral

Best of luck to you.

[swan]

You make a good point, it would probably help a lot if I told people a little about myself and my goals.

I work in Florida as a High School Baseball coach, I am also a teacher. My wife and I live on a 10 acre property which is next to a 600 acre cattle ranch. I have coached athletes who have special needs to athletes that are currently playing in the major leagues. I have been blessed to teach students from first graders to high school seniors.

I have loved dogs my entire life, my mother used to breed and show Shih-Tzu's when I was young. We lived all over the world because of my dads job and we brought the dogs too, we lived in Venezuela, Korea, Thailand, The Phillipines and New England. My mother was really an amazing woman and a masterful breeder, but she was an even better mom. Sadly, when my mom was 47 she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away just four months later. I took her dogs after she passed, but they too have passed on. My mom would have been a great mentor, I miss her terribly.

I currently have three dogs and they are all great, two are rescues and one is a Yorkie. Once my yorkie stepped into my house my life has never been the same. She is just an incredible "dawg". She is absolutely my best friend, she goes with me everywhere, when I work in the yard she likes to help. She is an excellent hunter and her favorite prey are skinks and lizards. I want to try and get her involved with earthdog trials. She has great drive and loves to hunt.

I have been studying everything I can about the Yorkshire Terrier. Learning the breed standard, common health problems, history of the breed.

This is not a spur of the moment decision I have made. This is something I have carefully thought about since 2001. I have been waiting the perfect dog and the right situation.

I want to breed a line that is first and foremost healthy. I would like to create a pedigree with an inbreeding coefficient of 0 or close to it.

I want to breed for temperament and I would really like to keep the TERRIER in Yorkshire Terrier.

I also want to breed for conformation. So I want to breed healthy dogs, with great temperament, that conform to the breed standard as set forth by the American Kennel Club.

I have zero interest in making money. I have put aside a substantial amount of money to cover all my costs.

My veterinarian says my yorkie is a good candidate for a breeding. He even called in his staff to feel her knee's and throat so they could "feel what a healthy Yorkie feels like". I have his blessing. Still, I don't want to rush.

I hope that helps people get to know me a little better. I hope if anything comes through its that I genuinely want to do things the right way.

[cj125]

Hi! Welcome to YT!
I don't know anything about this lady but I found her on the YTCA's website. It also shows that there's 2 clubs in FL but I'm not familiar with FL so I don't know which one would be closer to you. I'm sure this breeder will be able to help you out with a lot more information.



JodiEckardtDade City
FL(352) 424-2721jleckardt@tampabay.rr.com

[cj125]

Breeder Referral

Breeder Listing

Central Florida Yorkshire Terrier Club
Secretary : Mary Ingersoll-Ackerman Address: Email: mary.ingersoll@applebees.com Club Type: Specialty

Goldcoast Yorkshire Terrier Club of South Florida
Secretary : Stephanie Crossley Address: Email: scooniksma@aol.com Club Type: Specialty

[swan]

Wow, thanks you guys are awesome!

[cj125]

No problem.

It looks like she shows Maltese, too.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by swan

Wow, thanks you guys are awesome!

There is an article here entitled Guide to Finding A Reputable Breeder

It is a good one.

What I highly encourage is that you get the actual pre-screening tests done. All of them actually can not be done by a general vet.

1. Pra test - you can do either the genetic test - which will confirm for you if your dog is a carrier. Or go to an opthamologist who will check the eyes, and test for cataracts as well as Pra Progressive Retinal Atrophy. Then you post the results on the CERF database

2. LP evaluation - forms for submission are found at www.offa.org

3. BATS testing.

4. HD evaluation this is an Xray and it is submitted to www.offa.org for grading/evaluation

5. Expanded Thyroid Panel Post results on www.caninehealthinfo.org

6. Hyperuricosuria genetic test forms found at Univ of Davis.


Responsible breeders do the testing!. I do encourage joining your local YT club or if a Toybreed club is closer join that one.

Also I would encourage you to go to local shows and meet your local YT breeders.

Also there are some good on line seminars on breeding, when I get the summary back from this organization I took the web in ars from I will try to remember to post back to this thread.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by gemy

There is an article here entitled Guide to Finding A Reputable Breeder

It is a good one.

What I highly encourage is that you get the actual pre-screening tests done. All of them actually can not be done by a general vet.

1. Pra test - you can do either the genetic test - which will confirm for you if your dog is a carrier. Or go to an opthamologist who will check the eyes, and test for cataracts as well as Pra Progressive Retinal Atrophy. Then you post the results on the CERF database

2. LP evaluation - forms for submission are found at www.offa.org

3. BATS testing.

4. HD evaluation this is an Xray and it is submitted to www.offa.org for grading/evaluation

5. Expanded Thyroid Panel Post results on www.caninehealthinfo.org

6. Hyperuricosuria genetic test forms found at Univ of Davis.


Responsible breeders do the testing!. I do encourage joining your local YT club or if a Toybreed club is closer join that one.

Also I would encourage you to go to local shows and meet your local YT breeders.

Also there are some good on line seminars on breeding, when I get the summary back from this organization I took the web in ars from I will try to remember to post back to this thread.

Please do, Gail....I have tried to get notes and the attachement from the vet and I can not get any response from them at all....