retired show dog...any expirience?

[JanisMaine]

I am thinking about getting a 2 year old retired show dog/yorkie. The first visit, dog was afraid to come near me. Breeder had to actually pick dog up and put on my lap. Dog not even curious of me. Is this a personality of dog? IS this a reaction to the imprinting of a show dog life and will they change one on a new home? Anyone have experience with this?

[Teegy]

Not an expert but a friend has a retired show dog who had no personality to begin with. He sat up right and did nothing until he was told too. Has taken several years and he still has his foibles. A loving home and a happy retirement is likely what it needs. Give him a chance. He's likely not had play and socialization like a regular pet.

[Yorkiemom1]

My foundation breeding stock all are retired winning show dogs....I dont know if the winning part makes a difference....but these dogs all have super personalities and are GREAT pets as well as breeders. And when you shower them with attention, clapping and cheering after they are groomed or they take their meds or anything else I subject them to, it is soooooo adorable to watch them respond to the enthusiastic praise, clapping and cheering! This kids all loved their showing experiences and it is clearly evident to this day! They go right back to that show dog mentality and they exude excitement and absolute glee at having done what was expected of them! It may take a little while for this baby to get used to letting down that personna of being a show dog....but give this pup a chance! I do not think you will regret it one bit! Give this athelete a wonderful retirement, with love and attention, and once she/he settles in, this will make a wonderful pet!

[ladyjane]

I think it all depends on how the dog was handled. Not all breeders who show pups are reputable even though we all like to think that. Sadly, many horrible people show dogs and they keep them in crates all of the time...basically they end up having the personality of a puppy mill dog.

I have seen some that were very well adjusted and social and others that were not. I have two that were taken from a show breeder (she actually was a pomeranian breeder but also had some yorkies..and supposedly she had a good reputation)...well those poor pups were a mess. I have had them for five years and both are very attached to me but to this day are frightened by my friends and family.

Have you been to her kennel? That would be my first visit...to see exactly how her pups live.

[lisaly]

My Katie is a retired show dog, but she achieved her championship very quickly, so she was not in the ring a long time. I often wonder if she had been trained to do certain things to win the judges over, or if they are part of Katie's exuberant personality. She was retired from breeding at three years of age. Katie is a very loving, confident little girl who loves people and life. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that she was loved so much by her breeder, was trained so beautifully, and was a member of her family. Katie adjusted beautifully to her new home and is loved beyond belief. Having Katie join our family was the best decision we could have made.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by JanisMaine

I am thinking about getting a 2 year old retired show dog/yorkie. The first visit, dog was afraid to come near me. Breeder had to actually pick dog up and put on my lap. Dog not even curious of me. Is this a personality of dog? IS this a reaction to the imprinting of a show dog life and will they change one on a new home? Anyone have experience with this?

I am in Toronto, if you like pm me the breeders kennel name, and I might have some info for you.

Many Yorkies and not just show dogs are not so sociable. Part is their inherent temperament and part is their up-bringing and training.

But show Yorkies should have confidence and yes they are trained to stand for examination and not move until told to do so.

This dog is only two years old! Very young to be retired, but also very young and quite able to be shown a different way of life.

BAring other indicators, and given you are quite willing to work with this dog, to bring him out of his shell, you might be pleasantly surprised with how he develops.

And there are many breeders who actually do give their dogs a regularish kind of life.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by lisaly

My Katie is a retired show dog, but she achieved her championship very quickly, so she was not in the ring a long time. I often wonder if she had been trained to do certain things to win the judges over, or if they are part of Katie's exuberant personality. She was retired from breeding at three years of age. Katie is a very loving, confident little girl who loves people and life. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that she was loved so much by her breeder, was trained so beautifully, and was a member of her family. Katie adjusted beautifully to her new home and is loved beyond belief. Having Katie join our family was the best decision we could have made.

I can pretty well answer this. No she was not trained to be or do certain things in the ring, other than stand for examination, and to stack.

Katie is a show gal, with a great personality, who as you say started training as a very wee pup. The best breeders do this. She also was trained very young to walk on the lead, to come, sit, stand, and stay.

[abbey46923]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

My foundation breeding stock all are retired winning show dogs....I dont know if the winning part makes a difference....but these dogs all have super personalities and are GREAT pets as well as breeders. And when you shower them with attention, clapping and cheering after they are groomed or they take their meds or anything else I subject them to, it is soooooo adorable to watch them respond to the enthusiastic praise, clapping and cheering! This kids all loved their showing experiences and it is clearly evident to this day! They go right back to that show dog mentality and they exude excitement and absolute glee at having done what was expected of them! It may take a little while for this baby to get used to letting down that personna of being a show dog....but give this pup a chance! I do not think you will regret it one bit! Give this athelete a wonderful retirement, with love and attention, and once she/he settles in, this will make a wonderful pet!

My Nik is exactly this way, anything I ask him to do, grooming, walking, and even potting on the pad, especially grooming when I make a big deal about how handsome he is, he just prance's around knowing that he looks good. But on the other hand he now get's to go out in the yard and run and play like the others and he loves it. I say go for it, you will end up with a well trained dog that can learn to be just as playful as a pet dog.

[kjc]

I'd jump at the chance to adopt a retired show dog! Yorkies are quite adaptable, they just need time to adjust. Many are stand-offish on first even second meetings. I can usually get them to warm up to me quickly just by talking in a very high voice. And some take longer, but eventually they do come around. Good Luck!

[Lap Princess]

My Lexie is a retired show dog and breeder that I got at 5 years old. i don't think she had much socialization outside of the other yorkies she was around, so she was very quiet and a bit skittish about the outside world.

with time, a lot of love & just putting her in situations that she just had to deal with, she really blossomed. She is very mellow, heels without a leash, and is sweet and loving.

He just needs new experiences and plenty of adjustment time. With the trust that is built, he should come out of his shell. Lexie did.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by lisaly

My Katie is a retired show dog, but she achieved her championship very quickly, so she was not in the ring a long time. I often wonder if she had been trained to do certain things to win the judges over, or if they are part of Katie's exuberant personality. She was retired from breeding at three years of age. Katie is a very loving, confident little girl who loves people and life. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that she was loved so much by her breeder, was trained so beautifully, and was a member of her family. Katie adjusted beautifully to her new home and is loved beyond belief. Having Katie join our family was the best decision we could have made.

Very well said...I KNOW this is the experiences my own dogs lived...they were also retired early in their showing careers after they got their Championships, they went home and were just loved and spoiled, so it was all a very positive experience...like Katie, all my girls and boys have that same bred in personality, from years of breeding, they all are viviacious and exuberant and confident, they were also adored by the breeder I purchased them from, and she made sure the handler that was with them, was just as concerned and treasured these dogs as much as she did...I have really had no experience with poorly trained or mistreated show dogs, so I can only hope this little girl you are considering, was not in that catagory.....

[ironmike86]

I've meet many Show Dog Yorkies. They were never shy of ppl. They need to be use to crowd. And be well behaved. Use to being touched. And when in the Breeders home they all tried to hog the attention from the guest. Normal dog. Unless they live in a cage all there life I would see no difference?? But once they become "Pet" dogs I bet they enjoy that more and should show alot of personality. Simply they get more attention I would believe?

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by JanisMaine

I am thinking about getting a 2 year old retired show dog/yorkie. The first visit, dog was afraid to come near me. Breeder had to actually pick dog up and put on my lap. Dog not even curious of me. Is this a personality of dog? IS this a reaction to the imprinting of a show dog life and will they change one on a new home? Anyone have experience with this?

I have no experience with getting a Yorkie show dog. I do have considerable experience with ferals and toss-aways/strays, and nothing is more rewarding than to watch (help) a baby 'blossom' into it's own self.

A well (show?) trained 2 year old Yorkie is, IMHO, as much a blank canvas as any other animal, but one who already at least has the basics and desire to learn and perform...or he would not have been in the show ring IMHO. He would have gone right home with me where I would immediately begin my effort to earn his love and trust and do my best to meet all his adorable little Yorkie needs!

I don't care how anyone says a baby is...that baby will be a different 'self' with me...and I just love that about them.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by abbey46923

My Nik is exactly this way, anything I ask him to do, grooming, walking, and even potting on the pad, especially grooming when I make a big deal about how handsome he is, he just prance's around knowing that he looks good. But on the other hand he now get's to go out in the yard and run and play like the others and he loves it. I say go for it, you will end up with a well trained dog that can learn to be just as playful as a pet dog.

And I have to admit.....I get such a kick out of "positioning" my babies as I groom them or get them ready to take any medicine....I can put this leg out here and that leg over there and raise their head up, raise their tail up high, and they hold the position until I tell them they can move! Grooming is a breeze.....a pleasure! And since I shave all my babies, we make a HUGE deal over their hair cuts so they dont get a complex because they dont have that long gorgeous flowing hair. So we all clap and cheer and hoot and holler as they are completed and put onto the floor to strut and prance around! God bless my babies! God bless all the trainers and handlers and breeders and show people that have contributed to these wonderful, glorious critters!!!!