Changes and Stages of Growth

[Lili]

Hi all,

I had a question for breeders and exhibitors, and anyone who has a show hopeful puppy:
In your experience, do your puppies go through changes sometimes even weekly before you see the "final stage" in there development for Show Qualities. (not sure if that made sense?) . For example, I'm a freelance photographer and I've taken pics of my puppy now each week since she was 10 weeks. She looked great at 9 and 10 weeks, but has now taken a turn each week for the worst in my opinion. She no longer looks nice and compact, but long in the back and short on leg. I am aware this can change again, but what I was asking of you specifically is...
1. For how many months will I watch this continue as a roller coaster?
2. Is it a bad sign when you see such swings in quality?
3. When will I know that I know.... she is going to be or not be a show pup?
4. Is 4 months an "ugly" stage both structurally and aesthetically?
5. I have heard from some that puppies go through an awkward and ugly stage. What age(s) does this most often happen?
I'm looking again...for some rays of hope! I took her to class last night and she didn't look nearly as nice as she did 2 weeks ago, however, her movement looked way better? Can you tell I like to know what's coming next? I'm a planner, I'm a nervous nelly and not so patient which the lord is still doing a work in me. I think I've accepted her gay tail as it continues to look better. But now...there is other stuff not to like so well.
Does anyone want to share their own opinions and experiences?

Thanks,

[tippielou]

Hi Lili,

I'm very new to Yorkies and cannot help out with the answers.

However, I wanted to let you know I think you have great questions and I look forward to following the thread to see what experiences different people have had with their yorkies.

I can certainly empathize with your need to be a "planner" and to know what is coming next....I'm the same way.

[Lili]

Originally Posted by tippielou

Hi Lili,

I'm very new to Yorkies and cannot help out with the answers.

However, I wanted to let you know I think you have great questions and I look forward to following the thread to see what experiences different people have had with their yorkies.

I can certainly empathize with your need to be a "planner" and to know what is coming next....I'm the same way.

I also look forward to what more experienced people have to say. Thanks for your kind reply and we'll await new wisdom

[bjh]

As for the roller coaster ride, sometimes it takes a year or longer for everything to come together. All bloodlines are different. Show breeders usually evaluate the puppies at 8 weeks and 12 weeks. If the pup has good balance and good topline at 12 weeks then there is a good chance that is what the end results will be. Puppies do go through some awkward stages. I find one of the best ways to evaluate the conformation is to wet the dog then stack them and see how their bodies look. From the pictures you posted of your puppy on the other thread I think she looked just fine. She will probably come up more on leg. To me her tail was not too gay but I don't know how she looks when she moves. Four to six months can be an awkward age. If she is just four months old then you just need to be more patient. Is she from good show bloodlines? Do you know the strengths and weakness of the sire and dam? Remember there is no perfect Yorkie but for show they need to be basically sound and have proper coat, you can get away with a couple of small faults.

[Lili]

Originally Posted by bjh

As for the roller coaster ride, sometimes it takes a year or longer for everything to come together. All bloodlines are different. Show breeders usually evaluate the puppies at 8 weeks and 12 weeks. If the pup has good balance and good topline at 12 weeks then there is a good chance that is what the end results will be. Puppies do go through some awkward stages. I find one of the best ways to evaluate the conformation is to wet the dog then stack them and see how their bodies look. From the pictures you posted of your puppy on the other thread I think she looked just fine. She will probably come up more on leg. To me her tail was not too gay but I don't know how she looks when she moves. Four to six months can be an awkward age. If she is just four months old then you just need to be more patient. Is she from good show bloodlines? Do you know the strengths and weakness of the sire and dam? Remember there is no perfect Yorkie but for show they need to be basically sound and have proper coat, you can get away with a couple of small faults.

Thank you for the tips and comments! She comes from mostly Turyanne. Her parents have incredible think straight silk coats. They both "looked" like they had level top lines when I saw them stacked up. I didn't get to see them move. I have show pictures of the Grandparents and Great Grandparents. All of them look basically good (you know how pictures are...they can lie The breeder used to breed all show and now does not, so her parents are not Ch. per se, but they are Ch. quality. They were just never shown. I trust what is behind her genetics is pretty nice overall. From pictures, breeder, and hands on, I have no reason to think she'd have some really awful top line that would be a deal breaker except this week her lines and balance were all goofed up which I was not expecting from how she looked previously. (10-11 weeks). When I used to show dogs 12 or so years ago, I never experienced all the swings in stages. I was young and a bit ignorant then, so I may have not noticed or may not have spent so much "staring" at the boiling pot Yes...PATIENCE!

[bjh]

Lili....welcome to the nutty crowd. It can absolutely drive you nuts watching and waiting for these guys to mature. So many things have to come together. That is why most reputable show breeders hold their best show prospects until they are 8 or 9 months old. It sounds like your girl has all the right genes so you will just have to be patient. I will be looking forward to seeing more pictures of her as she matures.

[topknot]

You may have not noticed the awkward stages they do go through. I have one now that I was waiting on. He was a gorgeous pup and then about 7-8months he was so awkward and not sure how he would pan out. I am now just starting to see him blossom - he is now 20 months old. Some take longer. He has a great pedigree. His is his photo. (Sorry - I was not very good at topknots, but getting better. And I need to trim his feet here.) He is also clearing better each week now and confident he will clear completly with a great gold. I have had others show promise more quickly. So we just have to be patient and wait most of the time.
T.

[Lili]

Thanks for sharing. I guess I wasn't ready to "wait" so long but now that I am understanding how this process works, I'll be better prepared! For some reason, I just wasn't expecting such differences from week to week. Like I said, 12 or so years ago, I just must have been lucky but my 4-5 dogs I showed and purchased as show prospects did not have the fluctuations this puppy seems to have. Thanks again and I am now looking forward to watching her transform. She's got a great personality, so if she doesn't turn out she's still a sweet girl.

Thanks again everyone!

[karen171]

Originally Posted by topknot

You may have not noticed the awkward stages they do go through. I have one now that I was waiting on. He was a gorgeous pup and then about 7-8months he was so awkward and not sure how he would pan out. I am now just starting to see him blossom - he is now 20 months old. Some take longer. He has a great pedigree. His is his photo. (Sorry - I was not very good at topknots, but getting better. And I need to trim his feet here.) He is also clearing better each week now and confident he will clear completly with a great gold. I have had others show promise more quickly. So we just have to be patient and wait most of the time.
T.

Just want to say he looks well worth the wait...He looks gorgeous!

[topknot]

Originally Posted by karen171

Just want to say he looks well worth the wait...He looks gorgeous!

Thanks Karen171! His head is much clearer now and has a rich gold. Here is an up-dated photo.

Also Lili - you did pick a breed - one of the hardest - to know how they will turn out. That is why we just cannot guarantee if they will turn out good enough to show or not. So much has to come together to make a great show dogs. Unfortunately for all yorkie show people - it is a long waiting game and just have to be patient. How is your baby doing now? Don't forget about those teenage attitudes they get and will fight following directions during handling classes and even into the ring. I hate that teenage stage. Just glad they come out of it.
T.

[karen171]

Originally Posted by topknot

Thanks Karen171! His head is much clearer now and has a rich gold. Here is an up-dated photo.

Also Lili - you did pick a breed - one of the hardest - to know how they will turn out. That is why we just cannot guarantee if they will turn out good enough to show or not. So much has to come together to make a great show dogs. Unfortunately for all yorkie show people - it is a long waiting game and just have to be patient. How is your baby doing now? Don't forget about those teenage attitudes they get and will fight following directions during handling classes and even into the ring. I hate that teenage stage. Just glad they come out of it.
T.

YES, I recognize him now...he is Prize! He is the one who looks like spun gold. I remember the other thread ...we definitely want to be updated on him.

[topknot]

Thanks Karen171. Yes, I will keep upi guys updated. A show friend of mine got another male from the same breeder as Prize. He is a little older than Prize. But his first time out was at a Speciality show and finished in that one weekend! Wow - with two 5 points majors.
T.

[karen171]

Originally Posted by topknot

Thanks Karen171. Yes, I will keep upi guys updated. A show friend of mine got another male from the same breeder as Prize. He is a little older than Prize. But his first time out was at a Speciality show and finished in that one weekend! Wow - with two 5 points majors.
T.

WOW, that is an amazing win. My boy Mugsy(formerly Beau) won his class at the Denton show yesterday...he just turned 6 months. He was the only one entered.....but it's a start. We had fun!

Lili, good luck with your girl. I know it's hard to be patient....I feel the same way. Please let us know how she does.

[JaLaYorkieGirl]

Originally Posted by karen171

WOW, that is an amazing win. My boy Mugsy(formerly Beau) won his class at the Denton show yesterday...he just turned 6 months. He was the only one entered.....but it's a start. We had fun!

Lili, good luck with your girl. I know it's hard to be patient....I feel the same way. Please let us know how she does.

Congratulations on Mugsy's first show!
Sounds like you had a good time.

[karen171]

Originally Posted by JaLaYorkieGirl

Congratulations on Mugsy's first show!
Sounds like you had a good time.

Thanks. Yes, it was a lot of fun.
Everyone was so nice and helpful....especially Kristin(LiL Miss Magic)and her friend.