Are yorkies harder to show?

[k2p1e]

The more I learn about showing yorkies the more complex it gets, my husband and I both pondered the question is it harder to show yorkies compared to other breeds? So many issues can go wrong from size (it seems to very so greatly!), bite, topline, personality and coat colour...
When I was interested in showing and used my mom's std poodle to show, the only comment I got was learn to groom! Grooming was everything with that breed. The training was not an issue, he had attitude, my groomer said (she handles dogs too and is currently studying to become a future judge) that she would have preferred that he had a bit more of a chin...
But with yorkies it seems there is so much, or it this norm that with all breeds that good quality pups is few?

Are there breeders out there that are producing puppies that majority are show quality??

Are some breeders pickier about which puppies are show quality compared to pet quality??

[topknot]

Yes, it is soooo much harder to show the yorkshire terrier. Too much can go wrong by the time a dog reaches 2 years. There is so much out there that can go wrong. Also a pup to full adult goes through many changes so all you can do is hope and pray that everything will work out. And this isnot mentioning grooming too. You got to have that coat - long, long, long and silky! I showed my bitch during this last two weeks of shows. She is gorgeous but only 18 months and I was against yorkies 2.10 years and 3.7 years of age. There was no way I was going to beat them with that many years of coat growth. So in larger shows (most of the time) - you gotta have that older age towards your favor for coat growth.
Out of a nice breeding - you might hope for one show pup. If you are lucky - you might get several, but rarely happens and you can do a repeat breeding of a litter of 4 and where 3 turned out to be champions and the next breeding (repeat) get nothing of show worthy.
I had one comment given to me at the last show - that I had a really nice bitch, but you just need to let the judges see you more. In other words - because the judges did not know me and knew of the professional handlers in the ring - there was no way I could win. Sad but this does happen sometimes. Did I give up - no! There is just so many dynamics that come into play with showing.
The best thing to do - is to buy the best puppy (educate yourself and research a lot before you buy) you can and hope for the best - get out there and show and you learn as you go. A great mentor will also help a lot. Everyone has to start somewhere.
Best of luck to you!
T.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by k2p1e

The more I learn about showing yorkies the more complex it gets, my husband and I both pondered the question is it harder to show yorkies compared to other breeds? So many issues can go wrong from size (it seems to very so greatly!), bite, topline, personality and coat colour...
When I was interested in showing and used my mom's std poodle to show, the only comment I got was learn to groom! Grooming was everything with that breed. The training was not an issue, he had attitude, my groomer said (she handles dogs too and is currently studying to become a future judge) that she would have preferred that he had a bit more of a chin...
But with yorkies it seems there is so much, or it this norm that with all breeds that good quality pups is few?

Are there breeders out there that are producing puppies that majority are show quality??

Are some breeders pickier about which puppies are show quality compared to pet quality??

Yes, yorkies are a difficult to show, because the standard has so many variables and it leaves it to the judge's interpretation, that is you're fortunate enough to have a breeder judge. The standard says the coat is of prime importance. However, there are a great many good judges out there that put structure in front of coat. I've seen wonderful puppies in 6-9 months win 5 point Majors over the Open Classes with gobs and gobs of coat. Of course, these were exceptional.

Yes, there are breeders out there producing puppies that the majority are show quality. However, these are breeders/exhibitors have been around a for a long time and have established their line. And yes, these breeders are very picky as to what they put in the ring. To them it means they are having their future breeding stock approved.

Yes, it is important to enter more shows to get your face known. However, bringing them a good dog to show is very important. Then they'll get to know that when you're in the ring that your dog is very competitive.

[topknot]

I agree with Mardelin too. It is so hard to post sometimes when you are trying to remember everything you want to say without being too long.

Another thing besides having a very nice looking yorkie is - personality. I have seen gorgeous yorkies, but if they do not have that showy personality - it is hard to get the win.

Yorkies are a very hard breed to show and win. It depends on so many things to get that win: how does your dog compare to others in standard in the ring that day, did it show well, Did you show well too! Your dog can look great, but you can be so scared or mess up/have a bad day - that it relates down your lead to your dog and not do well for your dog.
T.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by topknot

I agree with Mardelin too. It is so hard to post sometimes when you are trying to remember everything you want to say without being too long.

Another thing besides having a very nice looking yorkie is - personality. I have seen gorgeous yorkies, but if they do not have that showy personality - it is hard to get the win.

Yorkies are a very hard breed to show and win. It depends on so many things to get that win: how does your dog compare to others in standard in the ring that day, did it show well, Did you show well too! Your dog can look great, but you can be so scared or mess up/have a bad day - that it relates down your lead to your dog and not do well for your dog.
T.

Attitude is of great importance. However, I've seen judges put up bad dogs over good ones, just because the bad one was more showy. Not good, since the dog should be judged on conformation.

Yes, presentation is very important. You are a back drop for the dog and what you wear should not be flashy and what you do to handle the dog should not be visable to anyone. It's always nice to hear someone say what a great dog, better than do you see the dog So and So did a great job of handling.

[topknot]

But I have also seen all very nice dogs and the one that was showy won. All were equal in quality, but one just shined that day.

What I was talking about in presentation of how you handle the dog is like I did - it was totally a bad day - my dog looked great, but I could not hear the judge's direction and went ahead before she was ready. And was called back. She then preceeded to tell everyone how I messed her up on her speech. She then told me all the way through the ring that I didn't probably know I could do this or that. What an experience. It was I that made the mistake. I have learned that if you cannot hear - tell them and ask them to repeat. We were in a huge arena with a lot of noise which echoed off the building. Here I messed up my dog. She did great - I was the one that messed up. you think well that should not matter since the dog did well, but in my case it did and I had others confirm it that were there.

You just don't know what will happen from one show to another. A lot depends on many different things: different judges, dogs in the rings, handlers, weather, away or local shows, inside/outside shows, number of dogs, show building, etc... we can go on and on.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by topknot

But I have also seen all very nice dogs and the one that was showy won. All were equal in quality, but one just shined that day.

What I was talking about in presentation of how you handle the dog is like I did - it was totally a bad day - my dog looked great, but I could not hear the judge's direction and went ahead before she was ready. And was called back. She then preceeded to tell everyone how I messed her up on her speech. She then told me all the way through the ring that I didn't probably know I could do this or that. What an experience. It was I that made the mistake. I have learned that if you cannot hear - tell them and ask them to repeat. We were in a huge arena with a lot of noise which echoed off the building. Here I messed up my dog. She did great - I was the one that messed up. you think well that should not matter since the dog did well, but in my case it did and I had others confirm it that were there.

You just don't know what will happen from one show to another. A lot depends on many different things: different judges, dogs in the rings, handlers, weather, away or local shows, inside/outside shows, number of dogs, show building, etc... we can go on and on.

In my oppinion your judge was rude. Should not have been so open with her comments. Judges are there to help. I know that there are so many things going on at the show site, let alone so many things to keep track of in the ring, watching the judge for signals, keeping track on whose in front and in back of you and most important what the heck your dog is suppose to be doing. We all have bad days, for what ever reason. I always know I'm gonna have a bad day if a dog is being uncoperative in getting groomed (topknot), I know then I'm gonna take that thing down 3 times before I get it right....that throws my whole schedule for a loop, makes me nervous, and it's hard to calm down the nerves before ring time. I usually allow an hour for each dog......but sometimes 1 dog takes more time.

[topknot]

JMO - I think that judge was rude too - she even asked the people outside the ring sitting by to see if they could finish her speech since they had heard it so many times. All I could do was to rack it up as a lesson well learned. Will I show under this judge again, probably not for a very long time. I had one nice exhibitor that came over to me and told me that I was not the only one the judge has done this to. This is why she has not shown under her in a long time and even on that day - she did the same thing to her again a little before I went in.
The girl I am showing now can have her moments. My trainer said that she is in her adolesence and may act up from time to time. So this does put me on the defensive with her right now - not know how she will act. We have great days and not so great days.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by topknot

JMO - I think that judge was rude too - she even asked the people outside the ring sitting by to see if they could finish her speech since they had heard it so many times. All I could do was to rack it up as a lesson well learned. Will I show under this judge again, probably not for a very long time. I had one nice exhibitor that came over to me and told me that I was not the only one the judge has done this to. This is why she has not shown under her in a long time and even on that day - she did the same thing to her again a little before I went in.
The girl I am showing now can have her moments. My trainer said that she is in her adolesence and may act up from time to time. So this does put me on the defensive with her right now - not know how she will act. We have great days and not so great days.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. But, I had a similar situation happen to me early on when I was assisting. The regular handler did not get to the ring on time, # had been picked up for the dogs and dogs were ring side. So, I was forced to go in, never being in the ring, except in a puppy match. Well, I knew somewhat of what I was suppose to do. But, I did something wrong (to this day I don't know what it was) and she yelled at me and was rude. Well when I lined up to get the dogs ribbon and shook her hand and thanked her I said I was sorry for whatever I did wrong. All she said was Well! you should be. To this day I've refused to show under her.

As for your little girl, she's a bitch.....and they are inconsistent. All the time I showed my Go-Go, to the day she finished and even when she was Specialed, I never knew what she was going to do. She'd either show like a dream or she'd look at just before going in the ring like I'd lost my mind and show like crap. So, I'd just get it in my head that what would be would be and not get nervous. I'd just go in and play with her and have fun.....that worked better.

[k2p1e]

That judge was rude!! With people like that it is no wonder the number of people showing is going down!

Now here in my part of the world it is pretty rare to even see yokires, to go to the nearest shows with yorkies is a plane ride away, not even driving distance. When the other show breeder does enter shows he brings 3 or 4 yorkies to make his own major.

So seeing other yorkies in person (good quality show yorkies) is rare. This is something I want to change here.

[Marcellacml]

sorry I don't know much about this showing stuff but I feel bad for you and your cute pie.