Pat as usual gives great advice here...I am having the opposite problem. My mentor is retired from showing and refuses to touch the whole scene with a ten foot pole. She has been wonderful teaching me about the breed itself and all the ins and outs regarding care and whelping and finding excellent quality dogs. I am hoping to produce a CH of my own and would feel so much better about having her at ringside for handling and showing advice, but it looks like we're on our own in that department. I've been hanging out at shows to learn for quite awhile and after keeping quiet and absorbing as much as possible, the president of the Kennel club approached me at a specialty and was very kind and informative. She sat behind my mother and I and complimented my eye when I pointed out a great topline on a girl going past. (I only EVER say what I see that's good)The only other people that spoke to me were just digging for dirt to plant gossip in. They made assumptions about where I got my dogs and started bashing some breeder who had nothing to do with me for not mentoring properly. I really abhor the petty game playing that seems to be an integral part of this whole scene, but I still feel that showing what your producing is an obligation for a serious breeder. You need to be willing to be critiqued and compared to learn and improve. Otherwise, why do it? To produce more pets??
Is it possible for your 'ex' mentor to hook you up with someone else that could help you with the nitty gritty stuff? I can't do hands on from here, but will help with any info I can. Us newbies gotta stick together. |