Kind of depends on what you want the mentor for, breeding, showing or just information. All of my breeders would mentor me for information. There are 2 close enough to mentor me for breeding and one who used to show. The one who used to show can do all three but she doesn't want me to think for myself and certainly doesn't think the advice or information I get on the net is worth anything. I HAVE to be able to think for myself and make my own decisions. I have bought 2 puppies from her and I am breeding one of my girls to her stud and I suppose she will want to see the puppies after they are born but after that she's not going to see much of me anymore.
As for the size of your female, stay within the standard, below 7#. If you use a smaller male, hopefully you won't have any throwbacks. But do remember to check the backgrounds for size as well as inheirited(sp) health and phyiscal problems. Sylvia |