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Originally Posted by mauirobin  You can apply for one on the AKC site. I do understand actually ending up with a puppy that is show-quality is a long "maybe". There are also Obedience & Agility shows that could be just as fun in my book.
It's something I have always wanted to do, if it doesn't pan out, then it doesn't pan out. I cannot obviously afford to keep buying puppies until one does, I don't think any-one could. Not to mention, I would probably have to sell my house & buy a much bigger one to have the room...lol.
As far as breeding my "own" line, I don't think I would be able to do that for the same reason above. There was another link posted somewhere here on YT about judging for conformity shows, & it stated that their toes can be spread, pads cracked, etc. from the owner/handler keeping them in kennels to "protect" their hair. The link was an article from the judges' viewpoint on how to judge yorkies. I don't like kennels, so this would be a problem for me.
I have a single ranch with a huge fenced-in yard. My household expenses for the first time in my life, are minimal. My only expenses for the past few years are pretty much vetting/grooming. I was in restaurant management for 30 yrs, and now only work about 34 hours a week, with a very flexible schedule. I do have the time to start crossing off my "bucket list" items, of which dog-shows are one, and I do need something to get me out of the house besides work. My family is 4 hours away, so I find myself not doing much these days except spending time with my dogs.
As far as breeding...my step-father bred bassets & beagles, my mother bred toy poodles & pekes. My hubby bred dachshunds. I'm no stranger to breeding, I grew up with it, but this is not what I wish to do.
I know it's hard to get into the show without breeding your own, but I want to try. lol, that's probably one of the reasons I want to, as I've always been one to make things harder than they need to be...or so I'm told:P I also think obedience & agility would be great to get into too....so if my pup turns out to not be "show-worthy", I still have other options open to me. My current yorkies are CKC registered, so those avenues are closed.
The odds that any pup I purchase will go all the way? Very slim I know...but what fun we will have trying! |
I'm not sure if the first statement meant obtaining your mentor from AKC?
Whil you may apply....a mentor/trainee relationship is very deep.....it is based on strong trust.......Your mentor will be your guide through everything.......you do everything your mentor asks you to do.....simple as that....that is why you must have a common strong trust/bond. You must be able to be at your mentor's home to learn everything.
As far as mentoring someone, for the mentor, it's a tough decision.....one needs to be able to look into someone's heart and know they have a passion for the breed, to leave the breed better than you found it.....I would not even consider mentoring someone that just wants to do this for the fun of it, a serious breeder/exhibitor's time and breeding program is much more valuable than that, and to mentor would be doing just that, giving of time and taking away from their own breeding.
Remember the AKC mission statement for showing in conformation "We show to gain approval of our breeding stock"