[gemy]

Not to worry Nabe. I think UKC shows are a great venue to learn and experience being in the show ring, and to meet breeders of your breed but also other breeds. Plus UKC hosts a whole lot of fun things to compete in with your pups. Like dock diving, weight pull, field trials, herding work, etc. I believe they also run some show training workshops for you and your pups.
I know more than a few breeders who show in AKC and UKC.
AKC can be rather daunting to start out as a newbie showing in. And there are the politics too. As a very large organization they often times make decisions that are "controversial to say the least".

With my original post; actually I was trying to educate you, into what you really need to learn and to expose yourself to prior to entering into the risky arena of breeding.

Now you really need to know the Yorkshire Terrier Standard inside and out. Call this book learning-rote memorization. Get the illustrated standard and study it.
Train your eye to look for things like, low tail set, wideset ears, straight front, overangulations, gait, "balance", and correct type. A great book for helping you to do this is called ; " An eye for a Dog". This is "intellectual" study.

Then watch, look, at any and all dogs when they are moving. Do this with a "soft eye", look at the ground they cover, look at front reach and back drive; look at the top line.


Now I can go on; and indeed I've done whole day workshops on just gait alone. What I've started to describe in words written, is what a real MENTOR, can help you learn; but you need the basics. The intellectual understanding of gait and structure terminology.

I have spent days at shows, once my breed is finished, standing ringside, observing the dogs. I have videotaped many breeds at many shows, and then have sat down with my mentor to go over those videos.

Now all of the above is meant to illustrate what and "why" a good mentor is important for you to have. And trust me their are very few grand masters of your breed around. And by that I mean knowledge in so many areas of the Yorkie, and willing and able to take on a student. So likely over your lifetime you will have more than one mentor. I do!

And all of this is only one very important aspect of a Yorkie; that is "how good is their structure'? where are their faults.

On line here many of us are very comfortable in sharing books and videos, that have increased our understanding of this lovely breed.

We can say with knowledge that you do need a mentor, and give some suggestions on how to find one, where to go, and what to look for in a mentor. We can share with you what a mentor may/might look for in a student.

I hope this has been helpful for you.