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Originally Posted by gemy  No not an unspoken rule. But have you actually been at AKC shows to watch to learn - to talk with the breeders there?
Your local breed club - is still or should be a good source to go by. Even if they don't have Yorkie breeders - if they have any toy breeders that are showing in AKC you can develop relationships with them, go to shows with them - and get introduced to Yorkie breeders at the show.
You see you need to get known by these folks. An hour away for a Yorkie Club is not so bad - that is if you have a car to get there with. I have driven farther and much more frequently to do training. to take workshops, to see my breeders frequently.
Start saving your $$ to go to the nearest Yorkie Specialty. Go to www.ytca.org to see their up-coming specialties.
And in the meantime, study study study. Take workshops - especially go to workshops on breeding, structure, gaiting, showing and better still if there are workshops you can attend in person.. |
Thank you for your response!
I spent about 3 years trying to "get to know" the people at the Yorkie club. There seemed to be a lot of disagreement among the old members, especially with the person who sponsored me and with whom I would go to meetings, so, I felt pushed aside by association and it made it quite difficult to develop relationships with anyone. I did go to 1 of their specialty shows and helped with that one. I also attended other events they held and went with my sponsor to a few shows she was showing in.
A lot of other stuff was happening with the local breed club, but in that club there were actually personal attacks among members and people who had left the club trying to come back in to take over again and just a lot of stress and frustration. I did walk away from the local all-breed club. I'm not trying to make excuses for myself, but that's just not the kind of environment I like to be in when meetings end up in shouting matches and I certainly hope that's not representative of what the 'show world' will be. I know there are political issues in showing, but I certainly hope it doesn't come down to personal battles and people tearing each other apart.
I have been to several AKC shows throughout the years and I helped put together the show for the local cluster 2 years in a row, so it's not like I know absolutely nothing and haven't tried to learn anything, but I know there is much more to be learned and most of it would be best to come under the guidance of experienced people.
I'm certainly going to be attending more shows. I'm a little shy at first and I have a hard time just going up to someone who's prepping to go in the ring. What do you suggest is the best way to talk to breeders? I'm assuming I shouldn't open with the line- Hi, I'm looking for a mentor"
All joking aside, I do appreciate all the feedback I get and anything that would help the experience be better than what I've seen so far, will definitely be helpful.