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Originally Posted by Higgin's Mom I used to show my English Setters (or rather, my handler did), and I loved going to the shows! Still love watching dog shows on TV. HOWEVER, showing is all about POLITICS (right judge, right handler, etc.), and I also don't agree with what the AKC and showing has done to a lot of breeds. For instance, they have bred a lot of the hunting instinct out of the setters in favor of fancy, fancy coats and perfect heads. The worst thing that can happen to a breed today is for it to become a big AKC winner or popular through the movies, such as the Dalmations did. Everybody rushes to breed the newest "trendy" dogs. I think in great measure this is happening to many of the toy breeds, certainly Yorkies. Because they are marketing ever smaller dogs, they are, in many breeds, breeding big problems. Higgins is a good ol' garden variety Yorkshire, but he wins a BIG BLUE RIBBON in my heart!
I'm getting off my soapbox now.
Hugs,
Mary Ellen |
BRAVO!! To someone who appreciates what the words “breed type” are supposed to mean!
I've posted this before but now I'm putting my money where my mouth is. Until Christmas, I'm paying for a "click ad" on
http://www.google.com which will send people to a section on my website about so called "Teacups." If you do a search like “Teacup Yorkies” my ad should be one of the paid ads along the side of the screen next to those “other” ads.
My ad reads as follows:
“Teacup Dog Information Get the facts about teacups, Links & info, teacups and adoption”
So far, so good. I’m getting a lot of hits. My hope is that there are people out there who are looking for good information and just need a way of finding it
In this instance (Yorkies) it is not the AKC (entirely anyhow - will get there in a minute) who is to blame for the degradation of the Yorkie standard and the health of our babies, it is unscrupulous breeders buying (or should I say selling?) into the media blitz around Yorkies and other diminutive toy breeds. I looked over the shoulder of a woman in my office the other day. She was reading “PEOPLE” magazine. In bright bold colors there was a very popular pop queen with her so called “bald” Chihuahua that she was silly enough to pay more money for than I paid for my (pointed) show Yorkie! What’s more, she bought this dog at the same shop she had purchased two other dogs previously. The shop advertises itself as a source of “teacup” dogs. There are many young girls who emulate her, so guess what they will be wanting for Christmas?
I used to blame AKC for what’s been going on with dog breeding and puppy mills and backyard breeding. I was furious when the AKC lobbied against the “Puppy Protection Act.” Granted, I too saw the flaws but thought some legislation is better than none and if the AKC wouldn’t take control and crack down on puppymills and license breeders, someone had better do the regulation. Now, I see things a little differently. I learned that the puppymills (“dog industry”) have actually created their own registry just in case the day comes when they can’t register their dogs under AKC or CKC. Plus, there’s the dog buying public who often don’t really even know what “papers” are for. Many believe that just because a dog has “papers,” they are getting some sort of “guarantee” (of what? I don’t know). They don’t even know who should be issuing those “papers.” So if one organization or another offers them, what’s the difference. I was read in shock and horror a post on a general message board where people often post puppies for sale (these posts are from breeders who don’t even know how to spell the names of the breeds they sell): “Joe Black, can you please tell me the name of your contact at [major dog registry], I have pure Yorkies without papers and you said you could get them through her.” I am sure some unsuspecting soul is going to get a “Yorkshire Terrier” from this person and pay at least $800 for it. She will then be able to sell any puppies from subsequent breedings as pure Yorkies – so what happens to the breed standard then?
I give credit to the AKC for representing the interests of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America and the breeders who belong to this club who devote their lives to the Yorkshire Terrier Breed. If you get AKC Gazette, this month’s article in the Yorkie breed column is from Janet Jackson, president of the YTCA. In it, she makes a wonderful tribute to our breed. She doesn’t focus on oil and hair wraps, she comments on the Yorkie spirit and how we must strive to keep that in tact. She obviously understands what the word “Yorkie” really means and wants to keep that alive. Just wish we could educate others to do the same and stop those who can’t or wont from breeding!