Want to breed
 

I just retired from the military and with carefully thought, I decided I want to become a breeder. I am considering trying to show dogs as well. I have not taken this decision lightly. In fact I will be starting from the very beginning. In other words, my current pets will not be part of the program. I would like to get AKC or the state to inspect me. In addition to research, I have enrolled in college and will start next month to become a Vet technician. After my training(2 years) and additional research I feel I will be ready. Is there any advice that you can give me? How do you pick the perfect breeder? I am going to be a small breeder because these guys will be my pets. How do you recognize potential in a pup?

You'll find a lot of preliminary answers in the YT library YorkieTalk Yorkshire Terrier Library - YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community

I'd say a good start would be finding your local club & checking out the shows.

Yes...and I will add...find a breeder who you think has ethics and values and "intern" or try to have them as a mentor. It will take time for a good breeder to trust you...that's why you go to shows, meet people and put your time in.

Keep an open mind... As you read and observe you will adjust you plans.

Above all remember the people you can trust are the ones who truly love the dogs..are not in it for the money.

Healthy puppies is your foremost #1 goal of your breeding program. Healthy puppies most often come from healthy breeding stock. You build your breeding program jusst like you build a home. You have to start with the best foundation stock you can get your hands on. Where are these dogs most probably found? Dog shows. So that is where you start. You have to gto to shows so you will have a working knowledge of what the Yorkie is SUPPOSED to look like, their movment, their personalities, everything about them. While you are traveling all over the country attending shows, BIG shows as well as smaller shows, you are doing your reading and research on pedigrees and breeders that are clearing the pathways for new generations of Yorkies, maintaining the breed standard. You are building an intelligent, working knowledge about everything Yorkie, so when you DO get the opportunity to actually speak with these winning show breeders, you are able to speak to them intelligently, as well as understand things they tell you. You will get to be know by your persistant presence and determination behind the scenes at shows all over the country and Canada. You will learn what YOU think you like in Yorkies and what pedigrees tend to consistantly produce those characteristics. When you have proven yourself to be trustworth and knowledgable and absolutely eating up everything you can possible get your mind around on Yorkies, you will be noticed and offered help, questions will be more freely answered, and you will then be ready to accept one of these people as a mentor. That mentor will guide you and answer your questions and help you learn all the "ins and outs" of showing and breeding.....you need to be assisting during whelping, so you do not start your breeding never even having seen a dog give birth! All this is going on at the same time you are going to vet tech school, which is going to be a great help to you. Eventually, you will start looking at buying your breeding stock. You associations with show breeders and your associations with different trainers, or handlers or groomers....any and all of these people can be valuable in directing you towards your breeding stock. As a vet tech, you will have the opportunity to assist experienced breeders with whelping their dogs....and you will get help and direction with foundation stock. This is JUST the geginning....but it will at least give you an outline for your plan.....this is NOT a quick venture, and dont think you will be making tons of money....if you are doing it correctly, unless you have a huge facility with many, many, many dogs, you will consider yourself lucky to break even.
There is a webinare on Managing Your Stud....you should sign up for that, just to see what is involved with ONLY the male part of the breeding pair! I think this will keep you busy for the next several years....! When you get this all done, we can go to Step 2... (PS I am a VA nrse, thank you for your service to this coiuntry....you and all the others make it possible for me to put my head on a pillow and sleep at night, knowing the caliber of people that have stepped forward on our behalf....THANK YOU!)

What great advice and well put. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Thank You all for your advice. I appreciate the words of wisdom.

Hello! I am new to this site and would like some infomation about breeding? I have a 2 year old male yorkie. He is 6lbs and AKC register. I don't know where to start or who to ask? I thought this site could help me.

Do you know his lines to know if there are any illnesses in them? Has he had heath and genetic testing done?

Please refer to my detailed advice to the poster that initiated this thread!
"Healthy puppies is your foremost #1 goal of your breeding program. Healthy puppies most often come from healthy breeding stock. You build your breeding program jusst like you build a home. You have to start with the best foundation stock you can get your hands on. Where are these dogs most probably found? Dog shows. So that is where you start. You have to gto to shows so you will have a working knowledge of what the Yorkie is SUPPOSED to look like, their movment, their personalities, everything about them. While you are traveling all over the country attending shows, BIG shows as well as smaller shows, you are doing your reading and research on pedigrees and breeders that are clearing the pathways for new generations of Yorkies, maintaining the breed standard. You are building an intelligent, working knowledge about everything Yorkie, so when you DO get the opportunity to actually speak with these winning show breeders, you are able to speak to them intelligently, as well as understand things they tell you. You will get to be know by your persistant presence and determination behind the scenes at shows all over the country and Canada. You will learn what YOU think you like in Yorkies and what pedigrees tend to consistantly produce those characteristics. When you have proven yourself to be trustworth and knowledgable and absolutely eating up everything you can possible get your mind around on Yorkies, you will be noticed and offered help, questions will be more freely answered, and you will then be ready to accept one of these people as a mentor. That mentor will guide you and answer your questions and help you learn all the "ins and outs" of showing and breeding.....you need to be assisting during whelping, so you do not start your breeding never even having seen a dog give birth! All this is going on at the same time you are going to vet tech school, which is going to be a great help to you. Eventually, you will start looking at buying your breeding stock. You associations with show breeders and your associations with different trainers, or handlers or groomers....any and all of these people can be valuable in directing you towards your breeding stock. As a vet tech, you will have the opportunity to assist experienced breeders with whelping their dogs....and you will get help and direction with foundation stock. This is JUST the geginning....but it will at least give you an outline for your plan.....this is NOT a quick venture, and dont think you will be making tons of money....if you are doing it correctly, unless you have a huge facility with many, many, many dogs, you will consider yourself lucky to break even.
There is a webinare on Managing Your Stud....you should sign up for that, just to see what is involved with ONLY the male part of the breeding pair! I think this will keep you busy for the next several years....! When you get this all done, we can go to Step 2... "
THIS is where you start.