The Real difference between a show dog and a pet

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Martin0327

Soooo.......You breed to show?

If one goes to the AKC website and I'm sure it's stated in CKC also. We show to gain approval of our breeding dogs.

We breed to improve the breed, in the quest for that perfect dog.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

When you are buying a puppy regardless of pet or show, you do want to see what the breeder has over the years in their adults. That is more likely what you will get. Also, an experienced breeder will have a better idea of what a puppy will likely look like.
However, you must realize there are surprises and the younger you sell a puppy or a buyer buys one, the less idea the breeder will have to size and appearance of a puppy as an adult.
I don't like to sell a puppy less than 4 months old partly because I want to see for myself what they might turn out like, temperment will be like, also for the reason that if I am selling for pet, I match a puppy with a prospective home and what kind of home it would be best suited for.
Size is not that predictable so people who have bought thinking they are getting a 'teacup' because it was so small at 10 weeks or whatever, got quite a surprise when it did get to be 7 lbs, certainly much larger than they thought.
Long time breeders know this, I do not guarantee size other than if I am selling one at say 7 months and it is 5 lbs, you are not getting a 4 lbs yorkie.
I have run on puppies that I was hoping will make size and didn't by the time they were a year, some I sold thinking they are going to be no more than 4 or 4 1/2 lbs and they are 6 lbs. They matured late which can happen.
Doubling the 12 weeks weight is ball park only and that ball gets hit out of the park more often than you think.

I didn't mean weight was predictable between 4-6 pounds. My comment was directed at the people who believe that winding up with a fifteen pounder is the risk you take with any breeder. Getting a puppy from a reputable show breeder generally means he will be within the under seven pounds standard, doesn't it? Or am I mistaken?

I am much more knowledgeable about Maltese who have the same weight standard. While show breeders will occasionally have an eight or nine pound adult, adults weighing in the teens usually are poorly bred and have Bichon in their background.

Thanks for your help in trying to understand this!

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Martin0327

Soooo.......You breed to show?

Hopefully. Doesn't always work out for any breeding i do, so if I don't get a show prospect or show dog, I will look for a good pet home, spay/neuter only.
If I don't get a good pet home immediately, it stays here with me until I do.
Most people looking for pets are referrals from other people that have a dog from me, friend of a friend, Vet referrals, some find me via my website.
The other issue with a reputable show breeder is we interview and will not sell if we think you are not the right home or owner for our pup we might have for pet.
At the moment, I won't be breeding at all anymore this year. I have a few show dogs I am working with right now for the rings. Don't know if I will next year, I'll see where I am at at the time.

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I didn't mean weight was predictable between 4-6 pounds. My comment was directed at the people who believe that winding up with a fifteen pounder is the risk you take with any breeder. Getting a puppy from a reputable show breeder generally means he will be within the under seven pounds standard, doesn't it? Or am I mistaken?

I am much more knowledgeable about Maltese who have the same weight standard. While show breeders will occasionally have an eight or nine pound adult, adults weighing in the teens usually are poorly bred and have Bichon in their background.

Thanks for your help in trying to understand this!

In yorkies, oversize ie more than 7 lbs does happen but I don't keep them in my breeding program. 8 or 9 lbs is not unusual.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I didn't mean weight was predictable between 4-6 pounds. My comment was directed at the people who believe that winding up with a fifteen pounder is the risk you take with any breeder. Getting a puppy from a reputable show breeder generally means he will be within the under seven pounds standard, doesn't it? Or am I mistaken?

I am much more knowledgeable about Maltese who have the same weight standard. While show breeders will occasionally have an eight or nine pound adult, adults weighing in the teens usually are poorly bred and have Bichon in their background.

Thanks for your help in trying to understand this!

Long time show people have a very good understanding of their line, however, a throw back can occur either being on the small or large size. So, it can happen.

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Great post very informative! I think many people don't understand you can go to a show breeder to get a great pet!

They can and you will not be paying $2000 or more for a pet.

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I didn't mean weight was predictable between 4-6 pounds. My comment was directed at the people who believe that winding up with a fifteen pounder is the risk you take with any breeder. Getting a puppy from a reputable show breeder generally means he will be within the under seven pounds standard, doesn't it? Or am I mistaken?
I am much more knowledgeable about Maltese who have the same weight standard. While show breeders will occasionally have an eight or nine pound adult, adults weighing in the teens usually are poorly bred and have Bichon in their background.

Thanks for your help in trying to understand this!

i bought a nice show prospect from a good breeder. His pedigree was almost entirely red with champions. The show pictures were glorious to look at. i thought I was so fortunate to have acquired him. I looked at all his relatives in his back ground. The show website was awesome. i research all the dogs and found ONE line
in there that had produced some dogs to big to be shown. Wouldn't you know it? he took after them. I was so disappointed but he was the sweetest guy ever and even tho he was too big and gangly, he eventually turned a beautiful color. i did try to show him but at his classes, he was too timid to even walk and would even hide when I got the show lead out. So here I am thinking, so much for all my research and etc. But there is such a thing as throwbacks in a dogs lineage and he was sure one of those. So, my personal experience was that knowing the lines and parents didn't mean anything as far as how my dog turned out.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

i bought a nice show prospect from a good breeder. His pedigree was almost entirely red with champions. The show pictures were glorious to look at. i thought I was so fortunate to have acquired him. I looked at all his relatives in his back ground. The show website was awesome. i research all the dogs and found ONE line
in there that had produced some dogs to big to be shown. Wouldn't you know it? he took after them. I was so disappointed but he was the sweetest guy ever and even tho he was too big and gangly, he eventually turned a beautiful color. i did try to show him but at his classes, he was too timid to even walk and would even hide when I got the show lead out. So here I am thinking, so much for all my research and etc. But there is such a thing as throwbacks in a dogs lineage and he was sure one of those. So, my personal experience was that knowing the lines and parents didn't mean anything as far as how my dog turned out.

We're very lucky when we find a wonderful stud with all the attributes that we desire that will reproduce itself. And sometimes that one specific breeding of two dogs didn't shake up the way we had hoped.

I have one guy in my program that reproduces his father each and everytime. Which is a good thing since his dad was gorgeous and a showing fool. My guy inherited that quality too, but much smaller than his dad.

[Martin0327]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Great post very informative! I think many people don't understand you can go to a show breeder to get a great pet!

I understand that people can go to a show breeder for a good pet but arent they generally more expensive because of their background?

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

We're very lucky when we find a wonderful stud with all the attributes that we desire that will reproduce itself. And sometimes that one specific breeding of two dogs didn't shake up the way we had hoped.

I have one guy in my program that reproduces his father each and everytime. Which is a good thing since his dad was gorgeous and a showing fool. My guy inherited that quality too, but much smaller than his dad.

That is right. my 'little" guy was bred twice before I let him go and produced some nice pups. (some not so nice too). I have regretted letting him go in spite of everything but I boxed myself into a corner with him. he is in a pet home now.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Martin0327

I understand that people can go to a show breeder for a good pet but arent they generally more expensive because of their background?

On the contrary, you'll find the opposite to be true. We aren't breeding to sell puppies, so we aren't mass producing, we are breeding for ourselves and what is most important to us is breeding a better dog. Our main concern is to find the best possible homes for our pups.

My contracts provide free grooming and boarding for the life of the pup, so if you look at it from that prospective, my families are getting their money back. But, it's a good way to be able to see my pups and see how they are.

[topknot]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

That is right. my 'little" guy was bred twice before I let him go and produced some nice pups. (some not so nice too). I have regretted letting him go in spite of everything but I boxed myself into a corner with him. he is in a pet home now.

What age did you get him at Dee?

[jeanm1963]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

On the contrary, you'll find the opposite to be true. We aren't breeding to sell puppies, so we aren't mass producing, we are breeding for ourselves and what is most important to us is breeding a better dog. Our main concern is to find the best possible homes for our pups.

My contracts provide free grooming and boarding for the life of the pup, so if you look at it from that prospective, my families are getting their money back. But, it's a good way to be able to see my pups and see how they are.

Thank you this was interesting and since I am new to YT I found this very useful information....
Can I ask a weird question?? Since Yorkies change sooo much have you ever sold a puppy thinking it was going to be to small or too big to later see the dog and wish you had kept it for showing because it ended up sooo beautiful and perfect size???? I am only asking this because I have read time and time again that sometimes size and color is unpredictable?????

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by jeanm1963

Thank you this was interesting and since I am new to YT I found this very useful information....
Can I ask a weird question?? Since Yorkies change sooo much have you ever sold a puppy thinking it was going to be to small or too big to later see the dog and wish you had kept it for showing because it ended up sooo beautiful and perfect size???? I am only asking this because I have read time and time again that sometimes size and color is unpredictable?????

Nope, since attitude is what is I begin looking for first. If they don't have the attitude, they aren't worth keeping for show, I don't care how beautiful or great of a conformation they have. However, I do keep mine a bit longer, so I can evaluate them better.

[jeanm1963]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Nope, since attitude is what is I begin looking for first. If they don't have the attitude, they aren't worth keeping for show, I don't care how beautiful or great of a conformation they have. However, I do keep mine a bit longer, so I can evaluate them better.

Thank you, I just thought it was an interesting question and wondered if it had ever happened but I suppose that since you breed and are probally well aware of what to look for you probally just have an instinct for it , Thank you again