The Real difference between a show dog and a pet

[Nancy1999]

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.

I agree with this, and just wanted to add, that the main downside of buying from a show breeder is that they are picky about where they are placing their pups. Much like a rescue, they want to ensure that these dogs will never have to be rehomed. So if a person does meet that particular breeder's requirements, buying from a show breeder is one of the best deals out there.

I can't believe you offer free grooming and boarding for life, that's really wonderful!

[topknot]

Thank you - thank you Lorraine for writing/starting this post!!

I think a lot of people had things wrong for so long! Here are my thoughts and what I have learned over time...many of the posters have already stated what I have to say.

Pups from show breeders do Not cost more. What you do need to know is that we have done testing on the parents and the pups before they leave and these tests are not cheap. Not to mention boosters - the pups usually have all their boosters, except rabies before leaving. I know of some pet breeders that actually charge more than what show breeders sold their pups for. So you have to check around. Also you may have to wait for a litter to be born from a show breeder. Many do not breed a lot, nor have a lot of yorkies. I have found that there are many people looking for a yorkie pup are spotanous buyers - they have to have everything now. I have known some people that did not want to wait and they bought any pup they were able to buy at the soonest moment. They did not check out the breeder, nor did their research and just bought the first pup they could get. Then I get the calls later from these people of what a mistake they made by buying quickly - that something is wrong with the pup or it does not look like a yorkie now that it is growing up. People need to realize this is a lifetime commitment and should never buy on a whim!

Show breeders show to prove the quality of their dogs. Yes, it can be fun, but it is also a lot of work, money, and dedication to our breed. They are very serious in what we are doing! And breeding should be taken very serious!

When show breeders make a match it is after great thought and research. Learning the faults of all the dogs and knowing the lines. No dog is perfect so they try the best they can to produce the best they can, especially since they are wanting to keep a pup for themself from this match. They are not fortune tellers and do not have a crystal ball, even though they wish they did. So not all litters may turn out as they hope, but at least they are not just playing Russian Roulette and putting any two dogs together.

I have found too that the longer the pup stays with its breeder the more socialized it is. This is from my own experience. So the show breeder gets to see how the pups are developing and how the match is working out - and the pet buyer gets a well socialized and sometimes well trained pet puppy. Show breeders Cannot keep every pup in the litter. Usually they are keeping only one to hold on to for show. I have seen many of a Good Looking pup go to good pet homes.

Yes... I will babysit for free any of my pups I have sold - but never thought about grooming too. That is great Mardelin! I do get a lot of photos or stop overs to show me. I love seeing my babies come back to visit! I feel like a grandma!! Love it!

Yes, show breeders are very picky!! But we need to be. We love our babies and we take this very, very serious. We are totally responsible for our babies, since they cannot speak for themself. So we have to be careful for where they go and we want to make sure it is a lifetime commitment. :-)

T.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by jeanm1963

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

Now, let me say it hasn't happened to me yet! Has it happened to others? Maybe. I'm not a person that can see into the future, I can just hope that I've made the right choice. Now that being said, every litter doesn't have a show dog in it. We're lucky if we get 1 out of every 3 litters.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by topknot

Thank you - thank you Lorraine for writing/starting this post!!


Yes... I will babysit for free any of my pups I have sold - but never thought about grooming too. That is great Mardelin! I do get a lot of photos or stop overs to show me. I love seeing my babies come back to visit! I feel like a grandma!! Love it!




T.

It's easy for me to provide this perk, just because I don't ship my puppies so, their new homes are close by. The lifetime grooming and boarding is purely selfish on my part.

[Patti]

Great post! 2 of my girls are from a reputable show breeder and one is from a BYB. While I was lucky in that Cali looks close to the standardm she had huge health and vet bills and still does. By finding YT I was able to learn so much and in fact I thought that it was close to impossible to get a show breeder to sell e a dog. A show breeder on here recommended I try the show breeder in my area and I called her that night and after a very long phone conversation she told me she had a little 13 month old female that was too small for showing or breeding and I could come look at her. That night I brought Pixie home. We are beyond thrilled with her.Roxie is also from her but she was not the quality of Pixie and the breeder was very upfront about that and was priced accordingly.
Both of them are healthy (knock on wood) and I am so thankful for show breeders!! My breeder still keeps in touch every few months and loves to get updated pics of the girls.

[Lorraine]

I would also like to mention that if you do buy from a reputable show breeder, any problems, questions, concerns, you are welcome to get in touch with the breeder. They are not going to be selling them extra young you won't have to worry so much about hypoglycemia or having them taken from their moms and sibs at too young an age.
Many many of the posts I see on this forum should be questions and concerns that the breeder the pup came from should be addressing, not this forum. i would be appalled and mortified if someone got a dog or pup from me and then had to come to this forum for information and advice for whatever they want to know.
I expect anyone who bought from me to ask me. If I don't know something I have an answer within the day, sometimes hours as I have resources to ask that do know.
As an example, I had a call early yesterday morning from a dog owner that got her dog from me a few years ago now. She described the symptoms, I knew she had to see a Vet and also knew who to send her to on a Sunday, excellent Vet open on Sundays. The little dog had a throat infection and is doing fine;she got her into my Vet that afternoon as I had called them and they got her in for me.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

I would also like to mention that if you do buy from a reputable show breeder, any problems, questions, concerns, you are welcome to get in touch with the breeder. They are not going to be selling them extra young you won't have to worry so much about hypoglycemia or having them taken from their moms and sibs at too young an age.
Many many of the posts I see on this forum should be questions and concerns that the breeder the pup came from should be addressing, not this forum. i would be appalled and mortified if someone got a dog or pup from me and then had to come to this forum for information and advice for whatever they want to know.
I expect anyone who bought from me to ask me. If I don't know something I have an answer within the day, sometimes hours as I have resources to ask that do know.
As an example, I had a call early yesterday morning from a dog owner that got her dog from me a few years ago now. She described the symptoms, I knew she had to see a Vet and also knew who to send her to on a Sunday, excellent Vet open on Sundays. The little dog had a throat infection and is doing fine;she got her into my Vet that afternoon as I had called them and they got her in for me.

Truer words were never spoken. My new families know that they are not only getting a pup, they are getting a relationship with me. They also know that I'm available to them 7x24.

Heaven forbid that my families posted their questions on an forum instead of calling me.

[topknot]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

It's easy for me to provide this perk, just because I don't ship my puppies so, their new homes are close by. The lifetime grooming and boarding is purely selfish on my part.

Mine go mostly all locally too. I am in the country and many are in the surrounding city areas. I guess most are about 45 min. or so away. Not too bad. I will not do cargo either.
T.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by topknot

Mine go mostly all locally too. I am in the country and many are in the surrounding city areas. I guess most are about 45 min. or so away. Not too bad. I will not do cargo either.
T.

There's a couple of people I know that work for the airlines and on their off time and for a fee that's what they do. Hand carry dogs in cabin. Now there is that new pet airline that is suppose to begin operations this month. It only flies pets in cabin with qualified personnel on board with them. Either choice isn't good for me anyway, I want to meet my families face to face.

[topknot]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

I would also like to mention that if you do buy from a reputable show breeder, any problems, questions, concerns, you are welcome to get in touch with the breeder. They are not going to be selling them extra young you won't have to worry so much about hypoglycemia or having them taken from their moms and sibs at too young an age.
Many many of the posts I see on this forum should be questions and concerns that the breeder the pup came from should be addressing, not this forum. i would be appalled and mortified if someone got a dog or pup from me and then had to come to this forum for information and advice for whatever they want to know.
I expect anyone who bought from me to ask me. If I don't know something I have an answer within the day, sometimes hours as I have resources to ask that do know.
As an example, I had a call early yesterday morning from a dog owner that got her dog from me a few years ago now. She described the symptoms, I knew she had to see a Vet and also knew who to send her to on a Sunday, excellent Vet open on Sundays. The little dog had a throat infection and is doing fine;she got her into my Vet that afternoon as I had called them and they got her in for me.

So true Lorraine!
I had one of my moms call me last month after she had my baby spayed and was not acting right a day after it. I could tell something was wrong and I had her take her back in to get rechecked. She was running a fever and they had to give her fluids and antiobiotic! She has thanked me so much for giving her the advice, but I thanked her back for calling me. Even though our babies leave our home - they are still our babies. It's like when your own children grow up and move out - you still want them to call and visit! We are still their first mom!!
T.

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by topknot

What age did you get him at Dee?

i got him at twelve weeks because I saw his pedigree and all his ancestors and went wild over it and he was the prettiest "little" puppy ever. I was very naive back then Tina. I hope I have learned a lot since then.

[Sugar's Mom]

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?????

I have done that. Sold mine too early and months later see it and i could have easily taken it into the show ring while the one I kept to show just didn't make the grade and had to be petted out eventually. i let one go at 18 months once because his head was too white. I saw him at 26 months and he had a solid gold head. Butt kickin went on here at my house. i saw one of my boys just over the weekend and I kicked myself for letting him go too. i have determined to hold on to my pups longer now since I am showing also. But I do agree with Mary about attitude. if they ain't got it, they ain't showing.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

I have done that. Sold mine too early and months later see it and i could have easily taken it into the show ring while the one I kept to show just didn't make the grade and had to be petted out eventually. i let one go at 18 months once because his head was too white. I saw him at 26 months and he had a solid gold head. Butt kickin went on here at my house. i saw one of my boys just over the weekend and I kicked myself for letting him go too. i have determined to hold on to my pups longer now since I am showing also. But I do agree with Mary about attitude. if they ain't got it, they ain't showing.

I know that's got to be a little heartbreaking, but you got to admit, it something to be very proud of, even though you aren't showing them, you did produce them!

[mscat]

I need to comment on this thread . It has been very educational to me . I have learned so much by what you have brought here and shared. Next time I am ready to look for a new Yorkie pup, I now know excatly where and what to do . I hope I can find one near my area when the time is right.

[maggiesmom_2007]

Lorraine,
Thank you so much for posting this. I don't comment much on alot of post for 2 reasons. The first being as I am still a novice at showing and I don't think i have enough experience to be giving advice and the second being Some of these posts I have been reading are very upsetting and have me wanting to reach through the computer screen and smack the OP. I was a fortunate person to be able to get a really nice girl from Catherine Johnson. Once again thank you.