Thank you so much for that clarification.

No, I have not tried showing. My mom used to show Shelties so I am not unfamiliar with the idea, but I have not done it myself. I just could not at this time in my life. Maybe after my son goes to college as I will probably have lots of "empty nest" hours that I can devote. Right now, with varsity baseball and football, and all of the showcases trying to intice colleges -- our weekends are very full. He is sort of my "show" right now. :)

I think I might like it too. We'll see what the future brings.

Maybe one day you can give it a try.

You see, I would have never done this or even bred when my daughter was at home because I wouldn't have been able to devote all my time to this wonderful breed. I, like you, my daughter came first and then I got started with yorkies. I had dogs all my life good thing I didn't start this endeavor until I raised my daughter as I too, was gone with her on weekends doing things with her sports ect... Breeding and showing yorkies is a full time job and I'm lucky enough to have another job that is so understanding when it comes time to whelp and I'm off in the summers. When I do breed I really try and work it so that I have puppies in the summer so I can devote my time to them. Very rarely do I have a litter when I'm in school at work.
When my daughter was a child, she and I rode horses and thank goodness that wasn't as involved as my dogs are now.
Please understand, if there is something that I say regarding breeding and showing and anyone that is doing their best to breed to the best of the representation of this wonderful breed showing or not then my comments should really have no baring on anyone here and shouldn't feel the need to defend themselves :) I hope that made sense LOL

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

Could you post a pic of the pups?

I believe he did, they are a page or two back. They are gorgeous!

I found them. I think they are very cute but not show quality. Any breeders care to comment on this?

I found the puppies to be very pretty but I can't make a comment to your question because I couldn't give a fair one simply because hard to tell in pictures without physically seeing the dog and putting my hands on them, seeing them gait/move ect.... :)

The pics I posted are of the pups at 7 months old. Donna is right in that you really have to see a dog in person and put you hands on them. I said in my post that I thought the male had the most potential but, at 7 months, is still a little early to tell.

They do fit into what I like about a Yorkie. There is a written standard that is open to interpretation. Briefly, I like an elegant dog but one that still has obvious terrier aspects. I like an effortless, athletic gait, which these pups have. I also like their coats, which are not thin but not so thick as to hide the dog's structure. Their coats had a very cool silk feel with no cottony texture. The coat hangs well front to rear without a hint of waviness.

Of course, this is just me talking...take it for that. It's not like seeing them in person, I know. I don't mind honest critiques of them at all. I said before that there are things I'd like to see as time goes on. None of us has the perfect Yorkie. I just feel I am a good place and am happy with the results I've seen up to now.

Thanks for your opinion. I do appreciate it. BTW, I really love the Westies.
Jim

I can say what I do like and it's the boy's face! I love his ear set. I can't however comment on structure because you have to see that in person and that is where it's good to get a show breeder's perspective in person like taking them to puppy matches ect...I know it's just one judge's and or show breeder's opinion but it does help evaluate your breedings. I personally like an elegant yorkie and up on leg :) I do think the puppy is very pretty. I do love his expression and the way he holds his ears they are very expressive. I do love that in a show dog :)
See I'm not a bad person and can make postive comments :) LOL

Donna

Hahaha....Donna, I've never said you were a bad person. You, and some of the other exhibitors, remind me of the exhibitor I know in the way you speak (post). The only thing is, the lady I know is a middle-aged English lady with a very proper accent....so that is how I 'hear' you all when you post LOL.

I would never have posted the pics without expecting honest critiques. I really don't mind. I would like to ask you if you think my interpretation of the standard is one to strive for. To me, the Yorkie is such a spectacular but sporty dog and I don't want to breed for elegance at the expense of their Terrier roots. I hope my goal is a valid and attainable one.

Thanks for your input and I never take offense in someone fairly assessing my dogs....Jim

LOL Jim, I know you wouldn't think that of me :) Some, however, do unfortunately. I know an English proper show breeder/exhibitor lady and I guess I listen to her alot...she's been a handler and breeder for a long time and was the one that bred and handled of the top winning yorkies that held the BISS record for a long time until it was broken this year but Tyava's Sure Shot so I do know what ya mean LOL..
Take my Radar, he's what I would call an elegant dog up on leg but he's very agile as in sporty and has a very terrier attitude so yes I do believe your goal is valid and attainable as long as you breed the best you can :) I think you have the right idea.

Donna :)

Again, your dogs are very cute and I would love to have a yorkie like yours.

My westie was a show dog reject but I love her anyway. Her breeder has some of the top westies in the country and she was thinking about keeping my girl but at the end, she knew she wasn't going to make weight.

I think Brooklynn's comments might have been for others. I for one am shocked and amazed! :eek:



No, not really. ;)

Hi Jim hope you don't mind if i jump in. I looked at the pictures of the two you posted earlier on in the thread. If it is ok, I thnik they look very nice from what I can see, nice heads/earsets, colour looks promising likely.
However, Donna is right, without hands on, hard to know what faults might be there. What you want to look for as they are on the move, is level topline and movement where the front is not choppy and the rear is not to far under the dog but moving out. Tail should be up. Without the tail up, it will throw off the topline etc.
Also, at their age, if the structure is fairly good, they would still be show potentials. I'll tell you, the yorkie is one of the hardest breeds to work with. Something can still go off before they are a year old.
Also, bite should be a scissor bite, even is ok, under or overshot or wry mouth is considered a bad fault by many breeders. If you use a bad bite in a breeding progem you will have a very hard time breeding it out again. Darn near impossible.
My mentor told me when I got started is that when you see a good structure on a Yorkie it will take your breath away when you watch it move. That's what i look for , one that takes my breath away when it moves in the ring or are all forward focused on something and moving across my backyard.
I love getting a friend to move a dog on lead for me so I can see for myself how they move for the ring.

And we are speaking about the ever famous Kay Joiner and Team Oliver:)

LOL...not hard to pick out those that think that :) And honestly I do accept that and realize that and it really doesn't bother me whether anyone likes me or not, I'm not in this to make friends and have everyone like me, I'm in it for the love of the breed and the love the yorkie brings me. Only in a perfect world would everyone like everyone that crosses their paths. Everyone has that choice and I respect it :) I've always said my yorkies are more loyal than humans :)
Donna

Yuppers that is of who we speak of! Great lady and a great source of knowledge on the Yorkshire Terrier!

Now there is another proper English Handler who use to show and breed yorkies, but now handles poms.....Brannia. The lady is a kick...and you'd think that butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, but she can throw some zingers at you.

You know, I can take those zingers LOL...but in all honesty believe it or not I do take peoples advice on many things, like the weekend in OKC...with Radar's and Morgan's breeder, I'm not perfect and he pointed out some things I needed to change and what to look for...I still soak up my mentor's knowledge and experience and learn from it...if I'm doing something wrong I "expect" to be told whether I may like it or not :) really that's how we learn. Maybe instead of getting defensive, take a step back and listen, I know I do. I've actually learned a few new things just from this thread alone :)

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Donna. I really should try getting actual ring experience but have not as of yet. I try to have a critical eye for my dogs but am quite happy at this point. I do hope to see my ideals realized as time goes on. As for Radar, it goes without saying that he is stunning.

Lorraine, I really appreciate your comments. I think I know what you mean by good structure and how you know it when you see it. I feel my guy has it. His topline is dead even when stacked but when he's relaxed, it seems to relax, too. Should I be looking for a topline that's level 100% of the time?

One thing that's always gotten me is the description of a 'rather gay tail'. I couldn't quite get the meaning of this until my Scarlett came along. Now I KNOW what a gay tail is. It's like you say, when you see it, you know it and it's breath taking.

I've been lucky as far as bite goes. All mine have, so far, had nice level bites.

Thanks, ladies, for your comments. They really are invaluable to those of us seeking to better our lines. Nothing like those that have been-there, done-that for excellent advice.....Jim

Well you know that my mentor doesn't mince words with me either. But, the day we stop learning we may as well just roll over. She and her previous handler put me through the ringer before allowing me into the ring. Getting defensive defeats the purpose. I look at it as constructive criticism, especially given by those veterns. Not to say that we can't learn from people that are relatively new to the breed and sport.

I've been a fan of Westies for some time but had never met one in person until the other day at my vet's office. I love them even more now. If I wasn't obsessed with Yorkies, I'd have a Westie.

Jim you really are a breath of fresh air! When Radar free stacks in the living room his top line is dead level! I do feel sometimes when they are in relaxed mode the top line can go off especially in a puppy! And the comment you made before there is NO perfect yorkie :)
You should try the ring I have a feeling you would absolutely love it! Nothing more beautiful than seeing a gorgeous yorkie flowing around the ring in a breathaking manner! Heaven on earth!
As Lorraine pointed out nothing more beautiful or breath taking to see one move so gracifully and structually sound in the ring!
Donna

Sometimes those that are new can bring a new light on the sport! I've actually learned from a few myself :)

Absolutely, Not only that the new ones coming up are the future of the breed. That thought came to me in Oklahoma, watching Jessie in the ring. My gosh that lil girl is outhandling her grandmother. And she doesn't lose her cool.....

Donna, the reason I asked about topline is that my Heidi has an arrow straight top that never wavers. She is very cobby-bodied, too. The one thing is that her gait isn't as effortless as the male pup I posted. I don't want to sacrifice gait for an incrementally better topline. It seems the 2 are related.

I really shouldn't have let that boy get away from me. I just couldn't see fitting him in at the time. The good news is that I have a new litter of pups from this pair that was born this past Tuesday. I have 2 boys and 2 girls. I'm going to be very careful in what I do with these pups and am in no hurry to see them go. Thanks for the chat; it has been interesting....Jim

You got that right! That young lady is so impressive and to be only 13 years old? She really could teach a few some things! I know I have actually learned a few things from her like her professionalism at such a young age! She's going to be great as she already is! What I have also learned from this bright and intelligent 13 year old is how much grace and maturity she has and more so than some adults I know :)

Top lines and gait goes hand in hand! Without the gait and good reach and drive you can't have a good top line.
It's nice to have a conversation with a non show breeder as yourself! Hopefully we can talk ya into the ring someday! Always nice to have new ones come and join us and enjoy this wonderful sport :)

Donna

That and her grandmother keeping her grounded....won't let her take a fee for any handling she does for clients. Will only allow them to get her gifts.

Watching Jessie grow up had been a pleasure. Knowing her since she was just 7 and remembering her first time in the ring....but, seeing her in the ring at the Oklahoma Specialty and the impressive win brought tears to my eyes.

It's been a pleasure for me also watching this young lady grow up into a beautiful and "SMART" young lady! Adults could actually learn from her. I wish to see more young people get involved in this wonderful sport. I always love to watch Jr. Handling! The love they have for the purebred is just totally awesome!

Very nice and pretty puppies!!:thumbup: