Show Quality?!?!?!......
 

He certainly is beautiful! I would look for a Yorkie exhibitor right now as a potential mentor, or someone who can evaluate your boy and direct you to conformation training classes. The earlier you train for show, the better. Things like "stacking" and demonstrating the gait around the ring.

Something to keep in mind: exhibition is primarily for evaluation of breeding dogs. In other words, it is for un-neutered dogs.

It is best to find a mentor - even if you can't find a Yorkie breeder at least another toy breeder to evaluate your dog. Those two pictures while nice are not near enough to evaluate a dog long distance. I would need to see free stack photos, movement videos - suspended stack etc. I do like his coat coloration - how ever his face is very light or at least appears so in the photo.

Showing a dog can be a lot of fun - but it is also a lot of work too:) Let me know if you have more questions and I will be happy to help.

You have a very beautiful yorkie. I recognize the photos from Instagram. I'm one of your followers. :) I think if you're going to compete in dog shows, and if it's something for the experience and as a way to bond with your dog, I believe some dog shows have an altered class that is for neutered/spayed dogs. I'm assuming your dog is neutered and was purchased as a pet. Yeah? And there's some more fun-based things at dog shows - junior handling and maybe some other things too. I've actually never been to a show but I plan to in the near future.

However, I've heard from multiple people that, I don't know if it's just maybe people with certain personalities tend to be attracted to dog shows or what, but apparently it's not uncommon for people to make rude comments or roll their eyes or other things like that if your dog isn't up to par. So that's just something to be aware of. Maybe it's just a bunch of old women stirring up trouble when they go to dog shows. I don't know. But whatever.

I'm actually in the same boat as you. I have a girl who, although maybe a little under size at 4lbs, has lots of good features. And I know her brother was kept for show by the breeder. I, just like you, was thinking of having the experience of competing in a dog show. With you being in New Orleans you probably have tons of resources to help you along the path of competing in a show in the future. Like others said, find a mentor to help you and training classes would probably be good I'd imagine.

Did the breeder sell him as show quality? I think all of the advice above is very good, the show world definitely has a different standard of Yorkie then just a pet Yorkie, so I would contact him to be evaluated by someone experienced before going down that route :) he's very cute though!!

Go for it :D Raise the Flag of yorkie breed:)
Look for best trainer:)

I agree that you should get a mentor, take him to some confirmation classes, just so you can learn how to show, even if this dog isn't your show prospect. More than likely you'll need to do further research and get a second show quality yorkie (not saying that your guy isn't, I just think he needs further show evaluation to determine if he's the one you should show)

Your boy is beautiful! If he does not end up being show quality, there are other activities you can do that are great for bonding. Agility can be a lot of fun, but make sure his knees are sound before you begin. Earthdog competition is another possibility.

:thumbup: Excellent idea! I think agility is great for fun and bonding, no matter the show/pet quality!

Another cool activity you could do to bond with your dog is scent work. I know a lady who got her dog to alert her of people who smell of marijuana by waving at them. Even if they change clothes, wash their hands, etc., your dog can still smell it even if you can't. You don't necessarily have to do drug related scent work. I'm thinking of getting one of my dogs into scent work. I think it'd be fun.

Nosework classes -- I would love to do that with my Teddy. AlaskaYorkie's Eddie and Jillie have earned their nosework titles. Very challenging, especially for non-traditional scent dogs, but looks like lots of fun.

Classes in my area start at over $600 though. eeek!

You can do it on your own! Make scent boxes and treats or a clicker :)
Ella is a peanut sniffer.

:thumbup: Good job Ella.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Yay Ella!
Scottie knows his own slobber scent really well and can find the toy I hide from him (in all different places, easy and hard) by command within seconds! It's truly amazing (to me) and super amusing (also to me) :D

Slobber scent, love it! :D Good job Scottie.