well I say kuddos to all of you. Ive been to alot of shows and someday maybe...........I trully envy you all. Linda

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I can see it takes so much hard work. I have kids 8 and 15. I also have fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. With that said, I'm having to give serious thought as to when I can actually pursue my dream. I have enough energy for my family and yorkies at this point. It's really hard, but fun and rewarding.

[QUOTE=Susan123;1923602]I don't want to hijack this thread, but I can see it takes so much hard work. I have kids 8 and 15. I also have fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. With that said, I'm having to give serious thought as to when I can actually pursue my dream. I have enough energy for my family and yorkies at this point. It's really hard, but fun and rewarding.

There are 2 people in my area that show from power wheel chairs. One of them show a big breed. It is the most amazing sight to seem them flying around the ring. It is a nice dog and she wins a lot. There is one lady that uses a scooter to get around because of her disability. She drives the scooter up to ringside, gets out shows her dog and then gets right back in. I have had 4 back surgeries and it is sometimes hard for me to get on the ground so I have trained my dogs to free stack. When I am having a bad day, I let them do all the work. When I know that I am not going to be able to get down to stack my dog, I tell the ring steward and she tells the judge. I have a cart that I use to carry my gear and crates and I use a lightweight table instead of a heavy ringside table. A handicap tag also helps because the clubs often uses parking that is close to the building for club members and judges. It can be a long walk from your car to ringside.

My right hand was paralyzed for a while and I still showed my dogs. I was very slow setting my dog up on the table but the judges were very patient.
I even learned to do a topknot with one hand. I can look back at pictures and see that it wasn't the best topknot in the world but it was good enough.

Having said all that, I have to tell you that the adeneline rush is so high that pain goes away. I concentrate so hard on my dogs and getting them ready. For those few hours nothing else enters my mind.

I love that you all make time to follow your passion i feel like that is so important.:) and we are all glad that you do it because you provide the rest of us with quality beautiful babies. thankyou.

I will vouch that you are one of the strongest women I have ever known.
When I first met you, I was amazed by your determination and how you overcame your disabilities to continue doing something you loved.
Not only that, but your willingness to always help others. I owe you so much..and then some. You are the reason I continued to pursue my dreams and passion even when I felt that I couldn't. Not only have you been a friend and a mentor to me in yorkies and showing...but you are a great friend in life. I don't know what I'd do without my "ghost hunter".

Ghost hunter;) If you think the car rolling up hill backwards is wild, just wait until you see the ghost of Berryhill mansion shine her light on the railroad tracks.

Oh I can't wait. Ashley and I still have chill bumps from "Lydia" at spooky hollow. I told Michael about the car rolling up hill...now he wants to go and do it.
When I go back to Va Beach, I want to take the ghosts of va beach tour.

You are so sweet. I sometimes think it is not determination but obsession that keeps me going.

I encourage you because I know you have the drive to do great things. I was born into a show home so I never had to face what many of you do. It is so hard to get a good dog and, when you do, it is hard to find someone to tell you what to do with it. There are some wonderful, caring breeders but there are also some very rude ones. I will always help people get started because I love this sport and want it to always be here. Besides that, I don't want to have to drive all over the country looking for majors ;).

Talk about hijacking a thread - Sorry that I had to preach.

[quote=lwolfe;1923894]Thanks for this post, I found it to be very encouraging. I also imagine the adrenile rush is awesome enough to help you push through. I'm in a flare and have gotten very downcast concerned if I would be able to do it. Since being diagnosed at 32, I've gone through grieving for the things I use to be able to do and have since been trying to adjust. Adjustments can be made and allow me to follow my dream. Having this goal and loving the breed is great inspiration. And so was your post, Thank you.

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I can see it takes so much hard work. I have kids 8 and 15. I also have fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. With that said, I'm having to give serious thought as to when I can actually pursue my dream. I have enough energy for my family and yorkies at this point. It's really hard, but fun and rewarding.

Susan123 (Don't know U're name sorry) Please don't think U're hijacking this thread for U're not. My Sister has Fibromyalgia & she is a dibetic also. It is very hard on her too, she is on different meds that has caused her to gain weight and she just keeps on going, how I don't know. She too has a 12 year old daughter. She helped my Father plant potatoes yesterday and he back I know will be hurting her bad.

All U can do it try if this is really what U want in life. Never say Never is what I tell all 4 of my daughters. & I can't don't get it done, I can gets it done. I have 1 daughter who is such a Doubting Thomas, I always tell her stop saying I can't. I know the Fibromyalgia is very hard to live with from what my Sister is going thorugh. But if U want to do this bad enough, then do it, don't let anything or anyone tell U that U can't, U'll have some stumbling blocks I'm sure but just go right over them!! I wish U the best and if U want U can PM me about my Sister and her Fibromyalgia.

I know when my girls grow up and if I still want to show, there will be nothing or no one stop me that's just me, if I want to do something bad enough get out of my way, I'm gonna try my best to do it. Hugs, Lee :)

There are 2 people in my area that show from power wheel chairs. One of them show a big breed. It is the most amazing sight to seem them flying around the ring. It is a nice dog and she wins a lot. There is one lady that uses a scooter to get around because of her disability. She drives the scooter up to ringside, gets out shows her dog and then gets right back in. I have had 4 back surgeries and it is sometimes hard for me to get on the ground so I have trained my dogs to free stack. When I am having a bad day, I let them do all the work. When I know that I am not going to be able to get down to stack my dog, I tell the ring steward and she tells the judge. I have a cart that I use to carry my gear and crates and I use a lightweight table instead of a heavy ringside table. A handicap tag also helps because the clubs often uses parking that is close to the building for club members and judges. It can be a long walk from your car to ringside.

My right hand was paralyzed for a while and I still showed my dogs. I was very slow setting my dog up on the table but the judges were very patient.
I even learned to do a topknot with one hand. I can look back at pictures and see that it wasn't the best topknot in the world but it was good enough.

Having said all that, I have to tell you that the adeneline rush is so high that pain goes away. I concentrate so hard on my dogs and getting them ready. For those few hours nothing else enters my mind.

U all are amazing to me, U do what U have to do in order to be where U want in the Show World and U do give us that has this dream also the want even more to do it. Thanks so much for sharing with us. :)

Oh I can't wait. Ashley and I still have chill bumps from "Lydia" at spooky hollow. I told Michael about the car rolling up hill...now he wants to go and do it.
When I go back to Va Beach, I want to take the ghosts of va beach tour.

Can U please share about U're Ghost Hunters here? I love Ghost Stories and I love haunted houses. This is getting off subject tho maybe we should put this under the off subject fourm so we don't get into trouble. What do U all think, if U're willing to share could U make a new thread there with U're details. PLEASE.

You are so sweet. I sometimes think it is not determination but obsession that keeps me going.

I encourage you because I know you have the drive to do great things. I was born into a show home so I never had to face what many of you do. It is so hard to get a good dog and, when you do, it is hard to find someone to tell you what to do with it. There are some wonderful, caring breeders but there are also some very rude ones. I will always help people get started because I love this sport and want it to always be here. Besides that, I don't want to have to drive all over the country looking for majors .

Talk about hijacking a thread - Sorry that I had to preach.

No U're not hijacking the thread lol, U all are giving us U're thoughts too and it does help us new ones (At least it does me)
I was not born into a Show Home so this is all new to me, and it is hard on us new ones to learn all the right ropes so to speak, this is why I ask questions so much to learn for I don't think we can ever learn enough about Yorkies.

It is hard to fing a good dog to help U have those beautiful show puppies and then if U do want to go on to show, there isn't many out there that is willing to help U learn what U need to learn. Thanks for all U're thoughts. :)