Show size

[mxkids]

I understand there is a maximum size for showing but what about a minimum? If there is no minimum weight or height requirement are they scored less or is it a matter of preference?

[Sugar's Mom]

It is a matter of what the judge for the show likes that particular day.

[bjh]

Even though there is no minimum size, from my observations, you can sometimes see small males, say around 4 lbs but most show breeders will not show a bitch that is going to be under 5 lbs because they are generally not used in their breeding program.

Even though the standard says 'not over 7 lbs', there are some yorkies being showing and are becoming champions that are over 7 lbs. Being over 7 lbs is not a disqualification but is considered a fault.

There is a lot of variation in the builds of the yorkies today. Some are tall and elegant and other have a shorter coby body. It is a matter of preference. The most important thing is that the dog be balanced and sound.

[mxkids]

Thanks, that makes sense. Do the ever measure or weigh a dog in question at the shows?

[bjh]

I have never seen a Yorkie weighed or measured at an AKC show.

[Brooklynn]

Since there is no height or weight disqualification you will not generally see a judge weigh or measure a yorkie. Where the breed standard calls for certain height and weigh requirements judges will do it but in yorkies it's not a DQ so therefore no need. The standard just says not to exceed 7 pounds. You can have a short cobby yorkie be over 7 pounds as well as a tall elegant yorkie but as stated they need to be structurly portioniate (can't spell the word) LOL. I don't mind a 7 1/2 pound male or female as long as they are structurely put together and they are sound. My preference is a 6 to 6 1/2 pound yorkie male or female.

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

[mxkids]

Oh thats good to know. I am thinking about getting a puppy that possibly I will want to show. She might not get big enough, probably around 4 pounds and she has the sqaure cobby style I guess. I have no interest in breeding. It doesnt sound like a smaller female would be the best for the show ring, however it is nice to know they can be shown.

[Mardelin]

While there is no minimum weight in the standard; remember that per the AKC the reason we show is to obtain approval of our breeding stock....

[danresyt]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

While there is no minimum weight in the standard; remember that per the AKC the reason we show is to obtain approval of our breeding stock....

Very good point Mary. That is what it is really supposed to be all about! Thanks!

[kathylynch]

Originally Posted by danresyt

Very good point Mary. That is what it is really supposed to be all about! Thanks!

I do agree with you. The org. purpose of showing was and is for making
sure your breeding is meeting standards. balance is a good word.
not to long in body or to short with long legs. I just try to stick to what the breed standard says. and it says not to exceed over 7lbs. jmo.
as far as a bitch goes even though it says nothing about how small they
should be you need to use common sense on size of your bitch
jmo I think under 5lbs. is to small for a bitch for a breeding program. But then I have heard bitches doing fine whelping that were 4.5lbs.
The purpose of showing is to have the judge evaluate your breeding program to make sure you are on the right track and move forward.
Kathy

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by kathylynch

I do agree with you. The org. purpose of showing was and is for making
sure your breeding is meeting standards. balance is a good word.
not to long in body or to short with long legs. I just try to stick to what the breed standard says. and it says not to exceed over 7lbs. jmo.
as far as a bitch goes even though it says nothing about how small they
should be you need to use common sense on size of your bitch
jmo I think under 5lbs. is to small for a bitch for a breeding program. But then I have heard bitches doing fine whelping that were 4.5lbs.
The purpose of showing is to have the judge evaluate your breeding program to make sure you are on the right track and move forward.
Kathy

Just a wee bit more goes into it than that....you can have a 6 or 7 pound bitch that is of fine bone and not come from a line of free whelpers.....And as you say you can have a 4 or 4 1/2 pound bitch of medium bone, with her reproductive system large enough to carry and free whelp.....But, then we're getting into breeding and that's for another forum.

[topknot]

I had this one girl from a great show/exhibitor and this girl was a little doll. This was back in the 80's. I showed and showed her - no points. The judges loved her, but all of them said she was just too small. I kept holding on to her in hopes she would grow. She only got to 4 pounds. Some shows she looked better than the others, except just too small. I finally asked the last judge I showed her under (Tampa show) why she gave the points to another yorkie and she stated it was because she did not want to waste the points on my little girl. She was just too small for breeding and better to give the points to a bitch that would be bred someday. I learned a very valuable lesson that day - to always look at your dogs with a critical eye!
T.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by topknot

I had this one girl from a great show/exhibitor and this girl was a little doll. This was back in the 80's. I showed and showed her - no points. The judges loved her, but all of them said she was just too small. I kept holding on to her in hopes she would grow. She only got to 4 pounds. Some shows she looked better than the others, except just too small. I finally asked the last judge I showed her under (Tampa show) why she gave the points to another yorkie and she stated it was because she did not want to waste the points on my little girl. She was just too small for breeding and better to give the points to a bitch that would be bred someday. I learned a very valuable lesson that day - to always look at your dogs with a critical eye!
T.

Hard lesson to learn, wasting our money on entry fees, traveling expenses, etc....But, it seems those dinky do yorks just are so perfectly structured.....wonderful color, beautiful faces and we get blinded by that and forget the reason for showing; to gain approval of our breeding stock.

[topknot]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Hard lesson to learn, wasting our money on entry fees, traveling expenses, etc....But, it seems those dinky do yorks just are so perfectly structured.....wonderful color, beautiful faces and we get blinded by that and forget the reason for showing; to gain approval of our breeding stock.

I do not call it wasting our money - because we are learning. She was young and so there was a chance she could have grown. We just do not know, since none of us have that crystal ball to predict their adult weight. The breeder (also my show buddy) and myself kept hoping. Even our professional handler we showed with was hoping too, because she was a doll. But that is how it goes sometimes and one reason why yorkies are so hard to pretict how they will turn out. You also have color, bites, toplines, texture, so many more that makes it so hard to predict what an adult yorkie will turn out to be. But it is the experience one gains by showing that is pricless!
T.

[mxkids]

Since each line matures at a different rate, does it hurt to show in a puppy class when your puppy is running on the small size? Thanks for the replies, I have already learned alot.