Does your puppy have what it takes to be a show dog?
 

I hear a lot of breeders say that they keep aside a puppy from a litter and watch it to see if it has the personality to be a show dog (assuming, of course, that it has everything else). Or they say that their puppy is looking good for the show ring, personality wise.

I am wondering, what do you actually look for in the puppy? What is it that says to you that this puppy is worth watching and just might be "the one"? :)

Good question - I'm curious to know too.

I take a look at them for the first time at 8 weeks......attitude first.......watching for that puppy that is more assertive.....not afraid of the devil. Then at 12 weeks again, I begin watching movement and continue watching for attitude.......The process of picking out the right puppy is not easy for the untrained eye. You need a mentor to help you....one that has been exhibiting and knows her dogs. An exhibitor may not make the final decision until they get that puppy in the ring at 6 months of age.

Selecting a show prospect is a long drawn out affair, especially if the pups have no outstanding faults at a early age. There are a few faults that can show up early that would eliminate a puppy from being considered for show, one thing would be the bite. Sometimes you can tell by 8 or 12 weeks if the bite will be overshot or undershot. Of course if the bite off a slight amount then it is possible that the bite can correct itself when the permanent teeth come in. The other thing that is sometimes obvious early and that is size. If by 12 weeks a puppy that appears to be too large or too small for show it can sometimes be eliminated from being considered for show. Of course size is not always easy to predict. I know many a show breeder that have been greatly disappointed when their show prospect ended up too small or too big.

Other things that would make a pup not suitable for show would be if they have a poor ear set, ears too big, too long in body, bad tail set, straight stifles, poor front, bad top line, improper coat type, the list goes on. Some of these faults might not be obvious until the pup is older. And, of course, like Mary said, the personality of the pup plays a very important part in if a pup has what it take to be a show dog. Some faults could be minor and the dog could still be shown. You can have a perfect yorkie with no faults but if the dog does not have that yorkie attitude then you can forget it.

It's just plain complicated LOL...one that still looks good at 6 months can go off at 9 months and so on....

Great question! I'll be interested to see what people say!

Your right Donna, it is complicated........A topline can go on and off, one day you'll look at your pup and go......oh no.....then in a couple of days it's fine......one day everything looks great, the next day it's gone to pot.

But, health, structure, movement and attitude are the most important things. Then of course a new pup should come from great lines for it to have any chance of being a show dog.

Barb,

you and I know that everything you mentioned above has been Championed.....even when they've had more than one of the above. What it boils down to is for the exhibitor to have the fortitude to take the judge the best of the best.....What some exhibitors fail to realize that it's not all about Championing a dog but, to gain approval of our breeding stock.

So you basically hold on to the ones you think may be show quality and just watch them and have them evaluated by someone that shows.

If your new, it is a good idea to have your dog evaluated by an experienced exhibitor/breeder or a judge. Though I think that when you're new you need a good mentor to help you evaluate which puppy has it......I know that when I first started I had my mentor evaluate my puppies on a weekly basis. The trained eye that knows what to look for.....they see stuff that a new person doesn't and usually knows how certain things in a line will develop.

I am not new & I do have a great mentor, but I do know what your saying.

Ah, then if you're not new....you pretty much know what you're doing. Experienced exhibitor/breeders know what to pick and it's not necessary to have your dog evaluated before showing it. Although, you know that we all ask each other's opinions on our dogs.

Boy do you got that right!!!

Donna

Yes I always ask different great show breeders/exhibitors to evaluate my dogs, cause you might just miss something.

I'm always asking other's opinions about my dogs! And when I ask I "expect" an honest answer even if it's something I don't want to hear :)

Donna

You guys all gave great advice and know. There is so much one has to watch on a yorkie to see if they have the right "stuff" to make them a champion. Competition is tough here and if you do not have a good representation of the breed they are not going to get those points.

Yes, you have to hold on to your pups you think will make it and watch them closely. We have a very difficult breed and so much can go off with them before they mature. So you have to watch them and hold on to them. One should also hold on to their pups for awhile when doing a new breeding to see how the match turned out. You need to know this as a good breeder.

I have several that I am watching and feel pretty good about them. But I continue to hold my breath to make sure they will make it. Some I have had to watch till they were 1.5 years old, especially on color, coat, and size.

Personality is a big thing with yorkies. They are a terrier and the judges want to see that terrier attitude in the ring. If they do not have this, it is tough to finish them.

Another thing that makes a big difference is grooming talent. You may have a great yorkie, but if you do not know how to groom a yorkie's coat, it is difficult to get one finished. You have to have a good coat on a yorkie to do well competiting. This is another reason why many top breeders of our breed may not place one of their pups with a novice. They want to make sure you can grow a coat. That is one thing I feel I do very well at, but it took years of practice. I am glad that I had great mentors in the past to help me. I also read a lot and watched. Amazing what you can learn. Many people will get a nice yorkie with good lines to practice on to see how they can do with a coat first, before getting their first show dog.

Donna, you are so right. It is very important to have your dog evaulated by the experts. I do this as well. I just want to make sure I am not missing anything, someone else might catch. The ones evaulating your dogs, must know the standard and know the standard very well. You want to make sure they really do know how to evaulate. They must have evaluated many yorkies before to give an honest, well informed judgement!

Good luck to everyone. Showing is a lot of fun and very exciting. Finishing your first dog is especially a lot of fun! :)

This is one of the main reasons I belive breeders should be in the ring. It's not just about ribbons and trophies but the quality of dogs you are going to breed.

Thank you for mentioning this.:)

:thumbup::thumbup:

You're right Tina, the pup has to be exceptional especially if you're showing here on the Eastern Seaboard. We not only have the most amazing dogs in the ring from the top breeders in the country but we have the top handlers. The good thing is there are plenty of top yorkie people who are willing to take a look at your pup to evaluate it. I feel really honored to show with the greats but must admit it can be intimidating as well. This is a difficult breed to get right and they go through so many changes. Having fabulous people to mentor you really helps.

I know what you mean Tami! :) They help, because they really care. I have never met so many nice people that love the breed and so willing to share their knowledge and expertise. All you have to do is ask and some will help when they see you need it too. I was at a show once, shortly after returning and Gi was giving my daughter, who was showing her this day, and Gi was being a bit fiesty!Gi had already won Winners Bitch and had had enough of behaving. She was a teenager and hormones were out there. Well, a top yorkie person saw the trouble my daughter was having and actually came over to give her tips on how to hold Gi on the table. This person would go in later to compete with us and it came close for BOB. Infact the judge had Gi and this breeder's Special on the table together in the ring to make his final decision. She did not have to help, but because she was nice and cared, she helped. I will never forget this. Thank you! :D

I had to call another top yorkie person that I know late in the night for help and she was right there for me. I cannot thank this person enough. Thank you. :D

These people really care and I do not know what I would do without them. They are truly loved and greatly appreciated. I have met the best people showing yorkies. They are the greatest!! :thumbup: