Show Quality Question
 

For those of you that breed to show, how soon can you tell that you have a show quality puppy? Just curious and fasinated. Thanks!

I think we have discussed this in the past, but can again to help.

A show quality puppy will actually be older - about 1 year - 1 1/2 years old or older, has been in some shows and most likely won some of its classes against others. In other words a pretty good contendor and will probably finish without problems. Of course - they are more expensive, but you will have a pretty good idea of coat, color, movement, etc...

A show prospects means that they are looking promising, but no guarantees. Pup is usually about 6-8 months of age. You have a somewhat idea of how them might turn out, but you still will have to watch them and see - keep holding your breath that they will mature right. A 6 month old pup can still fall apart before it reaches a year. Have to watch movement, topline, bite, color at this time - just to mention a few.

A pup younger 6 months - you have no clue!

If a novice buys either - you have got to know how to groom a coat and handle/train your dog for the ring. A great dog can be ruined and most likely will never get the points with a damaged coat or not trained. You can hire a handler to help train and show your dog, but grooming you have to know how to do.

I tried to add, but had problems with it going in -

This is just one good reason why one would want to mentor you and why you need a mentor.

If the dog is for myself - I just hold on to the pup or pups for myself for a good while that my gut feeling says to hold on to them. I may keep holding them till they are a year or more. Usually putting them in as puppy classes to see how they do. After you have been breeding awhile you just get a feeling - and keep watching is the best you can do with this breed. Of course you have others evaluate them for you too - someone that really knows the standard (an expert in showing). Soonest - around 8 weeks 12 weeks I think maybe.... but no sure thing. Our breed is one of The hardest to determine. This is one reason show prospects must be held on to for so long. I am still holding my breath until the dog has both their majors and half way to finishing. It's tough! :D

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this why Yorkies seem to do well a dog shows? Or so it has seemed to this novice watching Westminster, Eukanuba, etc. on television that Yorkies are always contenders?

Holding to the strenuous standard, timeline, and effort it takes to produce a contender would seem to be more vigorous than other breeds, so "our" breed consistently does well?

P.S. I don't know how well I worded the above. Hopefully it made some sort of sense. :scratchhe I don't believe I'll ever be involved in the show world, but I am very fascinated with what you all do to get there.

Let's see if I can answer your question.

You will always see a yorkie as a contender in the Westminster, Eukanuba Toy breed ring. Reason for this is that Westminster, Eukanuba is by invitation only, with only the top winning dogs being invited.

Your 2nd sentence. Each breeder/exhibitor should always keep The Standard in the forefront of their breeding program. And only take the best of the best into the ring for evaluation of our breeding stock. Doing anything else is only fooling ourselves and keeping our breeding stock at an inferior level.

Now this is funny!

Thanks Elle! I always do - hold my breath - till they are finished. I always worry too much. At least mine all finished quickly and did not have to hold my breath too long. Hehehehehe:D I had one girl finish in just 3 short weekends (AKC shows).

With the way things have been this past year - sometimes finiding majors can be hard at times. Hopefully it will be larger enteries this year and easier to build those majors.

They do not do well. To say the breed does well would be that they do well in groups occasionally getting a group 1 so they can compete for best in show. Not sure what you mean by contenders? Do you mean b/c yorkies are entered in them? It's not a total knock on our breed in the ring. We have IMO the most competitive group. Probably b/c it's my favorite. Not my favorite breeds but we have to have a "better dog than they have for these breeds". Pug, Pek, Pom and of course the toy poodle.

Even if judging is done respectable. We did not had anything to compete on a group level with some of these. We had one that did well but was something in the way. I'm pretty sure it was Kaz & Vikki the toy poodle.

Speaking of Eukanuba, did anyone watch it on tv? Did you hear what they said when they said something about wearing a red bow?

Do you do something w/ horses?