I feel like a snob! What happened to me?
 

I just hate this! Does anyone else have this problem? I've been literally addicted to yorkies for about 4 years now. I am just a beginner with showing. Started this winter and I'm enjoying myself but I have become so overly critical about all the dogs. Even my own. Oh, this isn't perfect and that isn't perfect. Even the most perfect dogs. I am always looking at photos and picking out the flaws. I miss the days when I just came on yorkie talk and thought all the puppies were cute. I still think they're cute but I look at a photo and my first thought is oh, that is not a proper coat or her muzzle is too long or his ears are too big. I think I need to work on this.....
Let me just add so you don't think I'm totally rotten that I do think they all deserve to be loved whether they have big ears or long muzzles and even if they aren't even yorkies and I'm really not a snobby person, at least I didn't used to be.....:(

LOL! That's kinda funny. Well none of mine are perfect for sure, but they are perfect to me. :D

I do understand what you're saying. I've gone to many shows to watch and support friends that are show breeders. So, I find myself not necessarily being critical of the faults I see but am certainly aware of them. I think after showing dogs or being associated with those that do it's probably a natural, and expected trait you pick up......OR.....you've become a yorkie snob:D:D:D

I think that's perfectly normal. As long as you keep your observations about other "not quite perfect" dogs to yourself, it's ok to take notice. After all, that's how you learn isn't it? :)

I love my show puppy and I think she's beautiful, but I also love all the little imperfections of my other dogs - sometimes I love them even more. Sebastian, for example, has eyes that are as big as marbles. That's not what you want in a show dog, big round eyes, but dang they are CUTE!!

Knowing the standard and recognizing it will only make you a better Yorkie breeder/owner/shower.

What you are doing what is called learning the breed standard. It happens to all of us as we are learning and it continues as we grow and become knowledgeable.. It is important to develop a critical eye to help the breed. If you thought all the yorkies were cute and then breed these substandard yorkies - what would you produce? Only substandard yorkies, which in turn would eventually ruin the breed. We have to ask ourself why we love this breed so much? Why would we want to make it worse? So what you are doing is helping the breed.

The real question is - now, how do you handle it knowing the faults. Most of the time I keep my mouth closed. If they ask for opinions - I may give it, but I try to do it gently. We all love our dogs and they are like our own children. We hate anyone to critize our babies. It is tough - especially when you know they are breeding and their yorkie is far from the standard. But - if they ask... they need to be ready.

I also remember that no yorkie is perfect. There are just some so far from the standard and some that are close - it is a sliding scale and where the dog would be placed on this scale. It is one to use for whether to breed that yorkie or have it spayed/neutered and just love it as a pet.

Keep it up... maybe you'll make a good Judge some day...:D

Theresa, I find myself doing the same thing. I love all yorkies and like you said, whether they are a show dog or a loving pet, they all are beautiful in their own way and they deserve to be loved. Like my mother always taught me, 'Beauty is only skin deep'.

To me one of the hardest things about the show yorkies is that there are several different looks and types. Some you can look at and know they have a silky coat, others you look at and wonder if the coat is modified silk. Some are leggy and lean and some are cobby built. Some have longer muzzles and bigger ears and some don't. All may fall within the standard so it comes down to how you interpret the standard and what your preferences are.

If more breeders would take the time as you have and study the standard, go to shows and truly learn the breed BEFORE they attempt breeding, the Yorkshire Terrier breed would be so much better off.

So true! And then there are Judges who prefer a small, more refined looking, Yorkie - and those who prefer one who has more of a terrier look. And then, just when you think you know what they are looking for (small, refined, darker) they will pick one that is cobby and light with a longer muzzle. LOL It never ends.

LOL...I love this thread! I do that all the time but I also remember no yorkie is perfect and there will never be a perfect yorkie LOL....
As Tina said, you are developing a critical eye for the breed standard as everyone should do :) Especially when someone wants to breed.
Everyone has a different type of yorkie they like. And it really depends on what minor faults you can live with. While I like a small tight ear set it's not something I would take out of my breeding program or if the yorkie was lighter in color (not light silver or white) but not perfectly dark steel blue. It's all in the eye of the beholder :) I'm very critical of yorkies in the ring. I do try and keep my mouth shut ringside but that's not guarnateed at my set up :( I will give my honest opinion if asked I don't hold back so I always say...do you really want to know? LOL
But I love this thread!
Donna

What about saying something about your own in front of someone that isn't in dogs?
Say anything bad about your own ears, color or expression etc they will look at you like you lost your best friend. They start complimenting you as if it's the best whatever on earth. Never realizing that you slipped up.

Ok I'm lost on this post LOL...I'm getting old

Do you mean say something about your own dogs faults and make one think you slipped up? LOL...

It leads to a long explanation because they usually aren't in dogs. Most of the time they are just admiring the same thing we're fussing about. that's why I said slipped up. Then you have to explain why you said it. :rolleyes:

Nothing is wrong with you! Theresa I got a kick from your post because YES as I've begun showing last year, I find myself noticing what's wrong with dogs...including mine. :p I also get burried in browsing the top Yorkies then when I see others, I begin naming faults...lol Now I am in no way an expert and I'm sure I miss half of them, but I know what you're saying...we exhibitors become such snobs with a critical eye. LOL :D I have to admit my OWN fault is gettting excited about bettering the breed and forgetting that I'll never breed that PERFECT Yorkie with no faults, health problems etc.

Don't ya love when you finally know what that good yorkie looks like? :) You're right we won't ever get the perfect one but hopefully we can strive for no health issues :) Welcome to the wonderful world of dog showing! :)

Donna

Interesting thread, I'm a non-breeder yet I've noticed myself developing a critical eye. Lately, through talking to Mardelin, I've learned about proper ear set and proper tail set, and I hate when I look at Joey with a critical eye! I do think all dogs are cute in their own unique way, but when I see a breeder whose breeding dogs have so many faults, it makes it even harder to hold my tongue. Maybe if pet owners would develop more of a critical eye, they would support better breeders. For a long time, pet owners only seemed interested in size, or color. Don't get me wrong, I don't think pet owners need the perfect dog, but I think they should support breeders who's breeding dogs are great examples of the breed.