Co-ownership is mostly to keep that friendship, nowadays there can almost be no other reason. Contracts and co-ownership is not the whole answer very true and unfortunately, it will keep some show breeders from being willing to take the risk. It is more practical to deal with someone in your area as then the newbie would also have a mentor which should be part of it.
The biggest problem too is that the ethical person, thinks ethically. The unethical doesn't. The unethical, sometimes, can talk a good story but that is as far as it will go.
The ethical cannot possibly think of all the curves the unethical will not hesitate to try to the detriment of the person that may have trusted them.
These are all the delima's facing the reputable show breeder who gets that email or phone call from people asking for a Yorkie to breed, oh excuse me that was show, right???

You are too funny....yes, it is show, but I read between the lines.

Yes, it is more practical to deal with someone in your area, but not always the case, as you see so many dogs from one kennel in the east being bought and shown in the west...I guess this is where the bond of trust has to be built....trusting someone enough to do the right thing...
It's so sad that so many of the great reputable exhibitor/breeders have been burnt...as I feel that this may lead to the gene pool dwindling and narrowing down.

No the gene pool will not be affected. Don't forget that gene pool has been alive and healthy and flourishing, all the years before the yOrkie came so high in demand. Over the last 30+ years with the dedication of Yorkie show breeders/fanciers, the yOrkie has become the dog we have today, lovely silk coat, movement and structure.
All that was done without bringing a lot of newbies into it that just want to breed and sell puppies and use them to create 'designer breeds'. At that time this sort of thing wasn't going on so it was easier to trust people but there weren't nearly as many people asking at that time as there are now. I think the real situation is the number of people is about the same as many years ago as far as the person who is willing to be dedicated to the breed and learn and show as well as do what they can for the benefit of the breed.
I see as kind of like what I have seen in the last 10 and a bit years I have been in this. In my observation, the number of good homes looking for nice Yorkie puppies for pet really hasn't changed that much in the last 10 or so years. Yes I get multitudes of enquiries the last couple of years, but so few have the situation I would be willing to place a puppy for pet. And that's not even addressing the enquiries from people looking for something to breed which of course has also increased a heck of a lot.

This is a wonderful thread. I agree with the co-ownership contract.
(Let's see if I can word this right...) To me showing is only a step in breeding, showing is time consuming, hard work and dedication to a breed.
I adore yorkies, love them like crazy. I adore my two rascals, they are my other kids (I consider them my four legged kids and then I have two legged kids). I am proud of their breed, their intelligence, their fiery personalties. Over the years I have been learning more and more and I know they are "pet" in every sense of the word. Now grooming I see the saddest shapes of yorkies, and when I hear, "We wnat to breed Tucker and Fifi cause they are so CUTE" I wannt throw up, these yorkies are so far from the breed stadard but it falls on death ears...and then more ugly, misformed, yorkies come into the world, with bad knees, allergies, problems galore...which the owners are puzzled cause the breeder said that her dogs were healthy...or the people that are shocked when the $2000 yorkie puppy they got for their purse turns out to be a 12 lbs monster...this all irks me to no end.
I adore the lady I got my yorkies from but there is no way I will get another one from her. I now want a yorkie that does credit for the breed. In my province ther are not very many yorkies that are up to standard. I wish to bring that, show people what a yorkie is supposed to be like. I am learning what I want in a yorkie.

Now I have the fun problme of being isloated from great breedersan mentors, the web is a beautiful thing, as is the phone. I had the privedge to speak with some great breeders in Canada. And she gave me the advice that you can learn long distance, you can learn over the web, but it will take more time. You have to ask every question, understand what people are tlaking about, develop relationships with people and learn from them.
So this is what I am doing. And I know it will take YEARS before I feel I am ready to do a show puppy justice.
I have made some great contacts, had some great talks with wonderful people. I have a good friend who has shown for years, done very well, works as a professional handler, gone to shows with me, given me tips, and she is now studying to become a judge. I have learned so much from her.
Her advice? "If you want it bad enough, you can wait and use that time to learn and it will happen, but not now." Bingo!
I have friends who cannot understand why I just don't buy a yorkie to show ( for fun but they can only see the pristege of owning a 'show' dog who cares if they actually win in their mind) and then breed it...argh!! It is hard to explain it does not work that way, I try to educate one by one, some people I have had success.

Some breeders have been great, I have always been upfront that I am not looking for a puppy right now, I am not ready, but ask my questions. Some have blown me off, many were very nice and a few said to ask away, and when I was ready we will talk.

Sorry for the ramble...:)

I do my best to talk to anyone that has questions (of course when Im done showing lol) I remember what it was like walking around clueless in my first dog shows and looking for someone to talk to and ask questions. I also remember the feeling when I couldnt get any one to talk to at all, it hurt and I dont want any other newcomer to have that feeling that I had back then.

Oh I talk to everyone at shows. I love to talk yorkie and show off my Connor. Maybe I can teach someone, maybe I can learn something from them. If a show isn't fun, why bother? It's suppose to be a sport and learning experience.

Exactly! You should enjoy yourself! Your dog should also have fun and enjoy his/her self. If not, why bother.

I hope that I learn many new things everytime I show or attend a conformation show! You can NEVER learn or know enough and you should always be willing to learn more!

I talk to everyone, after I've shown. If people approach me whenn I'm grooming and getting ready, I invite them to come back after the yorkies have shown and devote my full attention to their questions.

I wish the yorkie breeder in my province was like that! I have tried so mnay times to start ANY conversation with him after he has shown (I watch and make sure he is done) but he is what I call 'politely rude', packs up says hardly two words, smiles the whole time and acts like he does not speak English (which he does) and is gone.

We went to our first show, lost at 9am and talked till 4pm. Had a blast, made friends, contacts, learned sooooo much!

With the show seasons tating soon, it makes me ache for my own to show...but things are too crazy and money is tight, we are opening our own grooming shop in about a month and I refuse to tap into emerg funds, so I will wait...

I am thinking maybe after Christmas I may want a show pup...we will see if the timing and life are right.

I've experienced that politely rude thing before. It set me back on my ear for a bit but I got over it. Truth is they're just people too. They may know more than I do about the dogshow world right now but I have areas of talent and knowledge too. I don't think I'm sure a bad egg to know and it's their loss. It's surprising how many people out there just don't want to be bothered. I met Laurie at a show in New Kent and was impressed right away. She's upfront, honest and yet encouraging, willing to share, open and helpful. I'm looking forward to meeting up with her and her friends (Maria for one) again. We're all on this journey together, some people are just more fun to travel with. :D :D