Thanks YT Mentors!

[ironside888]

Originally Posted by nansyorkies

i also took my oldest to conformation class, a couple of times. spoke of my anxiety at my kennel club meetings- and everyone had a story to tell. dog/bitch going pee-poop in ring, a lady wearing a skirt- got down on floor to stack her dog- went to get up, and skirt stayed on floor- I ONLY WEAR PANTS SUITS-because of this story. another story of a lady walking around ring- and her pants winding up around her ankels. - i just tell myself that it has already happened to someone- and then it happened to me- i had a young girl pitch hit for me- both of my bitches had to go back in the ring- so she took my oldest in for me- well guess what- she had to go poopie and go poopie in the ring she did just let her finish and continued walking her. my youngest (9-12 mth) had a bad habbit of being a hound dog in ring- she wants to sniff and eat bait off the floor- i was laughed at- the ladies thought it was so cute- i did not give up. my little one has a mind of her own, and i love them no matter what they do.

These are too funny!
Okay, I shall remember to expect the unexpected, and to know that a match/show may never be uneventful! Thanks for your response!

[dray]

Remember it is not only the puppies that misbehave , at one of the last shows I was at the judge looked at me and said that he did not need to see any more jumping and silliness and then gave my bitch the breed. All you can do is smile and go with the flow. We can train all we want and in the end they will do what they want.

Once when I was showing a 6 month old Shih Tzu puppy, I was heading back to the judge and she bent over to play with the dog and he jumped right into her arms.
She loved it and he got his first major that day. As far as going potty in the ring always keep a tissue in your pocket or tuck one into your bra strap and just pick it up quick, poo poo happens.

[bellaismybaby]

Originally Posted by nansyorkies

i also took my oldest to conformation class, a couple of times. spoke of my anxiety at my kennel club meetings- and everyone had a story to tell. dog/bitch going pee-poop in ring, a lady wearing a skirt- got down on floor to stack her dog- went to get up, and skirt stayed on floor- I ONLY WEAR PANTS SUITS-because of this story. another story of a lady walking around ring- and her pants winding up around her ankels. - i just tell myself that it has already happened to someone- and then it happened to me- i had a young girl pitch hit for me- both of my bitches had to go back in the ring- so she took my oldest in for me- well guess what- she had to go poopie and go poopie in the ring she did just let her finish and continued walking her. my youngest (9-12 mth) had a bad habbit of being a hound dog in ring- she wants to sniff and eat bait off the floor- i was laughed at- the ladies thought it was so cute- i did not give up. my little one has a mind of her own, and i love them no matter what they do.

Those are great stories!! I'll keep them in mind if I ever get up the nerve. I maybe putting Izzie in a puppy class in Aug

[ironside888]

Originally Posted by bellaismybaby

Those are great stories!! I'll keep them in mind if I ever get up the nerve. I maybe putting Izzie in a puppy class in Aug

Has Izzie arrived? Post pictures!

[ironside888]

Originally Posted by dray

Remember it is not only the puppies that misbehave , at one of the last shows I was at the judge looked at me and said that he did not need to see any more jumping and silliness and then gave my bitch the breed. All you can do is smile and go with the flow. We can train all we want and in the end they will do what they want.

Once when I was showing a 6 month old Shih Tzu puppy, I was heading back to the judge and she bent over to play with the dog and he jumped right into her arms.
She loved it and he got his first major that day. As far as going potty in the ring always keep a tissue in your pocket or tuck one into your bra strap and just pick it up quick, poo poo happens.

Very practical.... lots of treats, and tissues in the pocket!

I came from beginner's class. But before that, the handler of the conformation class gave My SweetPea a few minutes of 'private' lesson. My SweetPea was too slow to follow and walk in the leash. So she took the leash from me, and started to literally drag My SweetPea everytime she would not walk; which made My SweetPea more stubborn . The handler dragged her from one end of the room to the other , and did this three times back and forth. My heart couldn't take it , but soon, My SweetPea started to walk faster and in pace ...
Whewww.... glad that was over!

[dray]

Not the best way to train a dog but I am glad it worked.

[nansyorkies]

i agree, not the best way to train a dog- especially a yorkie i worry so much about my babies necks and throat. i saw a handler take a yorkie one time and snatch on his lead-snatched so hard his front legs came off the ground-trying to get him to stop biting on his lead i was ready to slap her.

[crystalsmom]

I did not have time to read through all of this but I don't think you should be trying to do everything at once.

Socialization and learning to walk on a lead would be first. During that time you could go to more shows to learn the workings and just watch. Rembember first impressions when you get in the ring will get you a long way.

Then I would go to obedience class 1 just to work on the basic commands so that you have your dog in control at all times.

Then conformation class or classes as needed. This way she is not overwhelmed with all of this and she will be your little star when the time is right. Just my Opinion but you have lots of good advise here. I see you mentioned a professional handler and that might be great but you do have to get her out and socialized so she is comfortable in most situations first. Good Luck with Sweet Pea, I will be watching for her progress.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by ironside888

Very practical.... lots of treats, and tissues in the pocket!

I came from beginner's class. But before that, the handler of the conformation class gave My SweetPea a few minutes of 'private' lesson. My SweetPea was too slow to follow and walk in the leash. So she took the leash from me, and started to literally drag My SweetPea everytime she would not walk; which made My SweetPea more stubborn . The handler dragged her from one end of the room to the other , and did this three times back and forth. My heart couldn't take it , but soon, My SweetPea started to walk faster and in pace ...
Whewww.... glad that was over!

I'm back online and just amazed at the progress your SweetPea has made. It was great talking to you on the phone.

I read where a handler dragged your baby. A word of caution, don't let it be done again. I witnessed a yorkie having that same thing done to it and ended up with Luxating Patellas and having surgery.

You are having so much advise thrown at you. Take it all down and put in that file cabinet that we call a brain, pull out the advice as needed. Each yorkie is different and requires a whole different set of rules and training. Only you know what will work on your dog. Sometimes being too harsh or too soft can ruin a potentially good show dog.

Mary

[crystalsmom]

Great advise Mary, I especially like the third paragraph

[bellaismybaby]

Originally Posted by ironside888

Has Izzie arrived? Post pictures!

She is here!! And I'm loving every minute Here are a couple of links I have posted pics...
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83362
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...ghlight=monkey
We are having a lot of fun She and Bella are starting to warm up to eachother, which makes me happy. I was starting to worry about Bella..she seemed depressed.
I'm really glad things are going so well with your training. It's a lot of work. I don't even know where to start with Izzie. I read to get them used to the lead to put it on them and let them just walk aroung with it. I wanted to give her a few days to get used to us before doing anything though. When we are just outside or walking around I will say her name and say 'look' and when she does I give her a treat. It's a start Soon I will step it up.

[ironside888]

Originally Posted by bellaismybaby

[F]She is here!! And I'm loving every minute Here are a couple of links I have posted pics...
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83362
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...ghlight=monkey
We are having a lot of fun She and Bella are starting to warm up to eachother, which makes me happy. I was starting to worry about Bella..she seemed depressed.
I'm really glad things are going so well with your training. It's a lot of work. I don't even know where to start with Izzie. I read to get them used to the lead to put it on them and let them just walk aroung with it. I wanted to give her a few days to get used to us before doing anything though. When we are just outside or walking around I will say her name and say 'look' and when she does I give her a treat. It's a start Soon I will step it up.[/FONT]

Izzie is adorable!!! I, too, may, when My SweetPea is about a year will get another yorkie.
I feel very much like you do.. about not knowing where or what!
But we lucked out because we have great mentors right here... and I've mentioned the best ones, I believe, at the start of this thread. It is very transparent that they are seriously committed to the betterment the breed and the sport. So I don't think anymore. I just follow, as a fully trust their advise. I trust My SweetPea's potential to them.
Thanks again YT mentors: DRAY (Debbie Ray) , MARDELINE (Mary Lundgren) , Teramom1 (Mary.. My SweetPea's godmamma as in The Godfather) , and Kimberly .. your website is awesome, and full of information that I did not have to purchase a book!
Thank you for your unselfish and generous sharing of personal experiences and the details & nuances of the breed which will make the difference in raising our yorkies the right way.