I need advice..please help
 

I have been in contact with a breeder, to get a pup to show AKC Junior. Yesterday, my parents talked to me and said they thought it was dumb to spend over $1000 on a dog. They think that breeders sell puppies without breeding right to control the amount of yorkies, thus keeping the price up. :( :mad: I just don't understand how they can think that. Most toy dogs cost a lot, and I could find 20 breeders in an hour that woud sell me a bitch with breeding rights. They just want me to breed yorkies for $$$, but I just want to show them and have fun...It makes me SOOO upset. They just don't understand.

I tried to loosen up a bit, and say I MIGHT make a buck. I explained that anything can go wrong and vet bills can be WAY over what you would get for a pup. You might not come out with ANY pups!

The breeder has only offered me a male, since it's my first dog. I told them why that was, and they still said they would rather me get a female, so I could breed it:mad: :mad: :mad: I came home crying..I wish they would let me care about yorkies more than my buck!!:(

In Jr Showmamship, it states:

Section 1. Definition and Purpose.
"Junior Showmanship classes are non-regular classes which are judged solely on the ability and skill of Juniors in handling
their dogs as in the breed ring. The purpose of Junior Showmanship Competition is twofold: to introduce
and encourage Juniors to participate in the sport of dogs; and to provide Juniors with a meaningful competition
in which they can learn, practice, and improve in all areas of handling skill and sportsmanship."

My mom asked me why I don't just get a dog from the dumb friends league, since they don't judge the dog. Then I wouldn't have to spend more than $1000.

What do I say so they get it??? They just think dogs are to breed for $$, and people don't give you breeding rights, because then they can charge the extra buck. My mom thinks "they just use the line:" improving the breed, to cover up their breeding..I'm really upset about this..I don't know how to get it through to them. Sorry this is so long...Any advice is appriciated. ~Thanks!

If you truly want to show and be a part of the dog fancy get the best male show quality pup that you can and leave breeding for an other day. Once you begin to show you will make friends and earn trust enabling you to find not only support but also quality stock for if you do wish to someday breed. Our breed is being overbred as we speak to the detriment of the breed. I've never seen so many sad looking poorly bred yorkies in my life. Stick to your guns and take the high road. Learn about the breed, learn to show, make friends and get yourself a support system. Let your family know that you're trying to do this the right way and if you decide to breed later you'll have quality pups and will have no trouble selling them in the future. Maybe if they see it as an investment in your future they won't give you such a hard time. Take them to a show or two and it may help them to understand, it did my husband, now he's showing as well. If all else fails remind them that skydiving and golf are expensive hobbies too!

It's not unusual for AMD's parents to think the way they do....most of my lay friends think this way.....

SO,

Hey fellow exhibitors let's put our heads together to help this young lady....after all she is the future of the breed....

Mary

If I may ask? How old are....There maybe another option....a way for you to make money at this.....Contacting an established handler to teach you the ins and outs of the dog world.....caring, grooming, training and presentation of the dog....I do know that there is always a need for an assistant, a way for you to learn, earn money and travel.

Mary

Ya know, there are a lot of people out there with a lot of different opinions, and I have discovered that parents are no exception to the rule. I am a parent myself to two teenagers, and I have a lot of opinions I'm sure they do not want to hear. However, smile sweetly and tell them you are going to get the dog you feel you will enjoy the most and maybe you'll look into breeding later. Are they purchasing this dog for you? If not, then it's your investment, so purchase the dog you will be happiest with. Tell mom and dad you appreciate their concern, but you feel you would like to start with showing and perhaps breeding later when you are more comfortable with it. It's really not important most of the time to have someone see things exactly like you do. Attempting to do so is really exhausting and time consuming and there are better things to be doing......dont worry about it. Be respectful, but get the dog you want. Just my opinion.
Good luck!
Laura

Thanks Tami!! I am really excited about handling classes, because there will be a bunch of others who are there having fun, instead of making their buck. :rolleyes: I'll try stating it as a future investment and see if that works. My dad mention it should be more for a future investment. Next time we talk, I'll state it so that they see it more that way.

Mary, you are SOO sweat!! Thank you!!!

Great suggestion:thumbup: Thats a wonderful way to get started!

Youre young, you have plenty of time to find the right dog/bitch, how fun would it be to be taught by a professional handler!!

That sound very fun!! How would I find someone looking for an assistant?? Maybe ask my mentor if she knows anybody..She's out of town this week, so I'm not bugging her this week, but I'll ask when she returns. :D

I dont' know. My mom kept telling me they would be willing to buy me a dog, but yesterday she's like: I don't mind you saving money for a Yorkie but $1-2000 is a lot just for a dog. They'll probably pay some..(that's my guess)

I do know of a very well known Toy Dog handler that was looking for an assistant....I'm not sure if she still is, but it wouldn't hurt to at least talk to her. Kirsten McGregor one of the top yorkie handlers trained with her and she has been handling the #1 yorkie for about 4 years standing. Now I'm sure because of your school....you'd probably be able to do this during the summer months.....Remember it's hard work...but, worth it....In My Opinion it would be the best way to start. Learn first, before getting your dog.

PM me

Mary

Yes, I saw Kirstin McGregor show Chandler at the specialty I went to in Sept..

Kiresten started at age 11. Trained with several well known handlers.

Hey! you may decide that you'd rather be a professional handler, instead of showing and breeding your own.

Wow, how neat she started at 11.

yeah, never know. I may become a professional handler, and actually make a living with YORKIES!!!

PM'd you!! ;) Would love to be an professional's assistant!!

If I'd started out earlier in life....it's probably the route I would have taken...The whelping stuff is so scarey
Mary

whelping doesn't seem like a fun game to me either. ~ Thanks for the info!! ;) I appriciate it soo much!!

Alyssa

[QUOTE=Mardelin;1436026]Kiresten started at age 11. Trained with several well known handlers.


Kirsten and I began to show Yorkies with the same breeder .

I hope you can get through to your parents, and if it's your money I don't see the problem. Why get a dog that isn't really what you want just to make them happy. I truly believe Penny would be an excellent candidate for breeding, but I'm just not in it, nor do I have the time to show her, so tomorrow she will be spayed.

Wow, how neat is that!! I'm going to talk to my parents tonight, and see what they say about me being a professional's assistant!! Wish me luck! :)

Hope all works out for you and if you need anymore help don't hesitate to ask.

Mary

Thanks Mary!! I definately will!
I talked to my dad tonight while we were cleaning the kitchen. (my mom was talking on the phone) He sounded rather hesitant, but when I asked him what he thought of me doing that, he said, "I don't know..it sounds better". He didn't want to talk anymore and said to ask him later.
I really don't think my mom will let me go for a whole summer. If my dad was hesitant, my mom will probably be totally against it. :(


If they say no, I'll probably go back to my first plan, and just tell them it's a future investment. Kathy sent me some pics and a pedigree today. She has a little boy that she said she'd give to me for jr handling for $1500. Here's his picture and pedigree. He's 8weeks this week. Do you mind giving me your opinion??

Bit of advice...this pup is 8 weeks old and being sold as a show potential, do not make a decision until this pups is 6 to 7 months old....no show dog should be bought until then.

You need to speak to them together, present it as a possible career path.


Mary

Mary - would it be of any benefit for me to get a yorkie now to learn grooming, care and handling. Then if I can assist during the summer, I would know that much more?

If you plan to show this pup.....I'm not sure, trial and error could ruin a good show dog.....I learned some grooming aspect on my pets, but not the care and maintenance of a show dog....the art of grooming, training and handling a show dog I learned from a professional handler.....

I was told when I first started, that if you have a good show dog and you're a newbie....put it with handler....newbies really don't know what they are doing and can ruin a good show dog....May not be always the case, but I took it to heart. Even after that training; my first show dog I took in the ring, it was such a chore for me it really wasn't fun for either of us....I was a nervous wreck and it came out in my breath and traveled down the lead....

Alyssa Not sure if I told you or not but I was a assistant handler. When I was younger. I helped with 21 sieberian Huskies. It was alot of work HARD work but very well worth it. I loved helping at the shows and even got to do some showing too :)
Good luck with what ever you do.:thumbup:

so having a pup and taking jr handling classes wouldn't do that much for me? If I planned to learn handling and show with this pup, I would just potentially ruin him as a show dog?

Hey Lori, I did not know that!! How awesome!

I'm not familiar with Junior handling classes....how intense the instruction is....does it assist with only handling, or does it emcompass training too....I've been told that it is best to go into Junior handling with a well trained dog......the grooming is another matter....you would need to find a mentor close by to assist you in that.

A well trained dog meaning... obedience trained??

I contacted Bente about six months ago looking for a mentor. I met her at the specialty in Sept, and she could probably teach me grooming. :)