Breeding/Showing Question

[SizzleDog]

Chrissy, maybe it's different in Europe, but here in the U.S. show dogs are expected to be well conditioned. My show dog, for instance, is incredibly muscular... he has seen roads... and trails, and lakes, and forests, and the dog park... he's got more stamina than most pet dogs I see.

Yep... here's my flabby, atrophied show dog... *chuckle*

 

[Laurelin]

Chrissy, maybe it's different in Europe, but here in the U.S. show dogs are expected to be well conditioned. My show dog, for instance, is incredibly muscular... he has seen roads... and trails, and lakes, and forests, and the dog park... he's got more stamina than most pet dogs I see.

I'd show you how conditioned Beau is coming right off the circuit, but he's got so much hair, you can't tell lol. Suffice it to say (and you'll all probably laugh at this) my little papillon is solid as a rock. Really, I'm not pulling your legs at all. He's all muscles. xD

 

[RD]

I agree, if was going to breed Dixie I would've had her OFA and CERF, and when I do get my next Yorkie she'll be tested. I think breeding a dog with health issues/genetic disorders is awful.

Thank you!

Just for the record, while I would probably OFA a small breed dog's hips prior to breeding, it usually isn't necessary and isn't mentioned in the breed club's coat of ethics.

I think the big concerns in toys are patellas, eyes, heart and thyroid. They aren't particularly prone to hip or elbow dysplasia.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

:yikes: WOW! He's GORGEOUS!!! Good luck with him!

Chrissy, maybe it's different in Europe, but here in the U.S. show dogs are expected to be well conditioned. My show dog, for instance, is incredibly muscular... he has seen roads... and trails, and lakes, and forests, and the dog park... he's got more stamina than most pet dogs I see.

Yep... here's my flabby, atrophied show dog... *chuckle*

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Is that him in your sig? If so, he's VERY pretty!

I'd show you how conditioned Beau is coming right off the circuit, but he's got so much hair, you can't tell lol. Suffice it to say (and you'll all probably laugh at this) my little papillon is solid as a rock. Really, I'm not pulling your legs at all. He's all muscles. xD

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Well, we put Dixies hair up in bands today. I was wondering, MightMite, is this correct? I saw a picture a long time ago of how it was supposed to go, and I did it from memory. If there's something else I should do let me know!

 

[mightymitedoggear]

I took some new pictures today, and I thought I'd post them.

Dixie - you need to learn how to stack your Yorkie. In order to asssess your dog, we need to see her moving in a straight line - "down and back" and properly stacked. I can't really tell anything from these photos. I'd also recommend standing her on concrete rather than uneven ground or grass. Ideally, if you could stand her on the end of a grooming table - that would be best as Yorkies are judged on the table.

 

[mightymitedoggear]

Well, we put Dixies hair up in bands today. I was wondering, MightMite, is this correct? I saw a picture a long time ago of how it was supposed to go, and I did it from memory. If there's something else I should do let me know!

Looks OK - but the coat does not look like it in oil. You need to condition this coat in order for it to grow. Also, what kind of bands are you using here? Also, band the face furnishings.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

We've had the bands for a while, so I'm not sure exactly what kind, but they are clear bands, and they're coated with something to prevent breaking the hair. Should the coat be in oil when it's banded? I ask because that would probably explain why this didn't go so well. I took the bands out, and I'm not sure if I wish to continue using them because every time she'd lay down the bands would either tangle, or rub causing the coat to break. I finally just took them out, and decided to just keep her on a good diet, get a good shampoo/conditioner/etc, and hope for the best because the bands didn't seem to work. I'm willing to give it a try with the oil though. Would I just use the stuff you reccomended to me? I asked my mom if we could order some of the oil, shampoo, and conditioner you talked about, and she said we'd wait for her next pay check. Should I discontinue the banding until I have the oil, or should I just keep the bands on her, and just keep an eye on it? Thanks so much again for all this help!!!

 

[stevinski]

in our pics your still using a harness, this might be effecting her coat so its probably best to use something that will effect her coat less

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

We're having to keep her in the harness until I can purchase something otherwise. I do think the harness effects her coat, so I've been looking for one of those "fur saver" collars. For now we're still using the harness though. It's only on her for about 5 minutes at a time, because I only use it for walks(sometimes I use a collar). She's naked when she's inside.

 

[mightymitedoggear]

You should definetly do away with a harness and you should avoid putting any dog clothes on her - especially any with velcro closures.

Yes, she should be in oil - I pmed you about that. Also never pull a band out - you should always cut them out. I would recommend a combination of ultra cream conditioner with ultra pure oil and water in a spray bottel sprayed onto a dry coat and then combed through before you band. You will need to check the bands every day. The oil will break down the latex in the band and your dog may rub and scratch at her coat. Some breeders make booties out of old t-shirts and bandage tape which they wrap around the back paws to keep the dog from breaking coat/bands/wraps with the nails of the hind legs.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Thanks MMDG! When my mom gets her pay check next week, we're going to try to get some shipped out here to us. Thanks for all the help! One more question though. What about when she lays down? She seems SO uncomfortable with the bands..... Is there a way to change that? I saw the coats you have on your site, and I thought about that, but she'd still be uncomfortable laying down wouldn't she?

 

[mightymitedoggear]

You need to check that the bands aren't too tight. You can gently pull down on each "pony tail" to see that no hairs are snagging.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Yes, I checked that when she had them in, but what I'm talking about is when she lays down on her side, she's laying on the bands. I know that if I lay down with a pony tail, it is extremely unfomfortable. Is there anything to prevent that? Thanks for your time, I hope my questions aren't frustrating you or anything.

 

[SizzleDog]

A fur saver collar won't fit a yorkie - they are metal slip collars with large, long links, and are popular with larger dogs and working folk.

This is a short link fursaver:

This is a long link fursaver:

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Oh really? I was told by another user to use a fur saver collar on her....although when they described it to me it sounded more like a leather weaved collar. In fact, I think it was mentioned as such. I most likely misunderstood.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

We've been using Innova now for a while, and it's really helping. Dixie's breeder reccomended that I go to the AKC site, and look at some shampoos, and things, so before I order from your site, Mighty Mite, I'm going to check that out. I think once I get some good grooming products, and get her coat back into shape, she'll do good in a show!!!