Yorkshire Terrier
"I'm cute, I'm cuddly - I'm a Yorkie!"
...Mr. YorkieTerrier
Is Your Yorkshire Terrier Ready for Shows
Well, the fact is that some puppies are entered into the shows, if they have a showmanship quality to them. But even a puppy that will grow to be a show dog may not actually be ready for showing as a puppy. There is much work to be done.
There are two facets to getting ready for a show. First is the dogs overall look. The second facet, however, is his training, which is dependant on the classifications that you intend to show him in. Dog shows really are more than a beauty pageant for dogs. Let's take a look at the different classifications for dog shows.
First, there is the age of your Yorkshire Terrier, which will be entered into the specialty class for Yorkshire Terriers. He may be entered into the Puppy class if he is between the ages of six and twelve months, and he has not yet won a championship. When he is between twelve and eighteen months of age, he may enter this class, again if he is not already a champion. The Novice class is for dogs over the age of six months that have not won three first prizes in the Novice Class, or first prize in American Bred, Open Class, or Bred-by-Exhibitor.
The Bred-by-Exhibitor and American Bred classes are both for dogs that are not yet champions, but the American Bred is only for dogs born in the United States. The Open class is for dogs aged six months or older. Finally, once all of these classes have been judged and awarded, the winners of these classes will compete once again, with one of them winning the best of show. In each class, the males and females are judged separately. At this time, Best of Breed, Best of Winners, and Best of Opposite Sex are awarded.
There are also group events called All-Breed Shows. These include sporting, hounds, working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. Your Yorkshire Terrier will be able to compete in any or all of these competitions. In fact, they were born to compete in these competitions. These competitions, however, are the ones that require a high degree of training. Before you consider entering your dog in any of these competitions - or before you begin training for these, it is wise to attend as many of these events as possible, so that you have a clear idea of what is expected of you and your dog.
You need to join a local kennel club. The club may include all breeds, multiple breeds, or be breed specific. Through this club, you will not only be able to easily get information on the various shows, but you will also get information on the various training programs that you and your dog need to attend.
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