Page 306 - ShowSight - August 2019

Yorkshire Terrier Q & A
the answer from the breed standard. As a breeder, it is also impor- tant to understand the standard for your breed.
Next, as a breeder, you should endeavor to produce as close to the standard as you possibly can. Your dogs should be genetical- ly tested for all things inherent to your breed so you are produc- ing healthy animals. It is also important to learn from your mis- takes and not repeat them. Once is a mistake, the second time is a decision.
Being number ten in the AKC list, really doesn’t mean a lot to me. It just means that many Yorkies are being bred and registered. It does not speak to quality of the dogs at all. Yorkies are popular because first of all they are beautiful. They are also very smart and adaptable and can be easily trained to do just about anything.
The color DQ is subject to individual interpretation. My dark steel blue may not be your dark steel blue. When I started in 2004, the dogs were much lighter, and no one seemed to care. Now you see many dogs that are nearly black in the ring. When breeding, it is important to know the pedigree and what is back there in color to try to achieve the right color. Then do not dilute it with lighter dogs.
Is the breed’s popularity an advantage in the Toy Group? Cur- rently we have several amazing Specials out that are consistently winning in group. I do not attribute this to the breed popularity. I attribute it to the quality of the dogs in competition.
My favorite dog show memory was several years at our Central Florida Yorkshire Terrier Specialty. Jonathan Chamberlin was our judge. He had just lined up his placements in the breed ring and one of the handlers, who had cancer, and has since passed, feinted in the ring. She was fine, just light headed. Jonathan took the microphone and said, “listen, we are all going to die and some of us might die in the show right, but NOT IN MY SHOW RING and on my watch. It brought a lot of laughter and levity to the crowd.
I am very passionate about the Yorkie breed, its health and pres- ervation and producing the best I can. Lately I have become pas- sionate about mentoring newbies. We need more exhibitors. When you sell a show dog to a newbie, please sell them the best you have. Then please take them under your wing, help them gain confidence and become successful. Teach them what they need to know and encourage them. Remember, we were all new once.
JACKIE KUK
I breed and show Yorkshire Terriers under the prefix JaLa, along with my mom, Laura Vance. Togeth- er for over 10 years we have dedicated our lives to this breed that we both cherish so much. I couldn’t have done any of this without her. Together we strive to preserve the breed and produce
Yorkshire Terriers that will help the breed for many generations to come.
I live in Northern Indiana and work full time as a small animal veterinarian. Most of my free time is spent with my dogs in some capacity, or with my family.
I attended my first show as an exhibitor in 2005 and had my first litter a year later. I took a break for several years during vet school, but am so happy to be back out in the ring.
The secret to a successful breeding program? Two key rules. 1. Being honest with yourself. If you dismiss faults or health issues
“They are smart, loyal and tenacious little toy terriers with hearts of gold and mischief. Their person- alities are second to none, and two is always better than one. They make won- derful companions and are very portable, which is good because they love to be with their people.”
in your own dogs, you are only fooling yourself. I always try to be more critical of our own dogs than I am of those owned by others. 2. Don’t compromise good structure and movement for a pretty face or coat. We were told years ago when we started to get the ‘cake’ (structure) right first and then work on the frosting (coat/head). This advice has served us well.
What do I attribute the breed’s popularity? They are smart, loyal and tenacious little toy terriers with hearts of gold and mischief. Their personalities are second to none, and two is always better than one. They make wonderful companions and are very portable, which is good because they love to be with their people.
How much trouble is it to attain, and keep, correct coat and col- oration? It can be very difficult to attain and keep, especially when first starting out. Mostly because it can be difficult to understand what correct coat and coloration actually are. I have found that if you focus on the correct shading of the tan, the correct blue color will follow, and therefore so will the texture. Correct color and tex- ture go hand in hand in this breed.
Is the Yorkie’s popularity an advantage in the Toy group? I don’t believe a breed’s popularity helps it to place in the group ring. There are other factors that are able to provide an advantage though.
My favorite dog show memory? My mom and I were at the Cleveland Crown Classic in 2011, with our first bred by champion, GCH JaLa’s Rile Me Up. It was our last show together, and he was up against the #1 Yorkshire Terrier All Systems the entire cluster. On the last day he was awarded Best of Breed under respected judge Mr. Fred Basset. Riley and I went on to win a Group 4 among a very large toy entry. We floated home, and that night his precious silk coat was cut off, in preparation for me to leave for vet school.
Learning to show and breed Yorkshire Terriers is very challeng- ing, but that also means that the rewards are so great. My hope for the breed is to see and assist new exhibitors in any way I can. If you are interested in learning about the breed, grooming or showing and
304 • ShowSight Magazine, auguSt 2019