Breeders Corner

Breeder's Life

A Breeder is one who thirsts for
knowledge and never really knows it all, one who wrestles
with decisions of conscience, convenience, and commitment.

A Breeder is one who sacrifices personal interests,
finances, time, fancy furniture, and deep pile
carpeting! They give up the dreams of a long, luxurious cruise
in favor of turning that all important Show into this year's "vacation".

The Breeder goes without sleep (but never without coffee!)
in hours spent planning a breeding or watching anxiously
over the birth process, and afterwards, over every little
sneeze, wiggle or cry.

The Breeder skips dinner parties because that litter is due
or the babies have to be fed at eight. They disregard birth
fluids and puts mouth to mouth to save a gasping new-born,
literally blowing life into a tiny, helpless creature that
may be the culmination of a lifetime of dreams.

A Breeder's lap is a marvelous place where generations of
proud and noble champions once snoozed.

A Breeder's hands are strong and firm and often soiled, but
ever so gentle and sensitive to the thrusts of a puppy's wet nose.

A Breeder's back and knees are usually arthritic from
stooping, bending, and sitting in the birthing box, but are
strong enough to enable the breeder to Show the next choice
pup to a Championship.

A Breeder's shoulders are stooped and often heaped with
abuse from competitors, but they're wide enough to support
the weight of a thousand defeats and frustrations.

A Breeder's arms are always able to wield a mop, support an
armful of puppies, or lend a helping hand to a newcomer.

A Breeder's ears are wondrous things, sometimes red (from
being talked about) or strangely shaped (from being pressed
against a phone receiver), often deaf to criticism, yet always
fine-tuned to the whimper of a sick puppy.

A Breeder's eyes are blurred from pedigree research and
sometimes blind to their own dog's faults, but they are ever
so keen to the competitions faults and are always searching
for the perfect specimen.

A Breeder's brain is foggy on faces, but it can recall
pedigrees faster than an IBM computer. It's so full of
knowledge that sometimes it blows a fuse: it catalogues
thousands of good boning's, fine ears, and perfect heads...
and buries in the soul the failures and the ones that
didn't turn out.

The Breeder's heart is often broken, but it beats strongly
with hope everlasting... and it's always in the right place!
Oh, yes, there are breeders, and then, there are BREEDERS!!

Author: Unknown.......

A Breeder's Prayer
by Barbara Browning

Dear Father in Heaven, forgive me for not telling my in-laws I was on my way to a dog show when they called this morning. It's just that I could not endure another lecture on the crimes of a mother "who thinks more of her dogs than her children."

Help me, Father, to convince my husband that just this one more puppy won't be that much trouble. And grant that he doesn't miss the three pairs of socks that the little bundle of fluff chewed up after I brought him home.

Each day help me not to envy another's wins. Guide me to show good grace and true sportsmanship even when an inferior dog goes over mine. And seal my lips that I may never slander another breeder nor pass along rumors and gossip.

Grant that I may, without bloodshed, endure the snide remarks made by the neighbors that it is cheaper to feed a child than a dog. Force me to show compassion and understanding to the novice breeder that thought there was big money in the breeding of puppies and is now stuck with the whole litter. For the sake of those innocent puppies, grant that I be able to help place them in pet homes where they will be loved and cared for. Then, Heavenly Father , grant me the wisdom and insight to educate these novices so that the same thing will not be repeated but also so that the fancy will not lose these interested beginners.

Guide me in my choice of breeding stock. Bless me with the courage to admit the faults in my dogs and deliver me from ever knowingly breeding any dog with hereditary health problems or of inferior quality.

Never let me overlook the welfare of my dogs or forget that the glory of the wins is just a small part of this dog game. Grant that I may never become too busy to develop a personal rapport with each of my dogs. Keep me constantly aware that it is the dogs that are doing the winning. Any glory is theirs, not mine.

At the risk of sounding greedy, I'd appreciate a few weeks without veterinarian bills so that I can pay off the ones I already owe. and, it sure would be great if the dogs would start coating up so I could show them at the specialty.

But, above all, dear Heavenly Father, grant that I may never lose sight of the true aims of breeding and showing dogs. Grant me the forbearance to patiently and tenderly train and care for each and every puppy and the humility to be thankful to those who help me along the way. In short, make me worthy of the love, devotion and loyalty which my dogs so freely and unconditionally give to me, day after day. AMEN.