WHAT IS A BREEDER ??
A Breeder (with a capital B) 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, friendships, fancy
furniture, and deep pile carpeting! She/he gives up the dreams of a long, luxurious cruise
in favour of turning that all important Show into this years "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. She disregards birth fluids and puts mouth to mouth to save a gasping newborn,
literally blowing life into a tiny, helpless creature that may be the culmination of a
lifetime of dreams.
A Breeder's lap is a marvellous place where generations of proud and noble champions once
snoozed. A Breeders 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 his/her 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 bonings, 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
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