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 gives up the
dreams of a long, luxurious cruise in favor of turning that all important
Show into this years "vacation".
The Breeder goes without sleep (but never
without coffee - or tea in my case!) 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 Breeders 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 Breeders 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 Breeders 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 Breeders arms
are always able to wield a mop, support an armful of puppies, or lend a
helping hand to a newcomer.
A Breeders 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 Breeders eyes are blurred from pedigree research and sometimes blind to her
own dog's faults, but they are ever so keen to the competitions faults and
are always searching for the perfect specimen.
A Breeders 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 Breeders 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
