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".
A 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.
A 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 marvelous 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.
A 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
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