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, 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!) 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 gives 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.
The hands of a Breeder 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 wonderous things, sometimes red (from being
talked about) or strangely shaped (from being pressed against a phone receiver), often
deaf to criticism, yet always finely tuned to the whimper of a sick puppy.
A Breeders eyes are blurred from pedigree research but never
blind to her own dog's faults. Her eyes 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 pedigree's
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!!
