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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 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. She disregards 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
her own dog's faults, but they are ever so keen to the competition’s 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, 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!!
*****
"Barbara J. Andrews"
www.thedogplace.com/bjbio.htm
If anyone has more information about this "Author", please send us an email,
we would like to give this lady all the credit for this work of art!
email:
sue@windleviewpugs.co.uk
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