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 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
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.
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
copyrightŠAll pages on this website are the sole property of Lorraine Effa and Loriben Yorkies. Do not remove or copy any pages, pictures, or writings.