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 favour 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 Breeder's lap is a marvellous 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 competitions' 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 bonings, fine ears, and perfect heads...
and buries in the soul the failures and the ones that didn't
turn out.

A 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!!

Author Unknown