*Breeder*
What that word
means to me, as a hobby breeder.
Breeding a good dog is
like creating a work of art. Our clay is to research a
hidden set of genes (Genotype) and combine what we see (Phenotype),
looking to cross fault and guessing which grandparent
will surface in that little ball of fuzz. The written
breed standard of the ideal always in mind, we breed
for a better shoulder here and a harder coat there, for
working ability and great show charisma combined a
personality you can live with long after they retire, and
most important, a temperament good enough to be awarded
to a great companion home, as many will not mature to be
breeding or show quality.
It is the heartbreak of
eliminating from breeding a favorite who produces even
one health problem, or fails a genetic screening, no
matter how beautiful otherwise, or how much they have won.
It is admiring tiny fat
puppies and wondering how they will grow. Kissing their
faces until their noses wrinkle and wanting them to stay
little forever, while conversely you just can't wait
until they are six months old and making their debut in
the show ring.
It can mean staying up
day and night for a week to nurse sick puppies, when
things can and do go so awfully wrong, suffering with
them every minute, and the finality of losing one.
Then just once in a rare
while, when breeding for good dogs, you get by
happenstance a great dog, a super dog!
Walking into the show
ring with your creation and filled with pride, showing
that dog not just to a judge, but to the other breeders
gathered at ringside and perhaps winning, knowing others
will understand that you have succeeded in achieving your dream. Those are the moments a hobby breeder lives for!
Going back home with the
very same dog with which you went to the show, win or lose, the
ego intact, just as warm of a lump in bed, just as quick
retrieving the tennis ball. Just another day, another dog
show.
The best win of my career
was a first place in the Terrier Group for Karlee's fifth
major to finish her Championship. It was from the "Bred
by Exhibitor" Class. The dog show class reserved for
breeders. I was so very proud to be her owner handler,
but I was even more proud to be her breeder!
And now Gabi continues
the line started years ago with my first border Sara. Gabi's great great grand sire Chad, age
fifteen is
asleep at my feet as I write this. He is un groomed for
months and looks like an old mop, But he still screams to
go when I load the car for a dog show, claiming he never
asked to retire. I love him no less because I did not
breed him, as he is another's creation, or because he has
long been neutered, but I also know that when he is gone,
he will live on at my house in more than just my memory.
So, I am proud to
say I am a dog breeder.
As with any responsible
breeder, I am committed to keeping track of every puppy I
produce for it's entire lifetime, helping it's owners
though any problems and always willing to take them back
at any age if the need arises.
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