Page 148 - ShowSight - October 2019
P. 148

                On The Line
BY BJ ANDREWS
WHAT IS A BREEDER?
  WHAT IS A BREEDER?
Webster’s gives us some inter- esting definitions: “To nourish, cherish...to gen-
erate, engender... to bring up, to nurse and foster,” but more to the point, “to produce by special selection of parents or progenitors.”
“Anyone who puts two animals together for the purpose of producing young does most or all of that but here’s the rub: Only a handful of persons involved in the produc- tion of companion animals can be said to “produce by special selection of parents
or progenitors.”
“ABreeder with a capital ‘B’ is one who thirsts for knowledge but never knows it all, one who wrestles with decisions of conscience,
convenience, and commitment.
“ABreeder sacrifices personal interests, finances, time, friendships, fancy furniture, and deep pile carpeting! A Breeder gives up the dream of a long, luxurious cruise in favor of turning that all-important spe- cialty show into this year’s vacation. The Breeder goes without sleep (but never without coffee) while watching anxiously over the birth process, and
afterwards, every little sneeze, wiggle, or cry.
“T he Breeder skips dinner parties because a litter is due or the pup- pies have to be fed at eight. He or 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.
“ABreeder’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 thrust of a puppy’s nose. A Breeder’s knees are usually arthritic from bending and lifting puppies but
146 • ShowSight Magazine, october 2019
There’s only one path to success as a breeder and it’s mostly uphill, winding across the rocky terrain of commitment in such as way as to get a lot of people lost. We can set goals by the dozens, be blessed with good looks, good dogs and a huge bank account. We may hire the best handlers, read all the right books, and
travel in the best circles. We can soak up knowledge like a sponge and spew out platitudes by the hour. While this may bring short term satisfaction, there’s only one thing that earns respect from one’s peers and lasting success as a breeder. It’s not elusive, it’s not a mystery. It’s the foundation of every worthwhile seminar, every book on genetics, and it’s in my opening sentence. Abreedermustcommittoethicsandexcellence.Toomititfroma“breedingprogram”explains why so many would-be breeders wander aimlessly from one dead-end to another. AKC records reveal that it takes about five years before most people give up. Only a handful spurn the short cuts, and making a personal resolution to arrive at their destination, begin the climb to high ground.
Make no mistake—walking the lofty path of commitment is the exact opposite of having one’s head in the clouds!
It means being grounded in unwavering obligation to the breed, to the sport, and most of all, to personal standards of integrity. It means sacrifice to achieve excellence. Believe me, it’s not always convenient. That thing called commitment can get in the way just when you think you’ve arrived.
Back in the early 90s I wrote a piece for Kennel Review, America’s premier dog magazine. It was reprinted in many other publications and then forgotten but I’ve been asked to share it with this generation of breeders. So for all aspiring breeders in today’s ultra-competitive world, I’m happy to “do it for the dogs.”
 













































































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