" A BREEDER'S LIFE "

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 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.

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!!

written by B.J. Andrews of O'BJ Akitas.

It was originally published in "Kennel Review Magazine" and later in her

book "The World of the Akita".