FLOWER CREEK REFLECTIONS
WHY DO WE DO THIS...
As I was doing my dog duties tonight, it suddenly occurred to me that the only time I have to read the newspapers is when I am spreading them out in the whelping box or ripping them up to throw in the puppy pen. There I am, down on my knees, reading the newest headlines and thinking to myself, "Oh, there is a world out there beyond puppies!" Actually, the puppies bring me far more delight and contentment than daily world headlines. And when the puppies are fast asleep, I watch them with pride and I truly believe that the most noble job in life is breeding puppies.
Now I could go on and on about all the cute little things that puppies do, but you all know that, and if you have ever bred a litter, you don't need me to tell you anything. So I will just share some of my personal reactions to breeding puppies, as I sit here at the computer, exhausted from another day of twenty-four/seven in the life of a breeder.
The first thought that comes to mind is "Why do I do this?" How many times have you and your fellow dog friends asked this question? It certainly can't be for the money because none of us have gotten rich so far. At least, not the dog people that I have met. By the time we are done paying for stud fees, health clearances, pre this and post that, as well as vet bills to cover such expenses as progesterone testing, A.I.s, dew-claws, tail-docking, shots and, hopefully not, the dreaded C-section, all dreams of a large bank account from puppy sales have rapidly gone down the drain. So, "Why do we do this?"
We certainly don't do it because we enjoy the physical work involved in breeding puppies. Whelping puppies is no easy task, and I am not just talking about the expectant mother who is working so hard to get those puppies out! Constantly bending over the whelping box for hours on end is enough to cripple this old woman for days. Additional physical challenges, too numerous to mention, will continue to make demands on you for at least the next eight weeks; and possibly longer, unless you are lucky enough to have qualified prospective buyers lined up to receive their puppies on time. But even this time-consuming and physically demanding challenge pales in comparison to the emotional workout that you will receive.
Holding that tiny and possibly failing puppy in your hands at two o'clock in the morning, while you tearfully tell it that it "will not die" because you "won't let it" is a far greater burden than any physical task you will ever face. Although we think we are well-prepared to bring new puppies safely into the world, it does not always work out that way. So, as the tears are softly flowing down our cheeks, it is again easy to ask ourselves, "Why do we do this?"
If there is a logical answer to that question, please tell me because it continues to elude me. I do know that, from time to time, little things seem to bring me answers as to why I have allowed my life to change so drastically since I began to breed puppies. These small events, pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle, have begun to give me a clearer picture of Why I do this. Although I am still working on seeing the whole picture, it seems that I am getting closer to understanding the answer.
So what are these puzzle pieces? With no particular pattern in mind, they seem to appear at the most unlikely moments in our life. They are"
the faces of children as they receive their new puppy to take home,
the faces of parents as they watch this long, anticipated event unfold,
the face of a puppy buyer as they watch their new puppy point a bird wing,
the tearful face of the breeder as they watch puppies leave for their new homes,
the e-mails that are sent from buyers extolling the virtues of their new puppy, or
the long, detailed, and touching stories that are shared with the breeder, or
the Christmas picture cards of puppies with their new families, or
the phone calls from referrals who have heard of your wonderful puppies, or
the phone-calls bragging of that perfect hunt,
or that first point in the show ring,
or that first championship title,
or that brave and courageous act that their dog has achieved, or
the visitation that leaves you breathless as you look at what you have created, or
just a simple thank you for allowing them to own a puppy that you have bred.
Each of these events, taken separately, seems to be such a small thing, but it is the combination of these events and happenings that begins to give us the answer to our question of "Why do we do this?" And although these puzzle pieces have yet to portray a complete picture or answer as to why I breed puppies, I do know one thing for sure. I will continue to tear up newspapers and catch up on current events while sitting in the whelping box, and I will know that breeding puppies is worth it!
The above article was first printed in THE GSP NEWS
Special thanks to Editors Karen Berk & Rick Teodore
Additional thoughts, just for fun...
LAW OF THE GARBAGE TRUCK
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, full of jealousy, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so....love the people who treat you right and pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!
Have a blessed and garbage-free day!
Author Unknown
