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THE OLD SHOW DOG

He always knows. No matter how quietly you get out the leashes or how you smuggle the show gear out to the car, he knows you're going to a dog show. He sits beside the cabinet where the gear is stowed as you bustle about attending to the last minute details. His ears flat, a hopeful gleam in his eyes, he looks at you. It is as close as he will come to begging. You pause for a moment to rub behind his ears, guilty at leaving him again and then you think back.....

You remember it was not so terribly long ago, when it was just the two of you, striking out in the early morning before the sun came up. Everything was bright and new and life was simple. He was the most beautiful dog in the world, and your goal back then was to win that ribbon...maybe a blue one. But those years have passed and now you're off to show younger, more beautiful dogs.

You move on - its nearly time to go. He gets up to follow you from room to room - old age and arthritis narrowing his limits. You tell him that he will have to stay home, and you turn away before his tail droops slowly to the floor. And so you leave. You see his head at the window as you drive away.

Just always remember the nobility of his character and the trust in his eyes, and promise never to do anything to dishonor him in any way.....he is your old show dog.

LAMENT OF A STUD DOG

My job is making puppies and I get two tries at that.

They pat me and tell me "Good Boy"and that's the end of that.

It's half my job to give 'em teeth and topline, fronts and other.

Remember, it's only half my job-they also have a mother.

It's not my job to carry pups and make 'em grow or nurse 'em

And feed and clean and make 'em strong.

That's for "mother" and a person.

It's not my job to wean 'em and feed calcium and food.

And stack and gait and housebreak and make 'em show or brood.

It's not my job to plan the breeding and learn what produces well,

To study pedigrees, learn what's there, and pick out what to sell.

It's not my job to guarantee champs, the breeder picks the pair,

To make and whelp and feed and show and hope that champ is there.

It's not my job to be on hand when points are given out.

The breeder, owners, dam and friends take credit with a shout.

It's not my job to deliver a winner, it's only genes I sell,

But let those puppies turn out bad, and guess who catches HELL.

Author Unknown

HOW MUCH FOR A PUPPY?

Let me say a few words to you, yes you, the person who writes an email to simply ask the price. The person who calls and after hearing a price states: “I can buy a cheaper pup elsewhere”. I also address you: The person who doesn’t care about papers because I want “just a pet”.

No dog is “just a pet”.

Behind every pure bred puppy/dog is a BREEDER. I’m using capital letters to differentiate a breeder from a pet factory or mill. A reputable breeder does not breed dogs without papers, which does not protect the integrity of the breed. Registration papers are records of lineage that document bloodline and allow one to research any possible health issues present in the lineage. When you tell a breeder you don’t care about papers what you’re really telling them is you couldn’t care less about the health of the puppy; you just want the cheapest thing you can find! When you buy a puppy from a reputable, quality breeder, this breeder is responsible for the health of every pup - both dogs owned and every pup they’ve sold - for its lifetime. This breeder will skip holidays, miss sleeping, and most of their personal house space has been turned into space for their dogs. The truly passionate breeder who loves what they breed, puts their whole heart and soul into it. Not only in puppies that are sold, but also in each client who owns a piece of their heart and is now a member of their extended family. This does not take into account any puppy/dog who might get sick or need extra help to thrive. Breeders worry about their babies after they leave and will take one back without question.

A breeder will get their hands dirty, often covered in everything accompanied with birthing. Because that’s what life is about. In the middle of birth and death is life. The wheel that keeps turning. A breeder will do tests, echos, xrays, analysis, emergency c-sections, vaccinations, register litters, research pedigrees, de-worm, as well as microchip their puppies and get them evaluated by specialists.

Last, but by no means least, a breeder CHOOSES the family lucky enough to have one of their puppies. Yes, you read that right. A true breeder chooses who they sell to because they are not making money off the sale. There is no compensation that can offset the investment a breeder has made, so they need to be confident it's the right fit.Often, it means saying "no," more than yes.

A good breeder has different criteria for those wanting to carry on their bloodline. Why? Breeding is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. It’s a lifestyle choice set aside ONLY for the few devoted people willing to sacrifice.

A dog is never: “Just a pet”. It’s the breeder’s legacy, a little boy’s best friend, a little girl's protector, an elderly person's therapy, a member of the family, someone’s whole world!!!

Written in part by: Sr. Eduardo Loredo Muller.