How many litters does a breeder have to have before being considered an experienced breeder

* They should have bred at least one good litter that they can brag on. This will gain them Credibility.

* They should have had at least one litter that looked great on paper but turn out to be a disaster.

   This will teach  Humility.

* They should have had ( god forbid ) at least one deformed puppy and wept as it slipped into the

   calm, silent quit of death. This will provide the heart to be very careful to do everything possible

   to not see it again.

* They should have studied the lines and the traits and the greats and the problems each has

   produced and read all the books they can get their hands on. This   will give them Knowledge.

* Last of all, they should have consulted the greats in the breed and never, never consider

   themselves to be experienced breeders. They are then, possibly, experienced breeders.

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 years "vacation".

A 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.

A 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 newborn, literally blowing life into a tiny, helpless creature that may be the culmination of a lifetime of dreams.

A Breeders lap is a marvelous place where generations of proud and noble champions once snoozed.

A Breeders hands are strong and firm and often soiled, but ever so gentle and sensitive to the thrusts of a puppy’s wet nose.

A Breeders 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 Breeders 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 Breeders arms are always able to wield a mop, support an armful of puppies, or lend a helping hand to a newcomer.

A Breeders 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 Breeders 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 Breeders 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.

A Breeders 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!!