August 2003
I am not a breeder, and don’t plan, ever, to be one. Having said that, let me put some thoughts out for consideration to the breeders in the list. I know you were up many nights and spent many hours whelping the puppies and getting them ready for new homes. But over the next 12-15 years, I will spend many, many more hours in the company of that dog than you ever did while it was a puppy. I know you spent lots of money on stud fees, whelping costs, etc. But during the next 12-15 years I will spend many hundreds more than you have in health care, maintenance, training, etc. if the dog is healthy. If not healthy, the figure I spend will probably be in the thousands and I will be the one, not you, who has to make the painful decision of when to call it all to a halt and put the dog down.
While you may cry over a puppy who did not make it, think how many more tears I will spend crying over a dog who shared my life and was the focus of my love.
I know that you put lots of time into planning your litters, and in many cases, have put your dreams on the line. But I only have one dream, and that’s the puppy I bought from you. I don’t get second chances if there is a problem; I can’t breed another litter to pin my hopes and dreams on. Mine are already deeply invested in the puppy I got from you. What may be important to you may not be the same that is important to me, but it should be. While the show ring prospect may be your ideal, I am the person who pays your bills with the purchase of your puppies. And even that show prospect will eventually end up as someone’s pet. So what is important to me – things like health and temperament, foremost. Secondly, sound structure to provide for a reasonably active life. And probably most important, knowing that you love your dogs enough to understand their future is with me, not you, and you owe the dogs, and me, your best effort in producing the soundest dog you can.
Dishonesty and deceit in breeding practices when it relates to that soundness cheats everyone; but mostly me, who will, in the end, pay the ultimate price for it.
Just some thoughts from a poodle lover of 36+ years.
Irma Shanahan and the four poodles.
Cassidy, UD (ret); Tigger, UD (ret); Jade, CDX and Tara, CD
