The danger of giving praise to average dogs.
We see every day people praising dogs. Liking staus', e.t.c. Obviously if you like a dog, you like a dog. However, having been in the game for a long minute, it is obvious that many people praise a dog because of the owner, not because of the dog itself. Also, IMO many people couldn't tell you anything about a correct bulldogge, yet they praise dogs on their structure left and right. we are all free to do what we want, how we want. But after 2 conversations today with people who do not think like I do, here's my conclusion: The more you praise a dog, the more that dog is built up in the owners mind. They believe that more people are interested in offspring of the dog. They also believe that since alot of people praise the dog, "He must be a nice dog! He gets alot of likes and people talk about him all the time!" And yet, those same people are not lining up to buy pups off of said dog. Bottom line, my opinion is this: Every breeding you do should get you closer to YOUR goals for your program. Unfortunately, many do not have goals. Thats why they breed on whim, or think their one stud is a good match for every bitch.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
I AM A BREEDER
I am a breeder.....
My food receipts for a family of seven and my dog food bills match. My water bill has doubled. My electric has tripled. It is I, a breeder, who when my fridge quit, saved the dog meds and let the food go bad. My feet find the way to the kennel before I have even grabbed a cup of coffee in the morning and the kennel is my last stop before bed. While my friends are on a cruise to the Bahamas and my family meets for Christmas, I am home delivering puppies. I haven't had a real vacation in seven years, but maybe soon. All plans are made around heat dates, whelp dates and vet dates. I shower and 10 minutes later my grandkids say I smell like a dog. My clothes are all stained with fecal matter, urine, afterbirth or bleach. I have to remember to clean my shoes before church.
Most of my friends breed dogs. Who else can you call at 3 a.m. for support? Who else has the experience I sometimes need, the med I sometimes need, or just an uplifting word I sometimes need ? Who else would understand how it feels to have invested hours and hours and hours in a weak puppy to lose it? Or the joy in investing hours in one that lives? I have slept on the floor beside a litter until the crucial two weeks have passed. I have bottle fed a litter of 12, feeding every two hours and it taking 90 minutes to do for weeks at a time. I have learned to be proficient at micro-chipping, vaccinations, sub q fluids, bottle feeding and tube feeding.
My vet knows me by first name. The vet knows my children. The vet now knows my grandchildren. My vet knows it was I who added on the wing to the vet clinic.
I am a breeder.
It is to me that 63 days takes on new meaning still excited by every new life. It is I who delivers all my pups, towels and heat lamps on ready, happiness and sadness sometimes intermingled. Even though it increases my work load, I look forward to the 10-day stage when eyes open, and puppies begin to emerge from the helplessness of newborns. Puppy breath, a first bark, and a heart for exploration. I am not uneducated, unemployable, illiterate or lazy as some animal-rights folks would imply of breeders. I am a conscientious lover of animals and I have found my niche.
I am a breeder.
And although I feel no shame, there is a part of me that feels the need to hide from powers that could come to invade my home and take my dogs ...maybe for finding a mild infraction, a leaf in the water dish? A kennel not yet cleaned for the day? A rash I am home treating? I tell my children and grandchildren to hush, do not tell others we are dog breeders, and I wonder when did breeding puppies go into the same secret place as criminal activity?
I am a breeder and I am not cruel, dumb, uncaring or criminal. I am not raking in money while sitting on my butt. Every penny I make I earn through blood, sweat and tears. My greatest joy is a healthy puppy and a wonderful home. The cards of thanks and the pictures of my puppy with its new family is the fringe benefits of my efforts. I am an animal lover, nurse, midwife, heavy laborer, customer service representative, and marketer.
AND I am a breeder.
--Lori Hallfrisct
My food receipts for a family of seven and my dog food bills match. My water bill has doubled. My electric has tripled. It is I, a breeder, who when my fridge quit, saved the dog meds and let the food go bad. My feet find the way to the kennel before I have even grabbed a cup of coffee in the morning and the kennel is my last stop before bed. While my friends are on a cruise to the Bahamas and my family meets for Christmas, I am home delivering puppies. I haven't had a real vacation in seven years, but maybe soon. All plans are made around heat dates, whelp dates and vet dates. I shower and 10 minutes later my grandkids say I smell like a dog. My clothes are all stained with fecal matter, urine, afterbirth or bleach. I have to remember to clean my shoes before church.
Most of my friends breed dogs. Who else can you call at 3 a.m. for support? Who else has the experience I sometimes need, the med I sometimes need, or just an uplifting word I sometimes need ? Who else would understand how it feels to have invested hours and hours and hours in a weak puppy to lose it? Or the joy in investing hours in one that lives? I have slept on the floor beside a litter until the crucial two weeks have passed. I have bottle fed a litter of 12, feeding every two hours and it taking 90 minutes to do for weeks at a time. I have learned to be proficient at micro-chipping, vaccinations, sub q fluids, bottle feeding and tube feeding.
My vet knows me by first name. The vet knows my children. The vet now knows my grandchildren. My vet knows it was I who added on the wing to the vet clinic.
I am a breeder.
It is to me that 63 days takes on new meaning still excited by every new life. It is I who delivers all my pups, towels and heat lamps on ready, happiness and sadness sometimes intermingled. Even though it increases my work load, I look forward to the 10-day stage when eyes open, and puppies begin to emerge from the helplessness of newborns. Puppy breath, a first bark, and a heart for exploration. I am not uneducated, unemployable, illiterate or lazy as some animal-rights folks would imply of breeders. I am a conscientious lover of animals and I have found my niche.
I am a breeder.
And although I feel no shame, there is a part of me that feels the need to hide from powers that could come to invade my home and take my dogs ...maybe for finding a mild infraction, a leaf in the water dish? A kennel not yet cleaned for the day? A rash I am home treating? I tell my children and grandchildren to hush, do not tell others we are dog breeders, and I wonder when did breeding puppies go into the same secret place as criminal activity?
I am a breeder and I am not cruel, dumb, uncaring or criminal. I am not raking in money while sitting on my butt. Every penny I make I earn through blood, sweat and tears. My greatest joy is a healthy puppy and a wonderful home. The cards of thanks and the pictures of my puppy with its new family is the fringe benefits of my efforts. I am an animal lover, nurse, midwife, heavy laborer, customer service representative, and marketer.
AND I am a breeder.
--Lori Hallfrisct
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
Let me make something clear, (this is me being honest). The only reason I am not even meaner than I already am is because I want to try to persuade people to breed a better bulldogge FOR THE BREED. I get annoyed at all the political correctness, especially when its a grown man crying about it. If someone doesnt like me, they can shove it. Im not going anywhere. Im here to stay. And if you breed unhealthy dogs Im gonna be on you. Like it or not, I dont care about your "judge not" philosophy. That being said, there are alot of people breeding garbage dogs who are trying to do better! I give major props to you!!! I get phone calls, emails, texts, and FB messages EVERY DAY from people with dog related questions. My door is always open to share with anyone what I am learning. I am trying to build my ideal bulldogge. My vision scares the weak, and encourages the strong. I like everybody, I want to learn from everybody, and I want to help everybody, but I am not going to tip toe around feelings while my breed is at stake. Pick up an oar and help paddle the boat, or sit there and shut your mouth. Just don't get in my way while I try to rescue a breed filled with looters.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
and sorry I could not travel both.
Yet be one traveler long I stood,
and looked down one as far as I could
to where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair.
And having perhaps the better claim,
because it was grassy and wanted wear.
Though as for that the passing there
had worn them really about the same.
So both that morning equally lay
in leaves no step had trodden black
Oh! I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads onto way.
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
somewhere ages and ages hence;
Two roads diverged in a wood and I
took the one less traveled by.
And THAT has made all the difference.
--Robert Frost (1916) This is one of my most favorite poems. It says alot about life. I think this also describes what we are trying to do here at Irish Evolution.
and sorry I could not travel both.
Yet be one traveler long I stood,
and looked down one as far as I could
to where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair.
And having perhaps the better claim,
because it was grassy and wanted wear.
Though as for that the passing there
had worn them really about the same.
So both that morning equally lay
in leaves no step had trodden black
Oh! I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads onto way.
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
somewhere ages and ages hence;
Two roads diverged in a wood and I
took the one less traveled by.
And THAT has made all the difference.
--Robert Frost (1916) This is one of my most favorite poems. It says alot about life. I think this also describes what we are trying to do here at Irish Evolution.
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