A Worthwhile Pastime?

A friend of ours decided to get out of dogs because she wanted to do something more useful than "just being a dog breeder". She was at the time a wife & mother to two teenagers, worked a part time job and was a Dalmatian hobbyist who bred very good dogs and was an excellent handler, active in a Dal club and an all breed club. Because that was not enough for her, she got out of dogs and went back to school, and is now working in a career that I hope she finds satisfying.

Breeding & showing quality dogs is not a career, but rather a very satisfying hobby, something most of us do in addition to our "real" lives. It certainly is not a money-making hobby, and if you figure in the time you spend on doing a litter of pups PROPERLY, your time could be better spent as a greeter at WalMart. It can also be an expensive and heart-breaking hobby, as breeding dogs is not without risk. Sometimes a breeding does not take, after you have spent money shipping your bitch to Mr. Superstar and paying a huge stud fee. Sometimes things do not go well at all. My first Dal died during a caesarian, as did 10 of her 13 puppies. And I still had to pay the stud fee and the vet bill. . . Sometimes you have deformed or sick puppies to deal with, and with Dals there is always the chance of having deaf puppies. We once lost a wonderful bitch several weeks after whelping and were left with 4 orphans to raise, a very time-consuming operation.

Even when things go well, and the puppies are healthy and all hear, you may not get the show potential pups you were hoping for, and the homes may not be there for the pets. After the popularity boom for Dalmatians in the early 90s, the bottom dropped out of the Dal "market" and there was NO homes for pet puppies. Many breeders kept pups until they were 6 months old or more. Those pups had to socialized, housetrained and obedience trained, so that IF the homes came along the pups were placeable. And there are the pups that come unplaced for whatever reason. The breeder is/should be responsible for those pups for their lifetimes, and if they need to be rehomed (or perhaps even euthanized) that has to be done.

Dealing with puppy buyers can be wonderful, and many of our buyers have also become our good friends. When I go to the National each year I renew acquaintance with many people who have owned my dogs and my granddogs, or bred to my males. I love to get Christmas cards with the whole family pictured, including the beloved Dalmatian, and when the end comes I also get calls from people to tell me what an important member of their family the Dal was, or how it was the best dog or best Dal they have ever owned. I've cried over the phone with many grieving owners, and know that I'll continue to do that for years to come.

Some owners turn out to be much different than you had expected. No matter how carefully you check them out, some are not willing to honor their committment to the puppy and the breeder, some find that pups are a lot more work than they expected (even though we make that point over and over), and sometimes financial, personal or family issues become overwhelming, and the dog gets shortchanged. Sometimes you just shake your head and can not believe the stories. Years ago I got a call that someone wanted to returned a Dal - one they had had for ten years. They had made the decision to sell their house and move into a condo that did not accept dogs! They were making the decision my choice, not necessity, and their livestyle change was not including the dog that had been a member of the family for ten years! Fortunately, they did change their mind when I explained that ten year old dogs are not placeable, and that euthanasia was the most likely option in this case.

Most homes are wonderful, and the joy that the dogs bring to their families makes all the frustrating and heartbreaking parts more than worth it. Most buyers reserve pups well in advance and wait for their new family members, This is really the best, as it gives people a chance to have second thoughts before they buy a puppy. We never sell a puppy on the first visit, just for that reason.

I'm very happy with the homes we have lined up for Boji's pups, and I hope Tom & Dawn will be comfortable with my choices too. No matter how carefully homes are selected, we always worry about how well things will work out though. It's only natural. By the time you have put this much time, money, work and EMOTION into raising a litter, the pups become a huge part of your life. Their welfare is your concern, and it that concern does not end when they are carried out the door.

Which reminds me, I need to check out a couple of Josie's pups whose owners have not been in touch with me for awhile! Hopefully I will get Christmas cards with pictures from many of their owners!