06/05/2026
WHAT A BREEDER NEVER SAYS OUT LOUD
People often think that a breeder lives among perfect dogs. But they forget everything that goes into bringing these little miracles into the world. Photos are sweet, but the reality is intense and demanding.
Every birth is a lottery.
You can prepare, plan, and study everything… but not a single delivery goes exactly as hoped.
Every time it feels like the first time, even after years of experience.
Death is our greatest enemy.
A bitch who develops complications, a puppy that doesn't make it, or even an older puppy that must be euthanized due to a congenital defect that presents later in the first six weeks.
It happens unexpectedly and breaks our hearts every time.
Using a good stud dog costs money and effort.
Travel expenses, matings, tests, containing a male that's lost his mind screeching and barking trying to get to the female in heat.
And then hoping that everything goes well: diarrhea, infections, stunted growth.
Breeding is an investment: financial, emotional, and physical.
Bottle feeding? Cute, yes… for the first five minutes.
But after that, feeding every 2–3 hours, day and night, for weeks.
That is pure survival mode, with a whole lot of energy as salvation.
People often view puppies as “business”:
“Number of puppies × price = profit!”
But they forget the:
• Health & Genetic testing
• State licensing
• Insurance
• Training
• Nutrition
• Veterinarian
• Care and hygiene
• Photoshoots, advertising, website
• Food and mountains of p**p!
What is left? Rarely a gold bar. Let alone a decent hourly wage.
Sleepless nights are inevitable.
No weekends, no vacation, no break.
Who really raises the puppies?
The bitch… AND the breeder.
Every small infection can threaten an entire litter.
And the question “Why is it so expensive?”
If we got a euro for every time…
The dogs would be eating caviar instead of kibble.
Future owners always make us worried.
A puppy isn't a package you just send off.
We choose adopters carefully; sometimes we refuse, sometimes we wait longer.
Emotional fatigue?
You almost never see that.
The pressure, the responsibility, watching over every detail…
And the loneliness during an emergency.
Sometimes we want to quit.
After loss. After setbacks. After exhaustion.
And then a pup opens its little eyes… and everything starts all over again.
It is a passion that never lets you go!
The grief of loss…
We rarely talk about that.
But with every farewell, a piece of us dies with them. Yet we rise again, for the puppies that still need a home.
Yes, there are beautiful moments.
Yes, there is immense joy.
But behind every experienced breeder lies a path full of sleepless nights, tears…
And an unconditional love for these special animals.
"Text borrowed and author unknown" but oh so true!!
💯
