05/04/2026
๐ ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ช ๐จ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐ช ๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐ ๐๐๐ช ๐
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Iโve been doing a lot of reflecting lately, and I wanted to share something thatโs been weighing heavily on me.
One thing Iโve noticed more and more within the breeding world is how quickly situations can escalate, often based on partial information, misunderstandings, or only one side of a story being shared. Itโs easy to form opinions in those moments, especially when emotions are involved, but the reality is there are always multiple perspectives, and the truth usually lives somewhere in the middle.
I think sometimes we forget how impactful our words and reactions can be, especially in such a public space. Many breeders pour their hearts and souls into their programs, their dogs, and their daily care. So when criticism turns into piling on and tearing down, it can be incredibly discouraging, even if that wasnโt the original intention. Reasonable people may not always agree on every detail, but how we treat each other in those disagreements still matters.
Another pattern Iโve seen, and experienced personally, is how quickly breeders are labeled as โunethicalโ or โunreputableโ for not meeting someone elseโs expectations of what a program should look like. Some breeders may not check every box according to a specific standard, but they are still providing excellent care, proper veterinary support, appropriate health testing, and actively working to improve. Yet, falling short in one area can be enough to make them a target. Thereโs a difference between education and accountability, and repeatedly targeting someone who is trying to do better. That approach doesnโt strengthen the community, it creates division and discourages progress. This does not apply to situations involving dishonesty, illegal activity, neglect, abuse, or failures in animal welfare. Those require accountability and should be reported. Protecting the dogs and the integrity of the breed must always come first, but outside of that, how we address one another matters.
When I first came into this community, I honestly thought the answer was that I just needed to toughen up and grow a thicker skin. After a while, I realized that mindset was starting to change me as a person and how I deal with things, and not in a way I was proud of. Thatโs when it really hit me that โjust toughen upโ isnโt actually a solution. Iโm very aware of that now and Iโm actively working to change it, because thatโs not who I am at my core. Iโm also not willing to stoop to certain levels or conform to anyoneโs expectations of me just to fit in within this community. I named my program ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฃ๐ฅ๐ for a reason, and I fully intend to operate in a way that reflects the meaning of that phrase. Iโm not willing to accept an unhealthy or toxic community shaping me into someone I donโt recognize. Instead, I want to flip that and do my part in trying to change the community itself.
Iโm not saying any of this from a place of perfection, and Iโm definitely not pretending Iโve always handled everything the right way. I know Iโve had moments where I could have done better. But Iโm committed to growing, because I truly believe that who we are as people matters just as much as the programs weโre building. At the end of the day, most of us are here for the same reason. We care deeply about our breed and want to see it thrive.
Maybe instead of reacting quickly, we can pause and consider:
โฅ Are we seeing the full picture?
โฅ Is this something we fully understand?
โฅ Do we hold a bias?
โฅ Can we approach this in a way thatโs constructive rather than divisive?
And maybe just as importantly, we need to be mindful of whose voices weโre choosing to follow. The loudest voice in the room isnโt always the most informed or the most fair. Sometimes, the voice of reason is quieter, but itโs the one worth listening to.
There is so much value in collaboration, mentorship, and respectful conversation, especially for newer breeders who are still learning and looking for guidance. The environment we create directly impacts the direction of the next generation in this space. I also think itโs important to remember that no two programs are the same. We all bring something different to the table, and that diversity is actually a strength, not a threat. There is room for all of us to grow, succeed, and contribute in our own ways.
Personally, I want to continue focusing on education, growth, and supporting those who are genuinely trying to do right by their dogs and the breed as a whole. This space can be very toxic and can push people into really fragile mental states, and thatโs exactly why Iโm committed to doing my part to help shift it in a healthier direction.
I truly believe that if we work together, it is absolutely possible to change the atmosphere of this breeding community. It wonโt happen overnight, and it wonโt happen from the efforts of just a few people. Itโs going to take a majority of us intentionally choosing to do better, choosing to be kinder, and choosing to be more thoughtful in how we speak and act. We really are better together, and the only way this changes is if more of us choose to be part of that change on purpose. If we all leaned a little more into understanding, patience, and encouragement, I think we could create a much stronger, more positive community, one that truly reflects the passion we all share.
S.D.G. ๐
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" Luke 6:45
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*Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3*
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