That’s what I feel like tonight. A STALKER.
I swear, word is going to get out and people are going to start questioning if I’m missing the Queen on my chess board.
I’ve been hesitant to talk too much of the process finding a breeder because
1) I just started.
2) I have a habit of sticking my foot in my mouth. . Mmm.. yummy toe fuzz.
3) What if somebody i am trying to impress reads my blog and then walks away feeling offended.. or worse. Doesn’t feel like i’m worthy to own one of their dogs. Goodness that would suck!
But how can i document this process without talking a little about all that I’m doing to FIND my puppy.
So let me outline this process.
1) You go and find reputable breeders on line through the GSMDCA or the AGSBA.
2) You talk to people who have used said breeders.
3) You go their websites and read about their practices.
Lets say you get a good word about a breeder, or someone tells you about a pairing of dogs that might be a good match. Let’s just say you get interested.
Time to SELL YOURSELF.
How do you do this affectively, be completely sincere and truthful about your intentions? How do you convince someone to trust you when ultimately… you want something from them?
Honestly, it’s just not possible. At least for me. I feel like a complete dweeb trying to sell myself.. mainly because I’m a person of action. Not of words. I am excited about this so I come off as hyper and nervous and obsessive. (Which i am. The obsessive part. ) I can’t convince someone I just met that i’m a trustworthy animal lover who is proactive and devoted and really wanting to do this right. They’ve heard it all before; why should they trust me? I don’t know how many of their dogs they’ve had to rescue from bad families because the kids didn’t get on with the dog or they had to move. People are smart and they learn all the right things to say when they are trying to win someone over. If I was in their shoes.. i’d be skeptical too.
Hopefully I’m going to be talking to a breeder this weekend and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we hit it off because it would be lovely to stop talking hypothetical and really start planning for the puppy. This particular pairing, so far sounds lovely. I talked to the owner of the Papa on the phone and she was fantastic. Completely patient and forthcoming. And her dog sounds like the exact kind of energy i want to bring into the house.
Ugh. But its hard! I want to be spending my time, learning about how I want to RAISE the dog and figure out training methods and supplies I’m going to need. We have to find a new vet and I had gotten some feedback from the gs.com about what kind of questions to ask when interviewing. Brian has been asking for those questions for a week and half so he can start interviewing.. and i’ve been preoccupied with breeder questions. I so wish this part was settled. I think this part is going to drive me crazy. But hey! This is the process I signed up for. If I wanted instant gratification we could have just gone to the pound, right?
