Page 36 - K9 News - Issue 14 - December 2020

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Random Snippets

Hello good people. THE PUPPY FARMER’S VIEW
OF PUPPY FARMING
We start this article on a point a lot of you will
understand. I have dogs who want to go out, but There must be a better term for puppy farming
have to check the weather first. If they’re still on, than FARMING, as the great British Public only
or even IN the bed (i.e. the Jack Russell) by the see it as being done from a barn, stable, shed or
time I’m ready to get moving, I know it’s raining other outbuilding and bitches laying in their own
outside and it’s pointless trying to shift them, waste. I met up with a lady recently that I hadn’t
or even hurry to go out. My lurcher can put the seen for some time. She proudly told me her
brakes on by the front door, after feeling just one son is breeding Cockerpoos now. My standard
drop of rain on her elegant nose. They’re fine if response to this is “Can’t he make enough
it rains while we’re out, but actually leaving the money selling pedigree dogs?” and although
house when it’s precipitating? Forget it! starting to grind my teeth, had to be careful as
BORDERFEST I didn’t want to fall foul of the zero tolerance to
abuse of staff rule.
For the last few years I have sponsored New
Apparently he has a two year old bitch from
Borderfest a raffle prize of a wood burning and
whom they’ve already had two litters and are
in 2020 despite there being no NBF weekend,
planning on mating her again next season.
it was won by Lindsay Smith with her Border
They’ve had a new bathroom and a new kitchen
Terrier dog Benson. Although she’d sent me
from the proceeds. She was busy trying to justify
some photos to work from it was clear he
these actions with comments such as ‘We don’t
wasn’t a happy bunny having his photo taken,
have to follow Kennel Club Rules as she’s not
and basically looked very grumpy. Although
registered, we can just keep breeding her’. I
I could have produced a good likeness from
asked if that was fair on the bitch and was told
them, Lindsay kindly sent me a couple more but
‘It’s a crop like any other, cows are bred from
explained that he generally looked miserable,
continually’. Seriously? When I commented
adding “He’s like Goldilocks, it’s got to be just
they have one calf a year and have one month
right. Too hot, chops on. Too cold, chops on. Too
off lactation (from information gleaned from a
wet, chops on and throw a bit of wind on top,
farmer friend who had a herd of Jerseys) to be
well you don’t see him all day. Think he’s got a
ready for the bull again, I was met with a shrug
secret hide away lol xx” I sent her a message
of the shoulders.
back while chuckling to myself that that sounded
just like my ex-husband! If social media is anything to go by at the
moment, the rising cost of puppies shouldn’t
be surprising, but this family is making, wait
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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / DECEMBER 2020