Filling My Cup Doesn’t Empty Yours: On Being Fellow Stewards
To my fellow breeders in this wonderful, challenging, and rewarding world,
I’ve been reflecting on our community lately. It’s easy to sometimes feel like we’re on separate islands, focused solely on our own kennels, our own goals, our own ways of doing things. There can be a quiet sense of competition in the air.
But I’d like to gently suggest a shift in perspective. Imagine each of our breeding programs as a cup. The passion, care, and knowledge I pour into my cup? It fills mine up. And here’s the crucial thing: It doesn’t take a single drop from yours. My success doesn’t require your shortage. There is abundance here for all of us who are dedicated.
In fact, when we connect our cups—when we share—everyone ends up with more.
Your years of experience with a particular health issue could be the guidepost I desperately need. The temperament breakthrough I had might help you in your next selection. Her resolution in a difficult fertility problem may open up a world of knowledge for him. Your win in the ring is a win for our shared support of our breed standard; my advocacy for health testing protects the dogs we all love. We aren’t just filling our own cups; we’re contributing to a deeper, shared well that the entire breed can drink from.
Of course, we will have differences. You might prioritize one trait, I another. Our personal tastes in style may vary. That’s not just okay—it’s healthy. A breed needs thoughtful diversity. What must unite us is stronger than what divides us: a fierce commitment to ethics, to transparent health testing, and to making the very best pairing decisions we can, always with the breed’s future as our guiding star.
If we can keep that North Star in view—the health, temperament, and betterment of these dogs—then our smaller disagreements become just part of a bigger, positive conversation.
We are all stewards of something bigger than ourselves. By sharing our knowledge and supporting each other’s integrity, we don’t just strengthen our own programs. We build a stronger, healthier, and more respected future for the breed we are all devoted to.
This spirit of collaboration creates ripples that extend far beyond us. It elevates the entire community’s reputation. It provides puppy buyers with not just a healthy dog, but a web of support and integrity. It shows the watching world that we are motivated by legacy, not by ego; by stewardship, not by competition.
Let’s keep filling our cups, and let’s make sure to share the water.
With respect and camaraderie.