I like to share my mind with my regular blog readers so that they can better understand me. Someone asked me why I keep so many dogs when I can achieve almost the same end result with less. I suppose, the answer to this is my search for knowledge and the fulfilment of an unrealized ambition in life. When I was about to enter the university, I really wanted to become a scientist (experimenting on those test tubes)...meaning, pursuing courses that would lead to this career. However, coming from a Chinese ancestry where everything should be business, such ambition is non-sense. I was persuaded to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree majoring in Accounting, eventually becoming a Certified Public Accountant and a bit later, a Masters degree in Business Management.
To me, breeding is so fascinating and I have been so engrossed in various combination of breeding Pomeranian partners and observing the end results. As such, I suppose, this served as the outlet of my unrealized ambition.
Adding to the fact that as a minor and even as I became an adult living in our home with my parents, we were not allowed to have dogs...except for a German Shepherd which served as a house guard in addition to the human security with had at home. Is there not a saying, what is not allowed becomes a compulsive behaviour?
So now, I have a large number of Pomeranians which is a lifetime commitment ...Not for the purpose of generating income but breeding for my own pleasure... experimentations for various color outcome and pursuing perfection and excellence in the breed. Earning money from this heartache breed together with my high number of kennel workers, (many of whom are University graduates with a degree in Animal Science) to keep my beloved Pomeranians clean, healthy, and happy is certainly not a good proposition for business.
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My philosophy is life is anything worth doing should be done in excellence. And so, I did not spare money to achieve this ambition. I bought the best stock in Japan... mostly the best that money could buy. Though I had a lot of theoretical background on breeding from the textbooks, like many Asians, we generally do not have the practicality and the heritage of animal breeding that the western world has. Que lastima! All those money went to waste the first time around.
I recall my conversation with Michael Hughes Hall, a renowned All Breed Judge from South Africa, presently residing in UK. Michael thru the years of meetings has become a close friend and has been more than willing to mentor me in the beginnings of my second time around. I said, Michael you are so old and your family has been in dogs for generations. Can you share some of your family secrets on dogs with me? He was very obliging. There has been so many other breeders & judges who were equally obliging. And so, this is how I added to my practical experience in the canine and Pomeranian world...in addition to the more traditional sources of knowledge.
In my next blog, I will discuss the origins and the trails of my breeding program and the rationale why I went the way that I did. I have no regrets. Only excitement of what is to come.
July 20, 2010
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