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Dog Breeding and the Four Agreements
with thanks to Don Miguel Ruiz for his
enlightening Four
Agreements.
(dog component by Jennifer Sider)
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Do not gossip. Say what you mean. Speak
with clarity. Words are powerful; use them neither against
yourself nor against others. Do not disparage another kennel. Sell
your own kennel; don't put down others. Do not pass on half-truths
about specific dogs. Better to remain silent than to jeopardize the
reputation of others. Encourage other enthusiasts to do their own
homework. Direct contact with the person/kennel in question is
always better than third party information.
2. Don't Take Anything Personally
You will encounter a different viewpoint
than your own. You will encounter people who hate your dogs and
people who love your dogs. Either view is a reflection of that
individual. If someone says your dog is too green, too big, too
small, too quiet, too aggressive; don't take it personally; that is
the perspective of the viewer. You may have arranged the mating; but
you did not arrange the molecules. If the outcome suits your
purposes; keep going. If it doesn't; make that choice for yourself.
3. Don't Make Assumptions
Ask, ask, ask. Never assume. Find the
courage to question and to express what you really want. Communicate
with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness
and drama. This includes contracts, emails, telephone calls. If you
suspect someone misunderstands you; clarify your points. If your
conversation seems to be going in the wrong direction for the
information you need; bring it back on point. If you are contacting
very busy people, be very clear about your questions.
4. Always Do Your Best
Your best, not your friend's best,
your competition's best; but your best! You can only do well
what you can handle. If your best is to produce dogs that are of a
stunning green colour; then produce the best green colour dog you
can. You do not need to compete with your competitor that is
producing the best red dog. If it is not in your budget, your time or
your energy; do not attempt to corner the market on both best green
and best red dogs; you may find yourself just producing the best
mud-coloured dogs.
Thanks to First Dog Off the Porch Custom Leather for
donation of website space and formatting.
Any questions or concerns about content please contact
info@firstdogofftheporch.ca
Last updated: November 25, 2009
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