Know Thy Limits

This morning, I was entertaining notions of importing a Japanese Shikoku. 

Why? 

Recently, there was a flurry of discussion on the Nihon Ken Forum when a 1.5 yr old male Shikoku imported from a famous kennel in Japan was going to be neutered and rehomed. 

There were, in my opinion, so many insensible decisions in how this dog was handled, that I came out thinking "If you want to have it done right, you have to do it yourself." 

This morning, when I learned of an available male in Denmark looking for a new home, I thought about whether he could add something, pedigree-wise, to the small population of Shikoku in southern California. 

Then thoughts migrated to whether I should get a puppy from a Shikoku litter in Korea that's bound to be outcrosses to what's in California.

Then thoughts moved to "I might as well import an adult Shikoku which is a known quantity, rather than a puppy that is a big risk.  I don't have any issues with the idea of dealing with an adult who probably won't get along with other dogs."   

I was still contemplating this, and self-congratulating myself about my willingness to import an adult Shikoku, when I learned about a group of people who are planning on importing and establishing Hokkaido in North America. 

I lost my desire to get a Shikoku then.


For a while, I couldn't figure out why my interest just evaporated into thin air.  There's no squandering of Shikoku efforts by having a Hokkaido effort so it's not like there's a "betrayal" involved.  

PoongSoon helped me figure it out though.  As she layed on the ground, wagging her tail and asking me to play with her, I realized that all the talk about "preservation" wasn't me nor my interest.

I never intended to be a preserver of Jindos and Poongsans when I started this.  I still don't.  All I wanted to do is have some dogs with the temperament that I enjoy and that the people sincere in their interest in Korean dogs can enjoy in the future.  The direction of the entire breed, the preservation of the entire breed - that's beyond my connections, my resources, and frankly, my willing to accept responsibility for.  I just want to be responsible for my "small scale hobby kennel."


So, to even consider picking up yet another breed and become "THE PRESERVER" of not just the population in CA but also Japan is just silly talk for me.  An ego trip for sure, but ultimately, not something that's right for me.