ColorCodingDots
Posted : 9/21/2007 12:20:20 AM
Thanks so much to everyone for their input so far. =D It's really appreciated.
(Luvntzus; I typed it out in word, and then pasted it in, and it kept the breaks. I was using firefox, dunno if that has anything to do with the paragraph breaks.)
RidgebackGermansShep; we have two GSDs, and I'm pretty much the only one that takes them for walks any more. My mom doesn't have a very good connection with Patriot (he has absolutely no respect for her, and honestly, she isn't interested in working with him any, so...) and my dad's ankle has an old sport injury that suddenly got way worse, and he can't walk hardly at all. So, with them I have no problems keeping up with their exercise. I'm not the only one that does stuff with them though, everyone takes turns feeding them and playing games with them. (I really hope that didn't come off as totally rude and defensive, I just meant that I like energetic dogs. I need them to get me out the door. If they don't want to go out, I won't, y'know?) And like I said, I really appreciate your input, and I am taking it to heart.
Luvntzus; (I find that very hard to type for some reason.) I didn't find keeping Charlie brushed out difficult at all, so based on your list, I'm thinking that the medium maintenance dogs would be okay. I brush the shepherds out at least twice a week too, and that's no biggie. I'm pretty sure I won't end up getting a poodle, they're more a breed I'd like to admire from afar, but I really like their personalities, so I more put them up as an example of the kind of dogs I really like. =] As for the barking of Shelties, I kinda liked it. Charlie would bark whenever someone jumped into the pool, like she was alerting the world that someone was drowning (we joked that she thought she was Lassie-- original, I know.)
Liesje; I'd been thinking about that (and talked to my dad about it; he did obedience with our last shepherd, Cory) and he said if I want to show in conformation, I ought to go with a breed that has medium popularity. (Which goes along with what you guys are saying too). I kinda am thinking I probably won't be getting a GSD. I love ours, and they're the best fit for my dad, I'm not sure that they're the best for me. I really loved my Sheltie, Charlie. I'd never heard that about the UKC, how interesting. That's really good to know, actually. Thanks.
agilebasenji; After I finish college (and I haven't decided what that means yet, although I'm probably going to go for more than just my BS) I'm going to live at home for 6-12 months after I get a job, and then I'm going to get a house. Unless my plans go horribly astray, I won't be going to an apartment. I wasn't planning on getting a puppy until I was sure about getting a house and all. (I know it probably seems like I can't say this with certainty, but I feel confident enough: I won't ever live in an apartment. Until I can get a house, I'll live with my parents.)
Basically, I'm not going to get a puppy if there's a chance of an apartment coming into the picture. =] I probably should have put a wider window of time. My bad.
The advice about the competitiveness of the rings is really helpful, too, though, and about the trainability. Thanks. =D