Derek and I are going to adopt

[+ Oliver]

I was amazed that on the very day I registered, this topic showed up! My name here is that of my first dog:-) He was a miniature Schnauzer (although somewhat larger than the standard for the breed} and was the smartest and fun dog:) One of the saddest days was when I had to have him put down;( And , yes I still miss him 19 years later. Great breed! I highly recommend.

 

Les, I have been thinking very highly of you because of your great pictures (especially those of Dick McKay), but now I am totally impressed, knowing about Billie. My Oliver was more like the magazine cover in coloring.

 

Oliver:*

[Rick Munroe]

I think I have my heart & eyes set on a Basenji. Especially after reading this: "Basenjis are generally quiet dogs and do not bark. They do produce a wide variety of other vocalizations including yodels, crows, chortles, howls, growls, and some which are simply beyond description. Each dog has its own repertoire and it is rare to find two that sound alike. Other Basenjis are very quiet. They usually make these sounds when they are happy." Between my moans, Derek's groans, and the puppy's yodels, it's gonna be very interesting around here.

 

This is not definite, though. We might continue to travel often, so we might have to put this off until retirement...if that ever happens. I don't know yet.

[bluenix]

If you haven't already, check out the Canaan Dog. Smart, low maintenance. JFK Jr. said his dog was a mutt, but it was in fact a Canaan Dog. He just didn't want to over-popularize the breed.

 

http://www.dognews.com/pedigeegallery/herding/images/Canaan.jpg

[Rick Munroe]

>If you haven't already, check out the Canaan Dog.

 

Thanks, blue. Tonight we ruled out Basenjis and looked into Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Pharaoh Hounds, and Rhodesian Ridgebacks. I was about to go to bed but first I'll read about the Canaan (so it's your fault if I don't get my beauty sleep). :+

[Rick Munroe]

After all my pleading & wheedling (hey, those years of studying Lucy Ricardo really paid off!), he's finally said "yes." It's something he's always wanted, too, but he never thought we were ready. Now we just have to decide what kind of dog to get. We know we want to rescue. We spent hours online last night (until dawn) looking at rescue sites...reading the saddest stories & wanting to adopt everyone. I thought I only wanted a puppy but now I think we're open to a young adult. We love Boxers but we're not sure if a Boxer would be too big for our one bedroom apartment; we don't want small like a chihuahua but I guess we can't have a big ol' Lab (my first choice). We don't want a heavy shedder or a stinker. Loveable, muscular, short-hair, intelligent: these are traits we like in dogs (and in each other, I guess). And of course, he/she (that's another question: do we want male or female or does it matter?) has to love strangers (we get our share of them in here). I've done my homework but I'm still confused. Any suggestions?