"Nicolas The Great" wrote in message
om...


About ten years ago we use to have a German Shepard. She was a
wonderful
dog. Her name was Samantha but we called her Sam. We had her for about
two years but we had to get her a better home because at the time we
couldn't spend the time with her. At the time with my work and health
reasons in the family we got her a new home on a 20 acre ranch. I know
she loved that place. Here's a picture of her.

http://critics.home.att.net/scan0003.jpg

Nick

- She was a beauty As you have had a GSD you know that they require a
lot of interaction and that they do not do well with spending a lot of time
alone being it inside or outside. They are truly devoted to the family and
that means that the want to be by your side 24/7 so you will need to keep
that in mind. I still think that getting an older dog will be an good idea
for you, as it will have mellowed down a bit and if you are lucky have had
some previous training, which should be handy for you and your sister. The
good thing about getting an older dog from a rescue is also that they will
be able to tell you about the temperament of the dog, making it easier for
you to pick the right one, something that can be difficult with puppies.

Good luck on your search

Lone

Mary Shafer wrote in message . ..
On 18 Nov 2003 07:14:25 -0800, (Nicolas The Great)
wrote:

Mary Shafer wrote in message . ..

However, there are some real conditions on this. The dogs absolutely
have to have shade, deep shade, not part shade And they have to have
abundant clean water. If your sister can't guarantee those two
things, forget it.

I really wouldn't recommend a St Bernard, if only because they are so
short-lived. What kind of dogs does your sister (not you, but her)
like? Why such big dogs?

Thanks for repying Mary (That's my sister's name Heh-heh!). We love
dogs so much there are so many great breeds it's hard to choose the
right kind. If you read what I posted in the above post that should
explain a few things. Take care.

I saw your other posting and I see what you mean. My husband is in a
wheelchair and all of our collies quickly learned the command "back
up" because the halls in our house are just narrow enough that
something has to give when dog and chair meet.

Anyway, I'd recommend collies, maybe smooth-coated, but actually
there's a better way to pick out a breed than to have each of us
recommend our favorites. There are books and, maybe, Web sites with
questionnaires that will help you find the right breed. I got one of
the books before we got this pair of dogs, because collies are kind of
heavy for someone with a bad back, and we did seriously consider other
breeds.

Dogs with "flat" faces tend not to tolerate heat as well as dogs with
pointy muzzles (like collies or GSDs). This is because the longer
nose helps cool the air more (which is one of the reasons dogs need a
lot of water in the heat). However, most breeds will do OK in the
heat.

Anyway, look for books with names like "The Right Kind of Dog for You"
or "What Kind of Dog Should I Get"; I've seen such books in my local
bookstore fairly recently. The books address the usual
characteristics of the various breeds, so they're not absolutely
perfect, because every breed has unusual dogs, but on the average, the
stereotypes are pretty much correct. And a Google search might turn
up sites on the Web or, at least, more accurate titles.

Mary


Thanks for the info, Mary - I'm looking in to getting a yellow Lab.
Here are a few more pictures of our last dog Sam.

http://newdrivers.home.att.net/sam5.jpg
http://newdrivers.home.att.net/sam2.jpg
http://newdrivers.home.att.net/sam3.jpg
http://newdrivers.home.att.net/sam4.jpg

Nick "The hypocrite?"