I'm in the market for a dog after being dogless ever since I grew up and moved away from home back in the late 80s.
I suspect that some folks around here have both knowledge and opinion about dogs and I want to tap into this pool of collective wisdom.
A bit of back ground might help better inform your advice.
Why a dog? Why now? I love dogs. I grew up with a wonderful mutt rescued from the shelter. But I have not had a dog since I left home because I married a woman who is very, very, very, very tidy. A dog was out of the question.
As some of you know, that tidy woman left me last month after 18 years and 11 months of marriage. In fact, today is our 19 anniversary. yay. But lest you think this getting a dog stuff is a rash decision, please know that it has been my great wish for many years. We (I) built a house on 11 acres of woodland four years ago and I had hopes this elbow room would have softened her to the idea of a dog. Alas, it did not.
The kids have wanted a dog all along too.
But now, I can get a dog without pissing anybody off.
I am a religious man. And I firmly believe that dogs are one of God's greatest blessings to humanity. The well known virtues of a dog are just what I want and just what I need. Loyal. Uncomplicated. Joyful. Loving. All things I have needed and wanted for so long. A little dirt and hair and a poop and piddle here and there are a small price to pay for someone who would jump for joy at my approach, crave my companionship and think I'm the greatest thing since squirrel chasing was invented.
Sound a little too needy? Yeah, I'm needy. But a dog is givvy. And I'll take what the bundle of fur has to offer.
More context? I live in Minnesota and gets ass burn cold. I would never make the dog sleep outside unless I'm there with the dog. But I do not want a dog that I can not take on extended forays into the woods in January. I work outside of the home. But I get home for lunch almost every day. This dog would not be alone for more than 3 or four hours at a time. I have three teen agers who also love dogs. We are active walkers and hikers so the dog would get daily exercise. Again, I live on 11 acres of woodland and I do not want to put up any fencing so I want a dog that will not run away at every opportunity I let it off the leash.
Medium to large (40-100 pounds). Do I go purebred or rescue a mutt? I want a puppy that I can name and mold into my own image. Is there a qualitative difference in a dog from a breeder who is asking $400 compared to a breeder of the same breed who is asking $1800? Is it bad for a dog to change her name if you get a year old rescue dog? (I mean, seriously, "Mitzie?")
Well, dog people? What do you think?