Puppy Search 2013!

Professor is the sort of kid who needs a dog. He has endless energy and as an only child no one to play with.  He has loved dogs since the day he was born but has never really had one of his own. He has also been incredibly lonely. When you have ADHD and other behavioral issues the kids in school don't exactly line up to be your friend. Having grown up with a dog I know what it can mean to have one there when you're sad or lonely.

So, after much discussion with my parents, we decided that a boy needs a dog. We've had dogs my entire life so choosing the right breed was something we discussed at great length. Our oldest dog, Casey, is reaching the end of her life. She is happy but you can see it when you look at her. She is tired. We are cherishing the time we have left but we know it is coming soon. Remembering her puppy days does not always bring back the best of memories. She is a Lab/Husky mix, a combination of endless energy and a desire to chew pretty much describes the first 3 years of her life. She is calm now but we weren't looking for another lab.

My sister's dog Moo, a Japanese Chin/ Pekingese mix, is an idiot. She is sweet and wouldn't hurt a fly but she is just not a smart animal. Small dogs bark, A LOT which I can't stand. Professor also needs something a bit more sturdy.

So a medium sized dog that was also smart became the criteria.

My dad is an experienced dog trainer. The pit bull we had growing up out preformed military service dogs on the obedience obstacle course. Although we would love to own another pit bull, they are a stubborn breed that needs a firm hand. Not really the best fit for an ADHD six year old. Eagerness to please soon became an apparent factor so we decided on a "working dog".

That puts me where I am at now, scouring the internet for a border collie, a Australian shepherd, a cattle dog or any variation thereof. It is a much more difficult search than it sounds. It seems herding breed puppies are really hard to find!

Luckily Petfinder.com has a "Pin it" button and I've created a board on Pinterest.