[nagdu] Breeds for successor

[Tracy Carcione]

Julie J suggested as possibilities the Chesapeake or flat-coat retriever.  I 
have heard the Chessies are quite large, and strongly work-oriented, though 
I've never met one.  I've heard the flat-coats are a fairly mellow bunch. 
TSE tried a couple, at some point.
HTH.
Tracy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Karyn & Thane via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "Nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 28, 2014 4:07 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Breeds for successor


> I'm trying to begin my thought process towards choosing a breed for my 
> successor to Thane. Before I get any questions asked about him (ie- is he 
> OK?, what will happen to him? Etc) Rest assured, Thane is fine. He isn't 
> in immediate need of retirement, but it takes me two to three years to 
> train.
>
> He has had health problems (thankyou Lyme and its lifelong complications 
> due to late diagnosis) so I just don't want to tempt fate and lose him and 
> be left scrambling to find and train a dog while also trying to 
> accommodate my multiple disabilities (DB, incomplete quad) in the interim.
>
> I owner train my dogs for ALL of my disabilities. Its big paws to fill for 
> sure.
>
> Though Thane and I have been a team for a little over 6 years, he has 
> always been a bit on the small side at 21 inches tall.
>
> I am looking for a more resilient dog than my BC that sheds with a minimum 
> height of 2 feet at withers. I don't want to spend all day grooming, but 
> can handle coats such ad golden retriever, rough coat Border Collie. I do 
> all my own bathing, rinsing from wet muddy NW Oregon weather, grooming, 
> nail trims, etc.
>
> Though labs make good guides, lets face it many can be shrimps so unless I 
> found an awesome adult male lab where I can be sure of height, they wont 
> fit the bill.
>
> I've been reading some of the recent posts regarding GSDs as well as some 
> of Julies posts about Jetta's issues with the cold.
>
> My first dog was Border Collie GSD.  Thane is Border Collie. Some day I 
> want a GSD, but right now I really want a healthy dog also.  After reading 
> about health problems others on the list have experienced with GSDs, I am 
> leery of them right now. I prefer male, but most of that is experience and 
> size based.
>
> I do live in a small apartment, but have access to an awesome dog park and 
> trail system once trained for fixed route transit, a few other trail 
> systems not too far from home and my folks yard in summer time.
>
> Now that I am healthier and more mobile, Thane and I have been visiting 
> the great dog park trail system where I am able to see size and 
> temperament in some other breeds that I may not be accustomed to.
>
> I know many of you have been working dogs much longer than me, so thought 
> I would see what some of you think about breeds that might be tall enough 
> for what I am looking for. From there I can do more research and narrow 
> down my options. I will also be communicating with hearing and service dog 
> lists so don't worry if you can't think of a good option for me, but if 
> you can, AWESOME!
>
> Karyn and Thane
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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