[nagdu] Breeds for successor

[Karyn & Thane]

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