As with basically everything else, I don't want to have or do something just for the sake of having or doing something. I want a challenge, and this also applies to having a dog. Just having a dog, any, not enough for me. It has to be something more.
It's time to practice not feeling unfaithful to Ella for thinking about others, future dogs I will have a relationship with. So – What do I really want in a dog??
Challenges.
So what does mean me with challenges? Isn't the mere fact of living together with a dog enough of a challenge?
Njaej, not for me. For me, challenge means resistance. I need and want a dog that won't back down, who can withstand and meet me in terms of energy and will. Ella could do it. But the biggest challenge with Ella was her high energy and willingness to do and experience things non-stop.
I want one dog with lower energy than Ella. It doesn't necessarily have to be a couch potato (although that would be ok, that with), but a dog that doesn't have ADHD in cubes and squares would be nice as a change. On the other hand, it can preferably have a high intensity – it doesn't matter to me. I would also prefer a dog that is dominant over the high energy.
As I have as told before, i have spent countless hours surfing dog breeds porn. In principle, I stick exclusively to the most obscure and unknown dog breeds, which are usually some form of livestock- and guard dogs from southern Europe.
It is completely sant, in addition.
Races I have opted out because I think they are a little too nice for my taste; Leonberger, Bernese Mountain and Newfoundland. Races I opted out of because I think they are a bit too active for my taste; Rottweiler and Cane Corso (plus other working dogs, although they probably can't match Ella in terms of energy).
I rage interested me in; Taken (Small) Canary, Tibetan Mastiff, Estrela Mountain Dog. The latter is the breed I've decided I want.
In short, I want to have a dog that needs very clear leadership to function socially. I am very uninterested in a dog that works more or less automatically. I want to be needed as my dog's leader. I need it so that I can function in the relationship. A so-called “easy” dog risks boring me completely.
I want and also need to have a dog that will take a seat. I don't just mean physically (a big dog), without a dog that takes up a lot of mental and emotional space. A dog that demands its space. I want and need this because I myself take up quite a lot of space, and I don't want a dog drowning near me.
There are many who points out that there are many dogs for relocation, and that is of course more than true. And sure – at some point I might consider taking care of a rehoming dog. But not right now. Right now I want a dog I choose myself from start to finish.
The two main ones the reasons why I want a dog at all is partly that I need to get outside and move around, partly that I need a counterpart to know me safe and stable. I can do it pretty well on my own, but it's easier when I have a dog by my side. In many ways, I see my dog as a service dog, without it being trained for it.
Then it was the thing with possible actual employment with dogs. It remains to be seen if I can bring myself to actually practice protection with my dog. But I'm convinced that an Estrela would work great for that, in case I get my ass off and actually do.