SuZir
Well-Known Member
My midlife crisis has gotten me closer to more tangible choices again.
Unfortunately our beloved older dog met an adder a week ago. In his youth he won many battles against them but maybe he had gotten bit slower with age and before we rushed to intervene he got bitten. And despite vet hospital doing their best, his heart was not able to handle the venom and we lost him. He had just turned 13 but in very good shape and from the breed that tends to live long so we had hoped couple more years with him.
Our house feels very vacant with only one dog. And our remaining, younger dog seems depressed. So we want another dog and quite soon before our remaining dog grows too old to handle a puppy pestering him.
Choice of the breed is what brings the career crossroad of mine to forefront. Hubby has easy to fill wishes for the new puppy. Basically big enough he doesn't need to worry breaking it. And good fit to our lifestyle (basically not an independent hunting dog and likely to have a steady and at least moderately social character.) So choice will be mine and depends on what kind of dog I want.
Before I thought that when kids get out of home I would again have time for more serious work with dogs. I was waiting for getting a field trial lab and training him to become an official search and rescue dog. Or maybe taking one more Rottweiler (the breed that has stolen my heart though we have been without one for close to decade now) and likely dedicating myself to other dog sport, because even female rottweilers tend to be bit too heavy for me to carry (you need to carry your dog in search and rescue test go pass it and only after that dog can be used in search and rescue missions.) Also with Rottweiler there is a real risk the dog would not be quite as social as we would hope.
Both of those breeds would require quite a time commitment from me. Third option would be Rhodesian ridgeback that would likely be happy with living our everyday life and accompanying me to my morning runs. Maybe trying some cani cross and dog skijoring.
In the end it comes to decision I have to make about my career. Staying in current job (secure, relatively well paid, very reasonable hours, tad boring) or trying to take a leap to academia after I finish my PhD studies soon (lousy job security, very competitive, lousy pay, crazy hours if you want to be competitive, exciting.) My heart and brain are firmly in opposing corners for this.
And now I need to more or less decide before we start calling breeders who have exciting litters coming in near future on one of those breeds...
Unfortunately our beloved older dog met an adder a week ago. In his youth he won many battles against them but maybe he had gotten bit slower with age and before we rushed to intervene he got bitten. And despite vet hospital doing their best, his heart was not able to handle the venom and we lost him. He had just turned 13 but in very good shape and from the breed that tends to live long so we had hoped couple more years with him.
Our house feels very vacant with only one dog. And our remaining, younger dog seems depressed. So we want another dog and quite soon before our remaining dog grows too old to handle a puppy pestering him.
Choice of the breed is what brings the career crossroad of mine to forefront. Hubby has easy to fill wishes for the new puppy. Basically big enough he doesn't need to worry breaking it. And good fit to our lifestyle (basically not an independent hunting dog and likely to have a steady and at least moderately social character.) So choice will be mine and depends on what kind of dog I want.
Before I thought that when kids get out of home I would again have time for more serious work with dogs. I was waiting for getting a field trial lab and training him to become an official search and rescue dog. Or maybe taking one more Rottweiler (the breed that has stolen my heart though we have been without one for close to decade now) and likely dedicating myself to other dog sport, because even female rottweilers tend to be bit too heavy for me to carry (you need to carry your dog in search and rescue test go pass it and only after that dog can be used in search and rescue missions.) Also with Rottweiler there is a real risk the dog would not be quite as social as we would hope.
Both of those breeds would require quite a time commitment from me. Third option would be Rhodesian ridgeback that would likely be happy with living our everyday life and accompanying me to my morning runs. Maybe trying some cani cross and dog skijoring.
In the end it comes to decision I have to make about my career. Staying in current job (secure, relatively well paid, very reasonable hours, tad boring) or trying to take a leap to academia after I finish my PhD studies soon (lousy job security, very competitive, lousy pay, crazy hours if you want to be competitive, exciting.) My heart and brain are firmly in opposing corners for this.
And now I need to more or less decide before we start calling breeders who have exciting litters coming in near future on one of those breeds...