Sarah, the part about leaving home for college or whatever where you probably won't be able to take your dog(s) with you is true. I still think of the Shetland Sheepdog I had to leave behind when I went to college. My mother decided she didn't want to be bothered with dogs so we found another home for him with a neighboring farm family. He had a good life and lived to an old age, but after a year or two at college I went to see him and he didn't seem to remember me. It was devastating to leave him and heart breaking to think he didn't remember, though I know that was for the best. {tears flowing now} (I still love you, Treve)