Hi Christiansmommy,

Since you're still in the thinking, researching stage, I thought
I'd suggest the Smooth Coated Collie. Their friendly, gentle
nature makes them great with kids and other pets. They're
protective in a non aggressive way. They live to please you
and be near you, so they're easy to train and are stay at home
dogs, not apt to be escape artists. They're athletic and can
be as energetic as you need them to be, so they're always ready
for a good romp, but will also be just as happy to take a nap with
you. Not known to be destructive chewers or diggers. Drawbacks
due to their herding instincts are a tendency to be nippy and a
bit barky. Smooths are moderate shedders and have very low
grooming requirements.

Here's a picture of my Smoothie:



Par...