why do people say this?

[aly]

I'm not tryng to talk you out of a Smooth Collie. If you want another Smooth Collie, I say go for it! And whether you end up rescung or buying from a breeder, I am sure that dog will have a wonderful life with you.

And here comes the but ...

You got a wonderful dog in Oz, but then you are generalizing the whole breed based on him. If you think that every dog you get from a Smooth Collie breeder will be as wonderful as him, you'd be wrong. I'm sure you don't assume that, but I'm pointing it out for argument's sake. Dogs have personalities like people and even if a litter is carefully bred, it can still produce some little stinkers. Also, when you buy (or adopt) an 8 week old puppy, you can't truly see the dog's true personality since they are still babies. MOST of it depends on how you raise them, socialize them, and train them, but there are those exceptions.

The reason Oz is so wonderful is because of how you brought him up. I am confident you could do the same for a shelter puppy.

With that said, if you're drawn to the breed and want another, then thats what you should get for sure! I'm not trying to convince you of anything other than the fact that there are wonderful dogs in shelters and a majority of them don't come with the baggage it seems everyone is thinking they do.

[2kitties]

Is this horse still moving? Can anybody see if this horse is still moving? Put a mirror in front of its nose. Is it still breathing.

Me thinks the horse is dead. Let's stop beating it.

[aly]

I don't think its dead.

Looks like we're having a constructive conversation with no mean spirited arguments, so maybe thats why you think its boring

[2kitties]

Aly, I'm not sure how to take that other than to feel you are being mean spirited toward me and I can't ever recall being mean spirited toward you or anyone else. But I'll let it go. I was making a joke. I will stay out of your conversation.

[lizbud]

Originally posted by aly
I don't think its dead.

Looks like we're having a constructive conversation with no mean spirited arguments, so maybe thats why you think its boring

I agree. Maybe some folks believe all dog house topics
should be contentious & argumentative. Not so, if you don't
want to participate in the discussion, then don't.

I did want to say to Par, that no one will feel less of you if you
get a dog from a breeder. I know I won't. Just want to help
disppell the myth of the" horrible misfits" animals that come
to homes from a Shelter or Humane Society. Every dog can be
a joy or a problem whether they come from breeder or Shelter.

[aly]

2K, there is nothing "mean spirited" about me.

I felt you were bringing down a constructive conversation is all. As lizbud said, if you don't like the conversation or are bored, you don't have to read it or participate in it.

[2kitties]

Twas my feeble attempt at wittiness. Clearly not a talent for me. I will leave the wittiness to Richard from now on.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by 2kitties
Twas my feeble attempt at wittiness. Clearly not a talent for me. I will leave the wittiness to Richard from now on.

Would you like to study at the knee of the master?

Course material on VHS or DVD is available.


send 199.95 to

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------------------------

One interesting thing I have noticed that others may not....

All animals have personalities and traits that are as varied as the ones that humans have.

Edward does not like to have his belly rubbed.
Unless I feel comfortable with you, I really feel awkward hugging people.

Call them foibles, quirks, idiosyncrasies...

All animals are diverse as we are.

[Kfamr]

Originally posted by ParNone
I've got a dog that has zero people or dog aggression. That can be left uncrated in the house while I'm at work, without worry of coming home to destruction or potty accidents. That I can let off leash and know he's gonna stick near me and come back when I call. That watches out for me and Murph and lets me know when there's something amiss in the house. Who's up for a good play session or a good ole nap, whichever, he just goes along with whatever I'm doing. So it's very hard for me not to be drawn back to this breed.

And that has nothing to do with his breed, where he comes from, or where he was born.



That has to do with, LOVE, Patience, and Training. any dog, coming from the side of to road or coming from the BEST breeder in the wolrd, could be EXACTLY like that. Whether it's a Mutt, a Boxer, or a Collie.


It's not who they are, or where they came from. It's how you treat them, how you raise them. And how you train them.


Nala is exactly like your decription. I may not know her background, but that doesn't matter anymore to us. either of us, any of us. she's my dog, always will be. She came from the shelter when she was 8 weeks old. Yes, she had colds and illnesses when she came in to the shelter, but does that mean sh can't be "as good" as a pure bred Collie, or any top show dog in the world? I think not.

Simba seems to have some slight dog/people aggression. Not so much aggression, but he'd rather just people and other dogs leave him be. Other than that he fit the whole description.
He also came from the shelter, when he was 4 months old. He was 8 months old when we adopted him, so he had lived for 4 months in the shelter.
He bit my mom twice the first week or so we had him. He'd run every time he saw her. and she'd walk the otherway. This was my FIRST dog. I took care of neighbors dogs constantly, but this first of my own. Back then I had NO clue of what a breeder was. All I ever knew was the shelter.
But, we gave Simba out Time, patience, and love - look at him now. He's come a long, long way. He's put up with watching two puppies grow up. He's put up with little kids pulling his ears and whatnot. He's put up with everything i've wanted him to.

I'm rambling on, but it just goes to show that the breed, place, or wherever you get them from doesn't always necessarily matter.

I'd personally rather have a dog you have to work for it's love, gain it's trust. It's so much rewarding looking at one of my pups, and to think how much they've changed. Simba, over th years.. and Nala in just one year. Whether you call that a "nightmare" or not.... They're the best dogs I could ever ask for, and I didn't have to pay hundreds, thousands of dollar the first day. I donated.



(I'm sorry if any of that came across as snippy or rude, it's exactly how I feel at the moment, and I just woke up.)

[Pam]

Originally posted by RICHARD

Edward does not like to have his belly rubbed.
Unless I feel comfortable with you, I really feel awkward hugging people.

Richard for a minute I thought you were going to say YOU like your belly rubbed. I was hoping we weren't going to go there!

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by Pam
Richard for a minute I thought you were going to say YOU like your belly rubbed. I was hoping we weren't going to go there!

I finally looked up the word "decorum".

That, and I know better.

[Pam]

[Cincy'sMom]

Originally posted by lizbud
I agree. Maybe some folks believe all dog house topics
should be contentious & argumentative. Not so, if you don't
want to participate in the discussion, then don't.

I did want to say to Par, that no one will feel less of you if you
get a dog from a breeder. I know I won't. Just want to help
disppell the myth of the" horrible misfits" animals that come
to homes from a Shelter or Humane Society. Every dog can be
a joy or a problem whether they come from breeder or Shelter.

Well said on both points Liz!

[shais_mom]

Would it be to bad to post another pic of a ''throw away''?
This one was found running out in the woods after the local yocal coon dog trials..... My heart, my soul, my life dog.......
http://www.imagestation.com/mypictur...5&from_album=1


I only got Keegan from a BYB b/c a friend of mine owned the sire and she felt bad for me when my Shaianne died and told me I can have the puppy if I wanted it.
How could I turn down this face?
http://www.imagestation.com/mypictur...5&from_album=1

http://www.imagestation.com/mypictur...5&from_album=1
not sure which links will work....
I have every intention of my next dog will be from the shelter or pound.
I unlike Amy when I got my first dog wanted an adult that was already grown and didn't have to go thru the puppystage. But when I got Keegan I wanted a puppy. And boy oh boy did I get one!!!

[ParNone]

Just want to say, I'm glad this thread lived on a lil' longer. I think overall it's been a wonderful discussion. Thanks for the vote of confidence guys. I still think it's more Oz than me, because Murph and Maddie don't behave that much like Oz. Well they're all 3 people friendly to the max, which is probably me, but I think the dog aggression from M&M is definitely a terrier thing. And since I want to do agility with this dog too, it's definitely a trait I'd like to avoid. It makes things less stressful, if you don't have to worry about your dog attacking somebody elses. Anyway I'll continue my search and I may even ask for some advice if locate a puppy that feels right. If I could find a smoothie in a shelter, that would be ideal.

Par...