3 February 2012, 6:21 pm
Hi everyone, So about a year ago, my stepdad had to put down our beautiful female white american shepherd mix? (her papers from the animal shelter said Samoyed/lab mix) Lina. She looked like this http://puppyer.com/img/herding/american_white_shepherd_293_3.jpg We had two dogs, but she was always my favorite, and my best friend since I was 9 or so :) We got her at 6 months old to be a buddy to our 7 month old male collie/shepherd mix, Milo aka Buddy Boy. Growing up, she was the opposite of playful, spunky, Milo. She loved her walks, but she also loved the couch. She wouldn't play fetch, and LOVED to give kisses. She was the sweetest girl in the world. She even loved my male rats, she would give them kisses through the cage and baby them. Unfortunately, she had hip issues and as she got older, her hip issues became worse (along with seizures, tumors). At eleven years old, she was having trouble walking to go outside, and woke up in severe pain one day and couldn't move at all, we had to put her down. That was worst day in my life, everyday there will be little reminders of her and I miss her. My 20 year old boyfriend and I finally have moved into an apartment where we can have dogs, we currently have our two sibling kitties (both wonderful with dogs, they grew up with Lina and Milo and have been around other peoples dogs with no problems), and a couple fish tanks. He wants a male rescue greyhound, and I want a fuzzy white shepherd female to be my "little" princess to be his doggys buddy. (We already have worked out where the dogs wouldn't be alone for more than 4 hours at a time, and are going to get 2 year old or older dogs. (We already have toys, dishes, all sorts of doggy stuff, a king sized bed so they can sleep with us) We have a room on the ground floor, so the dogs don't have to deal with all the stairs to go potty. Just for those who are worried about our commitment) Anyhoo, I found a wonderful white shepherd rescue who I have contacted and they have a female that is 2 and a half years, that sounds EXACTLY like Lina and looks the EXACT same. Loves her walks, doesn't play with toys except the super soft ones for a couple minutes, LOVES the couch, gives kisses, gets along well with kitties, sheds lots :p. They said she sounds like she would be good with apartment life given how she is a little lazier than most white sheps they get. THE QUESTION: (finally) I really want to go get this girl, (she's in foster now) is it wrong that I am trying to replace my childhood buddy? Thanks so much! I DON'T expect her to be EXACTLY like Lina, I should of clarified a bit. I know that all dogs have individual personalities, and I expect her to be different, and will love her very much for the dog she is, not just because she acts like Lina. As for the fish tanks, I have two, 5 gallon male betta tanks. They don't take up much space. I guess I don't see how cats take up a lot of space? As for greyhounds, according to most rescues/adoption people, they are very well suited for apartment life, AS LONG as they get adequate exercise (i.e. at least 3 hour walks a day, rain or shine). We were babysitting a persons german shepherd as they got moved into a different house in a different state for a month (they wanted to get settled in, the fence up, all that jazz) and she did WONDERFUL with us in the apartment. I should of added more details, hopefully those help :) Let me clarify a tad bit more, the similiar characteristics to Lina is what have drawn me to this particular dog, but I EXPECT and WANT her to be different of course. I know she won't be the same, but I am 110% okay with that because I don't expect "another Lina" really. It's hard to explain. As for the kitty friendly, we already are looking into only greyhounds that have been certified "cat friendly" thank you very much for the concerns though :) Also, REPLACE was a bad choosing, it gave the wrong idea I see now. I've had a male rat, who was a black with white belly, and my little angel. When he passed away, a couple years later I got another black white bellied male rat. He was different then my previous buddy, but I never compared him to my previous friend except for certain antics he would do and would remind me, but in every other way he was POLAR opposite, and I was okay with that, I loved him since he was my buddy :) Just like to add as well, I would NEVER buy from a breeder, Animal Shelters/Rescues all the way!! :D One more tiny detail, I didn't get the black rat with white belly ONLY because I was trying to find a similar colored rat, I am just partial to those colors. I always have favored solid black or white dogs with the large shepherd ears and long/fluffy fur/body over brown or tan dogs. (Oddly, same with pretty much every other animal except for my cat, she looks like a blue somalia kitty, even though she is a mix I also prefer female animals to males as well. I'm weird like that. I've been around another white shepherd at a dog park, and it didn't make me sad, just happy :0)... Read More »
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