A moral/cultural conundrum: online advert (i.e. "eBay") dog or puppy?

Got it covered! Actually the person at the rescue who I've been emailing (and who answered me last night) already suggested Larry, so he is on the "go see" list. I'm not quite as smitten with his looks - he is a rather ...er "unique" looking boy . Those eyebrows make him look perpetually disgruntled. But you are right, his personality sounds lovely and I know from my foster dogs that the ones I think are deadly plain on first site I end up championing as "the most beautiful dog ever" within a week or so. He's apparently not at the shelter but in a foster home, so he may be a separate visit. So more to come!

My guess on his mix was Rottie and/or Shepherd and Boxer...he's got a wild underbite, so DEFINITELY boxer, LOL.

 

Yes is is unique looking, I like unique, but his eyes are beautiful and tell a story like a lot of rescue dogs. This list of yours is growing fast, surely you will come away with one of them or maybe more

 

Yeah, I actually think he is the kind that is much more lovely in person... I don't think he's bad-looking by the way, he just didn't immediately grab me like Bruno did.

It's going to be a tough call, no two ways about it! Plus I've got a breeder visit tomorrow so that adds another very tempting choice. Oh well, I can't complain of being stuck anymore in my pup hunt, that's for sure!

 

I understand completely about grabbing you, it has to be that way. I agree, Bruno is the one, he has such a beautiful kind face, a friend for life look x

 

@Emily_BabbelHund Emily, I'm sorry but I couldn't resist linking this beauty to you xx

http://www.spanishstraydogs.org.uk/cuento

 

Hah! You're killing me here! But I'm glad you're keeping an eye out for me. I did see Cuento as I'm pretty much keeping an eagle eye on that site. Two more weeks now to wait and then I can see ALL of them. Don't know whether to be excited or terrified!

But JUST IN CASE I'm currently packing up all my dog stuff that I would need for an adult or puppy in the box that has been growing and growing for a year so that I can take it with me to Spain. Better safe than sorry!

 

Do they do that Puppia harness in a large enough size?

 

I feel like we need to start a poll "how many dogs will Emily end up with?"

 

Oh stoooop! I can't take it!

 

Cuento! He's a stunner. Love his ears. @Emily_BabbelHund I'm VERY excited for you.

 

I was looking for a place near my house in Spain to volunteer at a shelter and found more wonderful Lab mixes to ... ahem... "visit".

 

Oh goodness, now I'm thinking you'll be bringing home 5 rescues and a lab puppy!

 

Mmm... you are keeping a good count! I guess I AM up to five rescues and a puppy. The bed's going to get a little crowded!

 

Buy a kingsize bed!!

 

As it just so happens, my house in Spain has two Queen beds stuck together to make one bed of astronomical proportions. No idea why my landlord furnished that way, but if any bed could manage five dogs, it's that one.

 

Problem solved, what are you waiting for? x

 

Meeting these two tomorrow unless it rains torrentially (which it could).

Meeting Bruno on Sunday. He has a new video.


As possible decision-time grows near, I'm having more doubts than ever of my ability to make ANY decision. Part of me still wants a wonderfully-bred Lab puppy. Part of me wants a Rottie. A big part of me thinks I should rescue a dog (the situation here in Spain is just so dire), part of me thinks it would be a much, much smarter idea to research breeders to death and get a puppy that way so I can minimise future heath and temperament heart-ache. I've been rather down lately, to be honest, and wondering if I'll ever be ready for another dog. I don't feel ready at all. I also feel like I'm going to continue to feel this way until I just jump off the 300 foot cliff and bring one home, no matter the source. Sigh. But I have resolved to move forward somehow, even if it is simply continuing to meet new dogs and research breeders. And if I don't actually adopt a Spanish rescue dog, I certainly can volunteer some time to give some of them in the local shelters some love and support.

So...as they say...into the breach!

 

Ah, I got down at times during my puppy search, too, thinking that what I was after just didn't exist. But you will get there and, whatever decision you make, you're going to end up with a wonderful companion. There are no guarantees in this life (other than taxes and death) so whatever route you go down, you get the dog you end up with, and you'll be a wonderful puppy parent to him or her

 

Bruno is lovely, like a black Bruce


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