Why would we get a Sheltie, after placing our Springer, Cookie, in another home? Well, Cookie was "high energy" and Dotty is average. We chose poorly when we bought Cookie, and now she's placed in a much better situation, with folks who are better equipped for that breed. In other words, regular exercise and/or a fenced-in yard. Now, before you judge us too hard, remember that we persisted with Cookie for 4-1/2 years before finally choosing to place her elsewhere. She had some very stressful tendencies. Every time someone walked into our home, we had to tell them not to pet her, as she would promptly piddle on or near their feet. She enjoyed breaking loose in search of nasty stuff to roll in. She chewed, chewed, chewed on things she shouldn't have, while her Nylabones lay near-by. She stole food every chance she got, even off the counter. Some of this was part of the breed (the greeting-tinkle and food theft), but most of it was a result of a high-energy breed not getting the exercise she needed every day, at least a 45-minute walk around the neighborhood. Oh, yeah, she was miserable to walk, and only behaved with a halti collar. She was the worst dog we could choose. Sweet-tempered, but bratty as all get out.

After being dogless for about 2 months, I began to miss owning one. I began to take dog-selector tests on the internet, and the breed that kept turning up was the Sheltie. Remembering that Rebekah's boyfriend's family had this "extra" one, we decided to try her out for a week. So far, after bringing her home last night, I really like her. She's definately lower energy and more obedient than Cookie was. Time will tell.

But, along with the exciting, comes sad news. When I woke up this morning, I noticed that my dear, trick-performing fish, Jasper, was dead. He was a great fish, pretty, and funny. He used to spit water, and flip out of it when he was about to be fed. We gave him a "burial at sea."