If you have a nervous system disorder and can't stand for long periods of time (I have that as well) then it's probably not the best idea for you to get a high-energy dog right off the bat. I learned this the hard way. .
First of all, not all guarding breeds are high energy. Some are medium energy. I said I'm looking for a medium to low energy breed. Not a low energy breed.
Second of all, you do not know ANYTHING about what type of nervous disorder I have, much less how it affects me or my being able to train a retired champion dog. You do not know what treatment I'm getting for it, the name of the disorder, when and/if its temporary or long-term, the medications I'm not for it, how those effect me. You do not know how long I can stand on my feet, or what type of standing causes the symptoms, or what strategies their are for coping will standing. You do not know how sever the condition is, how often the symptoms come, how predictable they are. You do not know what type of activities trigger the symptoms and which ones don't!
Just because you have a disorder of the nervous system doesn't mean you know squat about mine. Do you realize how many different types of disorders of the nervous system there are???? Even if we did have the same one, which is unlikely because mine very rare, no two people with the same condition have the exact same symptoms, severity, limitations, treatment, coping strategies, medications, etc....and that makes a WORLD OF DIFFERENCE in what those people are able to do, much less their ability to train a dog.
And, without some dog experience, I don't think any reputable breeder would sell you one of their retired dogs. Breeders invest massive amounts of time, money, and love into their dogs, and I know of very few who give hem up when they're older, because they are family members. But from what I've read in this thread, no reputable breeder who loves their dogs would sell to you.
BlackDog.. how about this. When you move into your new apartment you get an older or a low-energy dog--of any breed, but not a guardian breed. Something with a nice loud bark and pearly whites. When you have some serious dog experience then revisit a guardian breed, but maybe start out with that breed with an older rescue. IMO this would probably work best for you.
I have dog experience! You do not know anything about what dog experience I have! I am NOT a newbie! I am NOT a average dog owner! I have trained 75 pound German short haired pointers, large animal aggressive mixes, newfies, a German shepherd and several small dogs. I will be taking this dog for training continually throughout the rest of its life.
STOP ASSUMING I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT I'M DOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lastly, I'd like to thank you all, or most of you, for making it so easy for me to leave. I've been a member of this forum for years and have never been treated like this, or have seen anyone else be treated like this. This use to be a good forum with friendly, knowledgably, and caring members that were able to get their points across without belittling and assuming they know everything about the OP's situation when they really didn't have a clue. Now I see it is mostly full of ego-centric, closed minded people who look for the slightest chance to throw their pre-conceived notions about dog care/training/ownership at you without knowing the person's situation and/or dog experience.
I'm all for education in a positive, friendly, non-belittling manner. However, this is not what's going on here. I first just answered your questions. That was fine. No big deal. Then I kept getting the same question over and over. I answered them all again. Still the same questions continued. Than it started bothering me. If you’re trying to find out something, don't beat around the bush and keep asking the same questions over and over. I never failed to answer all you questions no matter how many times you asked them. I re-explained myself many times, no matter how many different ways you asked the same thing or how crude you stated it. People who have something to hide stop answering whatever someone is asking them. I did NOT do this! Even though you said I'm not qualified to own a guarding breed because I have no experience with dogs/dog training (Which, again, you assumed this and it isn't the case!), I still tried to explain myself the best I knew how. Even when you said I can't handle a guarding breed because I can't handle a gun, (AGIAN, you assumed this! I'm against gun ownership for, not only myself, but everyone, accept the military. AND I brought in logical proof why I feel this way!!!), I still tried to be at least somewhat sensible. But now you are assuming I can't train a guarding breed because of my health, when you don't even know ANYTHING about my health, (other than not being able to stand for fighting classes.)You do not know what condition I have, what about standing in fighting classes activates my symptoms, how long they last, what happens during them, or how/if they would make me unable to take dog training classes, etc..(FYI--They don't!).
If you say you are doing this because you love dogs "so much", than you'd be trying to do anything to help them. This includes not bashing prospective owners into the ground and assuming they can't handle ownership because of non-existent reasons you are making up that do not apply to my situation.
If you love dogs so much you'd be happy to share your knowledge in a positive and inspiring way that makes others want to seek out your advice, learn more, and makes them see the points of your information, not your ego/attitude.
If you love dogs so much you'd be making every attempt to know as much as you can about their situation so you can guide them to the best answer. If you didn't understand something you'd just tell the person you aren't sure what they mean and ask them to explain again. Not keep asking them in a condescending way or assume the worst possible situation.
If you love dogs as much as you say you do, you'd do that because you'd know that's the best, and most effective, way of getting your points across and helping owners and their dogs.
That is not what is happening in this forum any longer. Therefore, this is no reason for me to be here.
Good bye.