I went to a local shelter today, just to look at the dogs. I brought a list with me of what I wanted, and looking at picture and bios, consulted it periodically. The staff member who saw it rudely informed me that if I was that picky, I could go to a breeder! This is the list
Non Negotiable
1) At least one year
2) Must be cat/dog friendly
3)No Pits, Rotts, Dobermans, Huskys or Standard Poodles (or mixes of these)
4) No Professional grooming more than 1-2 times a year
Things I would like
1) 35-70 lbs
2) At least tolerant of children
3)Not a huge barker
4) Medium to Medium high energy
5) Off leash reliablity (willing to train hard for this)
6) Would like to eventualy complete in Agility
Is that too picky? You would think they would be happy to have someone come in with an idea of what they want, as opposed to just picking something because "He's soooooo cuuuuuuute".