I know I rave about Rowan frequently, but it's because he honestly is SO perfect for me. There has literally never been even a moment where I regretted adopting him, which is funny because I was utterly disinterested in him based on his bio on the rescue site. I wish he was reliable off leash, and I wish he was friendlier with other dogs. Those are my only two gripes and in the long run they really don't matter. Neither one impacts our lives significantly.
I will have more Brittanys. I was on the fence for a while, because Rowan is just so perfect, how could another Brittany live up to expectations? But the more I meet, the more I realize I just genuinely like them across the board, and that Rowan just has something extra special.
That being said, I have met some Brittanys I wasn't terribly fond of. I will be careful about what sort of dog I get by either evaluating temperament and suitability (for a rescue) or spending a lot of time around relatives (for a breeder.) Some a Brittanys have this... overflowing energy, where they are perpetually in motion, and I really dislike that. One thing I love about Rowan is how freaking stable he is. Nervous energy puts me on edge.
Riff... oh Riffers. Riff was NOT what I was looking for in a dog. I was looking for another Rowan, basically, one who stuck closer naturally and maybe had a bit more energy. Riff is not that dog and I think that's why it took me so long to bond with him. I couldn't see past my expectations and appreciate him for who he is, not who I wanted him to be. (Not to mention that he was an absolute NIGHTMARE of energy and anxiety the first month or two.)
Riff is nervous, he's afraid of strangers, he doesn't adapt well to change, he's very high energy, and he's not the brightest bulb... basically the opposite of Rowan. But what I've come to not only appreciate, but love about him, is his personality. Once he's comfortable with a person, he's the silliest, bounciest, dorkiest dog ever. He makes me laugh every day. He's not intelligent like Rowan, but he tries REALLY hard and I appreciate that in him. He just wants to please. He's so good natured. He's 3 1/2, but he's still such a puppy - I think he's permanently puppy-brained. I adore him.
To be honest, I'd be very reluctant to go the private rehome route again. I'm sure that isn't usually the case, but they were not up front with me about his issues, and after the first month or so they cut off contact. Had I known what I was getting at the time, I wouldn't have adopted him. I would have a hard time trusting someone to be forthright with me now.