Okay, drooling over the traditional style Shar Pei is fun and makes for great research, but I know they are probably not for me. At least not for Next Dog. I can't remember how I first heard of the Lagotto, but they are really neat little dogs. I don't care for the look when they have tons of fur on their heads, but the closer cropped dogs are super nice looking IMO.
They seem to be everything I want - smaller size, good health, long lifespan, nice structure for agility, take well to training, will obviously be great for nosework (they are professional truffle hunters!) and just really great little dogs. Nice drive, working dogs, should be okay with other dogs and cats...
There's one up here in Alaska, and I was able to spend time with her when I was up for the ORT. She had a fantastic temperament. Totally comfortable around strangers, but not going out of her way to meet them/get all over them (I can't handle the over-friendly nature of many Labs and Goldens. I get that it has its place, but it's a turnoff for me.) She was soooo soft. I guess I was expecting coarser fur, but at least this one was like a stuffed teddy bear. I just melted for her big, expressive eyes.
Has anyone met one? Had one? Heard stories about them?
I think of all the dogs on my varied "I like" list, they fit me best.
They seem to be everything I want - smaller size, good health, long lifespan, nice structure for agility, take well to training, will obviously be great for nosework (they are professional truffle hunters!) and just really great little dogs. Nice drive, working dogs, should be okay with other dogs and cats...
There's one up here in Alaska, and I was able to spend time with her when I was up for the ORT. She had a fantastic temperament. Totally comfortable around strangers, but not going out of her way to meet them/get all over them (I can't handle the over-friendly nature of many Labs and Goldens. I get that it has its place, but it's a turnoff for me.) She was soooo soft. I guess I was expecting coarser fur, but at least this one was like a stuffed teddy bear. I just melted for her big, expressive eyes.
Has anyone met one? Had one? Heard stories about them?
I think of all the dogs on my varied "I like" list, they fit me best.