Logic vs gut feeling

Laurelin

I'm All Ears
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This has happened 3 times this week. I'm at a dog thing. We're talking about stuff/I'm petting a puppy/etc. Somehow I mention that I'm planning on bringing home a puppy this spring.

'Oh really!?'

'Yep. Not 100% sure what breed yet but that's the plan!'

'Oh, I just assumed it'd be a papillon!'

'Yeah no, I think I want something a little bigger.'

'You know, you'd do really well with a sheltie.' or 'Thinking about a sheltie?' or 'Have you considered a sheltie? I think you'd really like them'

'Well actually I've had 3 shelties...'


I almost feel like I should listen to them. Every time I look logically at Nextdog shelties are the perfect breed. They fit well with papillons. A bit bigger but not too much of a size difference to worry about. They fit my lifestyle and agility goals very well. I like them a lot. I think they're pretty, smart, fun. I like the temperament a lot... I know some fantastic sheltie people and I know where to get a great one that could probably far surpass my goals.

I just... don't have much draw to them. Is that bad? Is that enough reason to not get one? I wouldn't mind another one day for sure. I probably will have at least one. And I know the folks I train with know me and my dogs well so part of me thinks 'Your gut is telling you this is the smart choice. Your friends are telling you this is the smart choice.' Am I just being stubborn? It's just since being an adult I've never had a dog that wasn't a sheltie or papillon. I'd really like something a bit different.

So... do you tend to go with the logical choice or do you go with maybe the less intelligent choice that you have more draw to?
 
Gut!

Logically, I should have gotten a more medium size dog. Logically, I always thought I'd get a Lab. And a Lab would have been an awesome fit. But...I wanted something different.

So....a Chessie happened. And I have no regrets. :) As long as YOU feel 100% comfortable with your choice, it doesn't really matter what other people think. I'm sure you would do well with a Sheltie. But if that isn't what you want, that isn't what you want. No shame in choosing something different!
 
Go with the breed you're attracted to. As long as it's a researched decision and you understand potential drawbacks, there's nothing wrong with going with what draws you in vs. what fits on paper.
 
I just... don't have much draw to them. Is that bad? Is that enough reason to not get one?

LOL are you really asking if not wanting one is a good enough reason to not get one?? If you don't want one, you don't... it's really that easy. You have to live with the dog for the next 13-15 some years. You should get what you want.
I mean unless this is like "I want a malinois but I'm not ready, I'll get another dog and then once I'm more experienced and have lost more of my brain cells, I'll get a malinois." If there's an actual reason to delay another breed, that's different. But I don't think that's what's going on here.



Besides. Payton won't have any babies this spring.
 
Logic is often good, but I would go with your gut feeling. On paper, there are other breeds that technically might suit me better than the breeds I truly love... but I really have no draw to those breeds. As long as you are still seeking a breed you have a good feeling you will be compatible with and has many traits you want and need, I would definitely go with whichever breed in the end that pulls you in the most. It is nice to experience different breeds. I don't think it'd be wrong to get another Sheltie, and you would probably be very happy with another, but I wouldn't necessarily get another right now just because others think you should and it's the logical choice. Logic doesn't always rule out over your gut feeling. I got Journey on a total random gut feeling and couldn't be happier. Get what you want! Just because a Sheltie might be a great fit doesn't mean that other breeds won't be. :-)
 
It's just since being an adult I've never had a dog that wasn't a sheltie or papillon. I'd really like something a bit different.

IMO this says it all! I think they're right, a Sheltie would be a good fit, but it's not the ONLY good fit! I totally understand the feeling of wanting to try something different. That's how I felt getting Rowan after having poodles for 17 years, and how I feel now about getting a herding dog next - even though I adore my Brittany and will probably have more at some point in the future.

You're a knowledgeable dog person. You know what will suit you in a dog. It'd be entirely different if it was someone that just wanted a pet/wasn't "into" dogs saying "I know that a pug is the perfect fit for me, but I'm just so drawn to Kerry Blues!", you know? THAT'S where you need logic. Two dogs that are different but will both basically fulfill your needs? Definitely gut.
 
Go with your gut. You do your research, you know what you like and what to be prepared for so yeah... no regrets that way.
 
LOL are you really asking if not wanting one is a good enough reason to not get one?? If you don't want one, you don't... it's really that easy. You have to live with the dog for the next 13-15 some years. You should get what you want.
I mean unless this is like "I want a malinois but I'm not ready, I'll get another dog and then once I'm more experienced and have lost more of my brain cells, I'll get a malinois." If there's an actual reason to delay another breed, that's different. But I don't think that's what's going on here.



Besides. Payton won't have any babies this spring.

:rofl1: so true...

Um yeah, I enjoy making unwise, technically speaking, decisions. Was it ideal? No. But Feist. :D
 
I am kind of a gut + logic kind of person. Need both. Which probably doesn't help haha.
 
I am kind of a gut + logic kind of person. Need both. Which probably doesn't help haha.

I know you are which is why we were both in the same limbo FOREVER. And I'm still there. Teach me your magic.
 
I'd go with gut.

You don't ever want to look at your dog and think "...but what if..." honestly. Especially since you will have three and four is a BIG STEP from three lol

Don't get me wrong, I love logic. I worship the pro/con list... but I feel I know you well enough through the internets to know you aren't going to jump into just ANY dog. You will find a balance, right between logic and gut that works :)


....or you will take Merlin because I just looked over and he was casually eating my pringles!!!!
 
Four is totally not happening EVER. lol No worries there. Nextdog and then nothing until I'm back down to 2.

I don't like pringles so I don't care if Merlin eats all of mine! :P
 
What everyone else said. :-P Shelties aren't the only breed that will fit what you want. If you don't want one, you don't have to get one. Look around and pick a breed you want and get all excited about. :)


Fran: Merlin is more than welcome to be packed up and shipped down here to give your Pringles a vacation from doggie eating terror. HaHa. ;)
 
That is sad! Regardless of whether I get a sheltie, I want to see payton babies! :(

Maybe in the winter?? He's getting his first CERF done at the end of the month so we can knock that out. After that I still need to see him on sheep and evaluate that. We agree we really like his attitude, I know what I want to match him with from a conformation perspective, but the lingering BUT WILL IT HERD??? is still hanging out there before I want to make a final decision.
I want a nice litter to watch them grow and see what he will produce before we breed again and I keep one back. So it might happen sometime in the winter. I will have a hell of a time not keeping one. I'm trying to convince my mom to keep one (that I can raise for her) so it will sort of be like keeping one LOL.


Four isn't so bad. ;>
 

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