grit and glory

definitely a smaller dog. she-dog. inside dog. i vote alece. sorry, nielbob. :)

So I thinking…that if you really wanted a puppy then maybe you could write a post about giant eels.

Or maybe that’s a bad idea. Maybe you could talk about WHY you want a puppy so badly.-

OR you could mention stories from other people who have pets. Yeah. That would be a good idea.

Let me tell you a story about me and a German Shepherd. See, because when I was a kid, I got bit by a German Shepherd. And it HURT. For some reason, everything just hurts more when you’re a kid you know? Maybe because you’re feeling so many things–like pain–for the first time. But ever since that German Shepherd bit, I have NEVER liked dogs.

NEVER.

My father’s second ex-wife’s cousin’s sister’s brother’s ex-aunt-in-laws-aunt’s husband had dogs. I mean, A LOT of dogs. And they really weren’t all that very well taken care of. Like, if they didn’t go out in the morning, they would leave A HUGE MESS by the door, which by the way was always in my way when teenage me would get up at 3pm in the afternoon during the summer. So I was kind of irresponsible, too. But, anyways, this experience of having to live with all these dogs only reinforced my perception, that I JUST DO NOT LIKE DOGS.

Oh, actually, that’s not true. Well, it wasn’t ALWAYS true. When I was a kid, we had a dog named Buddy. He was just a little ole chocolate labrador retriever who followed me EVERYWHERE. It kind of strange because he was a curious little kid just like me. But…but…but…for some reason, my parents gave him away. I never knew what happened to him. But I know I missed him.

And I never got a chance to say goodbye.

And a few years after Buddy, we had a dog named Choco. Cute little fella. He was…assuming I can spell this right…he was lapsa apsa. Just a little ole furball. And my brother and me used to feed him things my mother made that we didn’t want to eat. So we’d cut off a piece of pork chop and toss it under the table when Mom wasn’t looking.

(By the way, Alece, if I have anything to say about it, you are SO not losing this little contest!)

i think TheNor likes dogs. dang. like - a LOT!
:)
me? no thanks. none. ever. inside or out.
so.
yeah.
i’m sure i’ll lose a few net-friends over that! yikes!!!!
just bein’ honest around here.

But then I got bit by that German Shepherd I was telling you about. And then there were all those dogs that step-in-law relative-whatever had when I was a teen. Dogs that weren’t taken care of. So I just did NOT like dogs from that point on. Uh uh. No way. No how.

(Come on, people! Get with it! Let’s all help Alece out here! She deserves a puppy! I can’t do ALL the work! Heh.)

Mandy:

You don’t like dogs because you haven’t Sam yet.

That’s all it is. Trust me.

oh, i like dogs. my dog used to play tetherball with herself. she’d jump up and hit the ball, and then jump again and hit it the other way. very amusing.

mmm… but i definitely like smaller dogs. i agree with the too-tall-dog dread, alece.

So then a few years later, okay, maybe SEVERAL DECADES LATER, I was hanging out with my friend, Gary. And he had a dog named Louie. Who is a chocolate lab just like Buddy. And when Gary and his wife, Kristie, when on vacation, I had the honor of feeding Louie.

Well…I didn’t even LIKE at this point…

…so how could I possibly take care of Louie for three whole days…?

Well, when Louie looked at me one day…you know…with his famous Puppy Look…it was all over.

And the fact that he pooped outside certainly had me sold, too.

Just so you know.

CORRECTION.

Mandy:

You don’t like dogs because you haven’t MET** Sam yet.

That’s all it is. Trust me.

Okay, we’re up to sixteen comments in 20 minutes. I’ve got to take a break now, but since we have until Friday…You are SO going to win this thing, Alece! [wink!]

Not a dog person here. I take care of enough men in my house! But, if I had to get one, I’d get the kind you want.

OK Friend- I love you but I’m gonna have to side with Niel on this one. I don’t do the little cuddly dog thing… hair all over couches & clothing- freaks me out! I vote big, outdoors HE-dog… sorry Alece :)

I don’t like dogs at all

so a small dog is better than, oh, i dont know…

a big dog

I think that a midsized dog would be much better than a horse of dog. good luck!

Ok chica - here are my thoughts…

If you want a dog and Niel wants a dog you should get two dogs. Whose to say you can’t have two dogs? Make sure your she dog is a boy though. And make sure Niel’s big dog is a boy too.

Our dog is for the kids - he is an outside toy poodle. A down right circus dog, jumps as high as my head.

Ok - about the comments - are you going to be racking in the comments by leaving comments on your own blog? I figure all’s fair in love and war… right?

Anyway - to even it out I am going to have to go leave a comment over in Anti-Blogger’s world, just so that you can know I am not taking sides on this. :-)

I

think

you

should

win

because

odds

are

a small yippity dog is… annoying. Moreso than a scrotch-sniffing dog, to be honest. So I’m glad you’re not interested in one of those poodle things.

So there has to be a happy medium here. Can we differentiate between small and big? What does a ‘mid-sized” dog look like?

Are we talking… like a sheltie sized dog, or more like a cocker spaniel?

Please get a cocker spaniel! They’re possibly one of the cutest creatures to walk on God’s earth.

(I feel like you’re shopping for a car…)

pardon me Becca…

YOU

will

be

the

one

taking

care

of it

.

:D

BIG dog. Like, a great dane. yes. I’m siding with Niely-pop. But you probably could have guessed that. I’ll even walk him for you and play with him and love him and name him and buy him treats and…

oh, sorry…YOUR dog, not my dog. I’ll keep repeating that. along with..

HE-dog. :D

I think yes! Get a dog…. and the one that you want! :)

My husband didn’t want another dog

so when someone offered us one for FREE

he wasn’t really amused. but…

he caved. :)

I am a fan of the big dogs..no yippee dogs…they are annoying! My dream dog is a newfoundland…beautiful..big dogs are way better…sorry Alece :-)

Now that you mention it…when we hung out, he talked to us about it, and we had just met. Ha ha. I don’t know. Sorry Alece, my husband loves our dog and they are a team. I think you might want to give it a go. As much as I hate our mutt…Daniel loves her and is wanting to get another one. Dang.

hmm i guess well. i vote big she dog. i have a bit of dislike for small, yapping, lap sitting, tongue bathing your face, dogs. so actually, im really more a cat person.

i have a funny story about someone that got me thinking about small dogs the other day.
i was working on main street (which in my town means the tourist drag, little shops and things to buy for your house, spouse or mouse or aunt’s brothers sister in law twice removed that you dont speak to anymore.)
anyway this one couple came in and asked me about a sign they had been seeing on the store front of several businesses they had passed by. the signs had all read “no heelys.” since i had not seen the spelling (heelys) i assumed it was (healies) and immediately thought of small dogs that bite your heals and replied oh.. that means they dont want those little annoying dogs that you step on when your not looking (or when no one else is looking.. haha) the man gave me the funniest look but then agreed with me. say it made perfect since. at that point my best friend walked up (little did i know she was behind me the whole time and she starts laughing and explains i was home schooled and in africa to long and that Heelys are those little shoes with wheels on the bottoms and kids are always running into stuff in the main street stores.)

duhh. i felt very inept for the moment but then the man started laughing and said his first impression of the sign was the same as mine since he didnt like little (healy) dogs either.

i can also remember all my growing up my mom had a friend she always wanted my family to go visit and my dad’s excuse for never letting our family stay with this woman was “all those yapping dogs” (the lady had like 5-6 small, lap sitting, ear piercing, screeching noise makers, some people like to call dogs.)

so my vote is spilt down the middle. big, outdoor, load HER in the back of the pickup, let your kids fall asleep on her belly watching the clouds go by in the back yard, dog. of course i do have some what a bias. my dog was all those descriptions and she was the best dog ever. she died last year while i was an intern. (sad face)
but yes, mostly i vote for Niel.

oh my cow. thats the longest comment i think i have ever written ever. wow.

Holy smokes. Look at this commentage? I vote that since you guys both get one. They have towels for him and for her, why not dogs for her him and for her?

sorry i am fairly anti-dog. so i would have to vote for neil with this one. keep the dog outside herding pigs and cows and interns… the way God intended.

Viva Rottweilers! Viva Niel! HE-Dog!!

I am not sure that many comments with few words should count! :)

BIG DOG!!! I have many reasons for this, but really we just saw some of the coolest Great Danes ever….I think I could snag one for you….the store was on the “honor system”, so maybe they would let us have a dog! :)

WE have soo much room…I mean really….it would be a waste to have a little dog in the house…and then what about Starbucks…he might get his feelings hurt…he already misses you alot…Alece. And look at it this way, you could give the dog affection names like “poop head”…..

Niel don’t YOU understand if you don’t allow Alece have the she-dog.

YOU”LL BE IN THE DOGHOUSE for life. LOL.

Well, a couple of folks here are REALLY rooting for you!

I vote both.

Although, if it really only had to be one dog, than I would vote your way, Alece. I’m biased to the dog. Both of the dogs I grew up were the type you are looking for, and they are the best dogs on God’s planet. Sheltie mixes. Pure Shelties tend to be very hyper … Sheltie mixes are the … well, literally, the perfect dogs. They are quiet, mild tempered, fantastic with people (especially kids), the most gentle creatures imaginable, protective as anything (one of them chased a BIG dog twice it’s size out of the yard by jumping up on it’s back and biting it’s neck), they’re herders by nature, so they love running circles around any activity (SO funny to watch), and have frequently been known to bodily break up any apparent physical fight between two people they love (these were always tickle fights, and so, just made it funnier). Anyway. So. Great dogs.

But having sympathy for Niel because I have a husband of my own who would love the big dog for rough-housing, wrestling, and general man-play, I have to vote …

get two dogs!

Although I did think that Tam made a GREAT point (of which, I’m sure you will agree).

And then I met Sam. Well, actually…

Herding cows and interns.
Hahaha.
Very nice.

…a woman at my church asked if I wanted a dog. And I found out he was a golden retriever. Just six years old.

Which is middle aged in dog years. But he’s a good fella. And he barked only once, which was the first time I met him. Then I pet him. And he calmed right down. But here’s the thing…

…Sam had a brother named Buster, who was three. Originally, I wanted Buster because he was younger. But Buster was spoken for. So I went with Sam.

But when the people came to get Buster, THEY actually wanted Sam.

This is a true story.

I’m not making this up.

Seriously.

And when you’ve got a dog like Sam, you’re not the master of the house anymore.

You’re just not, okay?

You’re NOT.

Because he took over the living room, the couch, the dining room, my freezer–for his food–and he OWNS the back seat whenever I take him for a spin in the car.

But, me? I just write a check for the rent once a month. That’s it. That’s all I do.

And when it rains cats and dogs, Sam NEVER steps in a “poodle.”

But even God loves dogs. No, really. He does.

Why do you think the brightest star in the sky is The Dog Star (Siriius)?

And I’ll tell you something else…

A bad mood NEVER survives seeing your dog when you come home. Just doesn’t happen.

But the nice thing about Sam is…

…or any dog for that matter…

…it is perfectly acceptable and legal for your dog to “turn tricks.”

And guess what, Alece?

If you ever go on a diet, your dog will never make you feel guilty about cheating.

They’re just that lovable.

Gosh.

I think

I have

totally

taken over

your comments, Alece.

But I was just thinking…

…wouldn’t it be nice if

I could

get you

to

one

hundred

comments

today?

Sure it would. Heh.

You know…you might as well as tell Niel to give up. He SO is not winning this thing.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wow.
y’all are all hysterical. not about the puppies. about how many comments there are here. TheNor & Tam & etc etc etc. LOL!!!!
you could just make it one LONG comment like Hannah (YAY FOR LONG HEARTFELT COMMENTS HANNAH!)

i’m starting to wonder if niel and alece were going for most comments or most actual VOTES for who wins this. ’cause alece wins the comments, hands down. but i think you’re pretty close with votes. i think i count for two votes towards alece’s side. :)

Who needs, wants, the dog more as a companion, you or Niel? I think dogs are more of an outdoor animal. Inside dogs tend to get in everybody’s way. I also hate those little yapping dogs a few of my neighbors have.

When I walk down the beach the big dogs are never a problem. There is one guy with a dog the size of a pony. It’s the little dogs that keep trying to attack people, at least their ankles. :)

I have had two dogs as pets. Both seem to enjoy running around outside more than staying inside. Since you have a big outdoors you should get a dog that can take advantage of it.

Pretend I posted this vote for Niel 106 times. :)

BIG DOG!

This debate, I mean discussion… has been going on for years :)

I have two suggestions that both seemingly involve compromise!!!

First- you know I once had a beast of a dog that I loved dearly - but who clearly belonged outside… and you guys have the PERFECT spot for a big, lovable, rowdy outdoor dog. There is just something fundamentally different about larger breed dogs and smaller breeds… the big dog is just more like a human and a companion.

That being said… smaller dogs have their purpose and place too. So, I would suggest getting a large breed dog for the farm (and I will love being auntie amy… and will take over caring for him/her while you’re away from home…) and if my Kitty still wants an indoor snuggle companion… she gets that too. One for each of you… with two very different purposes!!!

There really is no debate here. There is only one type of “dog” - large breeds. Smaller versions are called “rats.” Do you really want a yippity rat scattering around your house, scratching up your wood floors and getting hair all over your Cape mohair blankets? Do you like eating Simba chips while watching Project Runway? Forget it. That little rat will be into everything. How about a refreshing beverage on a cool autumn evening? Oops! It just got spilled in your lap. Maybe you’d like to build a fire to keep Old Man Winter at bay? Better not! The little dear might get too close and go up into an aromatic puff of flames. Do you like relaxing on the couch after a hard day of harvesting mealies? I hope you like constant contact with your Constant Comment, because that little rodent will be on your lap the moment you sit down anywhere. How about those blue-cold nights when the Maluti winds blow your way? It’s great to be snuggled under your Basotho blanket - but, looks like it’s time to let little Tinkerbell outside again for a piddle. Little pups have very tiny bladders!

All of this is avoided with a large dog.

When a dog is chosen to bear the van Rensburg name you will no longer have the joy of a long standing joke about a puppy. Whatever will you have to joke about my dears??? Oh, maybe you could begin to banter about a kitty being added to the household. :-D

I agree with Char: no hundreds of little comments.

You guys are too funny! I have I think I will be fair and comment on both. I have to side with your husband though…..I love big dogs because I love to wrap my arms around them and hug them. I miss that about not having a dog……Carlo was great for this. (And as you may remember the topic of many conversations! :)

At the same time, there is something fun about a little dog too. Maybe you should think about TWO dogs!!! :)

LITTLE DOGS SUCK (Sorry Alece, its just that everytime i see one i want to kick it.. and id hate to be at your home in africa some day soon and have to kick your dog)
Yay Big Dogs.. I would rather have a “crotch” sniffer then a choppy barkin stumble-over ball of annoying dog. :)
So my vote is for Niel.
=)

I’m not sure people are understanding that you don’t want a tiny, yippy dog… medium-sized dogs are incredibly different. ;)

landry and i had the same “negotiations” before getting our dog. lucky for us, miss ella ended up being the perfect blend between a he-dog and a she-dog.

i could just mail you my puppy!

Sorry, but coming from someone who has 2 boerboels, I have to side with Neil on this one. Not only are they great guard dogs, but they are native to South Africa! I mean, how perfect is that…so my vote is the cute, adorable, lovable, yet large enough to protect the family…..boerboel! (as long as you train them to NOT eat the other animals) hehehehe.
Mo

oops…Niel…..bad spellchecker….bad!

I guess my vote is more with Alece here. Sorry, Niel.

The last dog we had was a Golden Retriever. He was a good size because we could let him come inside (especially when it was cold) without him being totally in the way. At the same time, we were easily able to play with him outside and let him roam around. He was also very friendly towards others.

Oh well…. Here’s a website that gives information about lots of different dogs (hence the name):
http://www.dogsindepth.com

If you get this dog, you can put little notes in his mouth, and he’ll deliver them.
Heck, he can go to the Post Office for you.
http://www.dogsindepth.com/terrier_dog_breeds/airedale.html

Hehe…

i want to comment back to so many of these. you know how long that could take? sheeeesh.

but i do feel the need to qualify something: i do not want a small dog. i want a medium-sized dog. there is a difference.

my ultimate choice is a schnauzer. i love ‘em. the grey kinds… oh man. they look like little grandpas.

Oh Schnauzer’s are great…..the grey and white, not the black ones though. Again, I think you should each get your dog then there will be perfect balance in your house! :) BTW, are there no dogs on your property?

this little post reminded me of the movie ‘must love dogs’…

anyways, i vote for you my dear friend!! schnauzer’s are great dogs, and they are such loving dogs. and also, a she-dog would be the best pick.

I vote for Alece, also.

And so does Sam.

And his brother, Buster.

And Sam’s half-brother, Louie.

Yep. So that’s a grand total of 4 votes from one comment.

Not bad, eh?

If i read the post CORRECTLY ( and i am sure i do) ;-) it is the most COMMENTS that may, or may not determine the winner of this little ‘contest’ - not votes….

so

sothat

means

this

not

REALLY

Cheating! :-)

OK so maybe it IS cheating but i’m on Alece’s side.

Although - truth be told, i think each having your own Dog would be the best solution. Dogs are, above all things, SOCIAL animals and if you both ‘work’ having two helps them not feel so lonely!

and the NE’er reckons I can talk??? 8-|

Alece!

Hey, just following the blog trail and found this.

So here’s my thing. My hubby and I had the same discussion, the very same one..well except for the acreage…we had none at the time.

I wanted a Chihuahua, so I could name it Taco Bell (the commercials were still famous). He would have no part of it. IF we got a dog, it was going to be a DOG. Period.

Well this went on for some time. Me begging, him standing firm. I was able to limit his choices due to my allergies but he was still insistant that IF we got one….

Well then he met someone who owned a Weimaraner. Have you seen them? Gray, sleek, lean, beautiful? So he showed me. Here are some stats:

The good points:
They are hunters, good hunters…any type.
They are low maintenance coat wise
They are family friendly
They are smart, as in trainable
They can do all the outside stuff, and then come in and be a lap dog. This is what they intended in the early breeding. A dog who could go out and hunt, and then come sit by the fire as a loyal friend.

The bad points:
They have alot of energy (and you have the room for them to run..so not an issue)
They NEED their people (and you want a dog who needs you right? not one that is indifferent to you?)
They Need their people (opps..said that already, but worth mentioning again)
They have alot of energy (but we already discussed your acreage)
They are a little bigger than you want at an average of 75 lbs
(but, as stated earlier, they are trainable, so the concern you have with size is mitigated through training (which works with all dogs by the way…the croch thing..just rude…ppl who let their dogs do that i mean) and there are lots of resources for that)

I’m not trying to sell you on the breed…well…yes I am. Its a wonderful breed. Coming from someone who originally wanted one of the smallest breeds that’s sayin something, dont ya think?

Anyways…best of luck….

*side note…Nor’easter…poop inside??????? what the….???(sorry the dog trainer in me took over.)

I vote on the side of Alece because a medium-sized woofie (that’s my affectionate name for dogs) is the perfect compromise between a teeny-tiny dog and an enormous one. Big dogs take a lot more work (and food).

Also, think about the times he has to travel in a crate. It would be less cruel to put a medium-sized woofie in one instead of an enormous one.

Oh yeah — and couldn’t a huge dog scare people, possibly? A medium-sized one wouldn’t, so much.

Just my .02! :)

I vote for the cuddle dog.

Why dont you get two?

that was AnnieLaurie by the way, logged into the work account this morning!

WOW! I can’t believe all the comments! I’m with a lot of people who say “two dogs” however it is a lot of work for just 1. So if you have to have just one, I vote for a she-dog. As you know, my little pup is a cuddly one. He’s not so small that he’d fit into my purse, but he’s still small enough to cuddle with (about 15lbs) and he doesn’t shed (schnauzers don’t either!). Reggie and I debated for about 5 years before we both got what we wanted. Good luck!

mid-size dogs are better. But you should comprimise. Get a dog that will fit both of your ideas of what a dog should be. Something like a mini schnauzer or a beagle. I have personally owned both, and my mini schnauzer was the best thing that ever happened to me. I was crushed when my ex took her away. She could jump into the truck with us, and was very active, but sweet and loving. She loved the outdoors, but liked to be inside with me too. Just a suggestion. But BIG dogs are not so much fun. If he wins make sure you get a good one!!!!

okay, here come some comment-backs…

thanks for those of you who commented so faithfully (and repeatedly) to help me win (ahem… tam, NE, HW, and love!)

and special thanks for those of you who boosted my comments to tell me that you actually want niel to win.

roo — i am in awe at your tetherball-playing dog.

KA — i’m glad you remembered that. if i recall right, it was something along the lines of, “my name is niel…i want a big dog.” wasn’t it???

hannah — i will always think of you and your story when i hear the word “heelys”

world champ — i’ve missed you. glad you crawled out of hibernation. your comment rocked.

joy renee — your dog is the perfect blend between a she-dog and a he-dog??? if i could use the buggy-eyed-guy emoticon, he’d be inserted right here. care to explain?

gigi — you’re so right. if we ever solve this dilemma, we’ll have nothing to joke about. that’s it then… no dog. ever.

wow. i like little grandpa dogs.. they are the one exception i will make for a medium/smaller dog. but i still think a big dog is better for the property size and all.

had a converence call with my man niel the other day discussing this issue of the puppy. he feels this whole thing got blown out of perporsion as he feels he never could care what others think….

he said it is a childhood dream of his to have a puppy to love , to train , to walk , feed and just spend some time with someone that loves him back with those precious eyes…

he said he will not have his childhood dream be destroyed by a bunch of insensitive , empty brained , cat loving , kick me to death kinda dog lovers…

he believes size does matter..

manhood matters

and he just want to thank all of his supporters with their heads screwed on right .. toghether we will overcome the darkness..

ps. special thanks to those who commented on my blog to encourage our friend..

pssp.. we feel honored by the comment left by 108 World Champ Stephen Neal..

It’s not the size of the dog in the fight - it’s the size of the fight in the dog…

REAL men understand this. :wink:

No one should ever get in the way of a man and his Dream though - Two dogs!

Two!

at least one ideally should be an Aussie ‘cos we are Simply the Best! :-)

You don’t want second-best - surely??

<B

Really? A medium-sized dog? Come on! Everyone knows that there are only two sizes. If it’s not big, then it’s small. There is no in between. A medium sized dog is like a luke-warm Iron Brew. I believe the Holy Book states something about being luke-warm…

All Hail the Anti-Blogger!

(World Champ salutes while tooting a rendition of “God Save the Queen” from his hindquarters)

You Two are made for each other!

…and there is nothing ‘gay’ in that :-)

Cute pink Avatar btw Steve.

So what’s the official smallest ‘big dog’ breed then?

<B

oh boy. these made me laugh.

and yes… if there’s only big and small, where’s the cut-off?

Okay. As per Alece’s request for more Puppy Love, I am here to fulfill my duties as a dog owner.

And I don’t care what other people think.

About my leaving so many comments or votes.

Because what it is at stake here is not the inconvenience of a few bloggers.

No. What is at stake here is the life of a lil’ puppy who needs a home.

One of God’s creatures.

Unless God made a mistake, of course.

Which, of course…THAT DON’T HAPPEN.

So since God created a lil’ ol’ pup just for Alece to look after, I thought I might make another heroic effort for her to win the contest.

thanks, NE!

Hey, I’m not done yet.

I just went to check on your “competition.”

He doesn’t stand a chance, by the way.

These are the final hours.

And right now, next to my avatar, it says I have three hours and 59 minutes left.

Make that 58.

Err…57.

Whatever it is.

So, anyway, another story about Sam…

When I first got him, he had to adjust to being in a new place with a new owner and new water.

And new poopy territory.

So I waited for him to adust, but you have to remember…

…Sam was neglected when he was younger.

He was left alone to wander the wildnerness for days, but since he was domesticated, he hadn’t learned to things a wild dog would have learned.

Like how to use those chompers on fresh meat.

So because he didn’t know any better, Sam would eat rocks.

And he has had surgery three times to remove rocks from his stomach.

THREE TIMES!!!!!!!!!!

Can you imagine…….?

A six-year-old dog with a medical file BIGGER than that of a middle-aged man?!?!?!?!