A house without a dog is not a home
(I should have posted this in Fire Hydrant)
Now that Jules is gone my house feels empty. Like, seriously weirding me out. I'm so use to having a fuzzy with a waggy tail around. ugh... not sure how long I can last without a pup. BUT I'm not going to rush into a new doggie just yet.
I think we need to figure out some thing first such as (don't hate me!) do we get another Lab or something else? I'm debating whether I want a smaller dog for the simple reason that they're easier to take places and pick up. I want a dog that I can certify with something that allows me to take it anywhere. (Every time we were traveling for most of the day I felt guilty that Jules was home alone. I want my buddy to come with me.) Jules was 75 lbs but he didn't really have that drive to please so training him to focus just on me in public places was always a challenge. He loved everyone. Anyway, I'm considering other breeds. Some insight would be appreciated :-D
I'm thinking maybe a small to medium size dog (do Labs come in a 50 lbs package??) I've been looking at Welsh Springer Spaniel. Anyone ever have one? I'd like a dog that can go on long walks with me whether on a side walk or a hiking trail. A pup who's fun to train and play outside with (we have 1.3 acres and most of it is cleared). A breed that's good with kids as we have a toddler. Preferably not a over-barker. I want energy in a dog but not craziness. Low maintenance, as in brushing weekly is not required. I found Jules to be super low maintenance. All he needed was an annual bath.
Sooooo, any thoughts or suggestions? Where do I even begin looking for breeders (I got Jules from a store...I know, I know. Not doing that again.)