Hello!
Wow! Thank you - each and every one - for the very warm welcome. I am so delighted to
have happened upon such a friendly and endearing group. It really means a lot - you all
reaching out to meet and greet in such an open and hospitable manner; (((e-hugs))).
Now, Let's to the dogs!
First off, Yes. I'll see you at the meet. Watch for the handsome man wearing a home made
name tag that reads, "ratface". I'm very much looking forward seeing you.
I began by compiling a list of various breeds ( Basenji - Bull Terrier - Staffordshire Bull Terrier -
Irish Terrier - Miniature Bull Dog and Xolo). I added Ratties to the dog-pile because my sister sat
a pack of them years ago and I enjoyed engaging with them. I don't know; perhaps it was the dogs
that enjoyed engaging with me as I sometimes carried a plastic bag in my pocket that contained,
um, ...snacks.
lol, I have nearly 3 days research time with regard to Rat Terriers. Up-to-now I've studied health considerations, temperament/behavior characteristics, and conformation. It was interesting to learn of the three basic sizes and variations, ear stances, along with color/s and coat, or lack thereof. I've totally bought in to the breed or type or whatever the Rat Terrier is considered to be, based solely on the dog itself. Dogless or no, the short story is, I'm a Rat guy now.
Not to appear wishy-washy or anything. I do have an agenda with regard to doggin' it with a new
family member. However, nothing is set in granite either. I'm still learning and in no hurry to initiate adoption. Considerations in the way of what I think I want in a Rat Terrier 'now' could very well flip 180 degrees at the 'moment of truth'. But...
...I've always wanted a 'Dandy'. A healthy, strong, alert, terrific looking bitch of championship
pedigree. All the dogs I've had in the past were spayed or neutered. Pet pals. Pet pals I'm am very
confident to admit were fortunate to have me as their human. Although I've no personal interests
pointing toward the show ring, or husbandry, if handling a dandy brought with it a certain arrange-
-ment with an accomplished breeder, I'd be open to that.
Drawn to medium or a little larger size Rats (again I'm still ignorant here), I find a Decker or Decker % interesting.
Ahhhh, Spring time. Hands down the best time of year to begin life with a new canid Pal. At least
in this neck of the woods.
Then again, maybe I'll post pictures this Dec. of the scruffiest $20. pecker-bellied Mini you've ever had occasion to witness. :-)
You guys are the bomb!
Thank You!
Jeff a.k.a. ratface - P.S.
The question some of my new friends have been asking is: "Hey, what's the deal with the
Chow Chow/Toy Manchester Mix ?" As the dam was Toy Manchester, my Grand Father once joked
that an apple box stood as third leg in a love triangle. Pretty funny, but logistics and jokes aside,
"Minnie" was the smartest dog I'd ever handled. When merely a ball-of-fat pup - before she could
walk a straight gait, she'd paw the sliding glass door at the back of the house to be taken out to pee. The second time I put her on a lead, she positioned at the knee, looking up as if to say, "Yeah, we're good. Let's go, Daddy!" A quick study indeed. Try that with a Dalmatian :-)
She looked like a Terrier, with a short to medium length semi-coarse coat - white - with a black
reverse-heart skull-cap (hence the name Minnie - after Minnie Mouse) - and black full prick ears. She had big purple splotches about the tongue. 'Stood 16" inches at the withers, and weighed 32 Lbs. A really good buddy. |