I like shibas, too, but they're too intense for me right now. Of course, I've got an American Eskimo dog and they certainly have enough detractors. Depends on what you can handle and what you like in a dog (I don't mind sweeping up hair, obviously). And one of these days I'm going to get that Norwegian elkhound I've always wanted . . .



I actually like pit bulls a lot. The vast majority of the ones I've handled--stuck needles into, even--have been very happy dogs, but I wouldn't own one because I think it would be a legal headache, and I would be afraid someone would steal it. I cannot imagine doing pit rescue. One of the clinics at which I worked had a mostly-pit bull they wanted to adopt out but everyone that came in to look at him refused to give us any personal information (phone number, address, anything--they wouldn't even give us enough to update his medical records), didn't want to take the heartworm pills that came with the adoption fee, said the dog was for their daughter's boyfriend but they didn't know his full name, etc. Shady characters. It took us over a year to find him a trustworthy "mom". Poor dog.