If we are going to get a dog, the summer of 2006 seems like the perfect time to do it. Yes, we had two cats, but knowing how much Amanda wants a dog, we are bound to add one to our family sooner or later. We both want to start a family, and it would be nice to have a dog trained before our first child comes.
And so with this in mind, I have begun looking for the ideal dog breed. I started with Golden Retrievers. Amanda grew up with Max, and we both admire the breed for its athleticism and temperament. I'm not the biggest fan of them because they are a pretty big breed, have long hair and stink when they're wet.
I want a breed that has a more commanding presence. As a runner, I wanted a breed that will go for long runs with me. The Weimaraner seems almost like the perfect breed. At 80-90 lbs full grown, they are just as large. And I have heard stories about how they can be neurotic and at times destructive.
Among the other breeds I'm considering as I plot my surprise is the Vizsla. I don't know much about them, but like their monochromatic look and athletic build. After all of the research I have done, I'm still not ready to surprise Amanda with a puppy. I really needed her input.
And so with these thoughts in mind, we're off to southern Europe for 3 weeks.
It was on June 13th in the airport in Rome that we came across a woman and her little Vizsla puppy. That moment started a romance for both Amanda and I. We had fallen in love with the Vizsla breed.
