I have been wanting to own a dog for years, but living in Fargo I did not want to have one locked up at home all day alone. So for years my wife and I have told each other when (if) we ever move to the country we will get a dog. Now it has been a year since we moved and we are getting pretty well established into the home and are starting to feel like we are ready to get a puppy.
For years we both agreed that a friend of ours has a great dog (English Cocker); that is what we felt we wanted for a dog breed. Since moving we having been reconsidering and looking for a Golden Retriever and also being open minded to a Chocolate Labrador.
We are home for the most part, a majority of the time so the dog will be well taken care of; my wife works out of the home and pending the dogs size I may take it with me also to work. It will be free to run around the farm yard, but do not want it going outside of trained boundries (heavily traveled gravel road is a 150 yards from the house).
Most important of all we want the new dog to feel like a member of our family, second it would be nice to have an alert watchdog that is obedient and will let us know when we have company in our yard (not a out of control barker, just security), and last it would be great if it could upland game hunt with me (waterfowl is optional).
I have been thinking a male (I have a name picked out).
Any suggestions or input is welcome as it has been years since I have owned a dog.
For years we both agreed that a friend of ours has a great dog (English Cocker); that is what we felt we wanted for a dog breed. Since moving we having been reconsidering and looking for a Golden Retriever and also being open minded to a Chocolate Labrador.
We are home for the most part, a majority of the time so the dog will be well taken care of; my wife works out of the home and pending the dogs size I may take it with me also to work. It will be free to run around the farm yard, but do not want it going outside of trained boundries (heavily traveled gravel road is a 150 yards from the house).
Most important of all we want the new dog to feel like a member of our family, second it would be nice to have an alert watchdog that is obedient and will let us know when we have company in our yard (not a out of control barker, just security), and last it would be great if it could upland game hunt with me (waterfowl is optional).
I have been thinking a male (I have a name picked out).
Any suggestions or input is welcome as it has been years since I have owned a dog.