vegaquarian

Thanks so much everyone for your thoughts. It's great to able to tap into a forum full of interested and helpful people - awesome! In answer to your questions, yes, we are currently sorting out fencing - we are fencing off a corner of our yard with a 5 ft wire fence so that if we are both out, we have somewhere to put the dog that it will be secure and we know it can't get out. And yes, I have had a dog before - 2 german shepherds, which were great, but my living situation was quite different then. As far as which breed goes, that is a tough one. I was thinking medium sized and we both love border collies, but figure they are working dogs and really need to be kept active all day, which we just can't do (ditto for kelpies). My partner likes JRTs, but I'm not sure if being terriers they are prone to being a bit yappy ... any JRT owners out there who can comment? I think it is very good advice for us to find a local rescuer, then ask them to advise us based on our situation and needs (can anyone tell me how to find 'Cazstaff'?) Thanks again for your help

Hi, I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. I want to get a rescue dog very soon and would be really interested in people's opinions and advice on choosing a breed. I'm currently renting in a rural area (Kiama, NSW) and am surrounded by cows. So I need a dog that will be OK with that and not want to chase them or bark at them all day! I also need a dog that is OK to be on its own a bit and not always running around (not a working dog) as my partner and I do alot of computer-based work. We are more than happy to exercise it twice a day and let it sleep inside, train it and give it lots of attention and love. In return, we want an intelligent, obedient and responsive dog that is friendly and sociable, but also capable of protecting its owners from harm if called on to do so. What are your thoughts? Cheers.