A dog copy?

Well since I like golden retrievers - I always end up with a large, golden dog. But all of their personalities and habits have been so different, I can hardly draw comparisons - it would be like trying to compare your children. I never assume the dog I'm getting is a carbon copy of another dog - it's just I happen to like the breed. And it won't prevent me from getting something else in the future - my border collie mix from the shelter was wonderful.

My grandpa had a dog he named Ginger. It was a huge, sturdy German Shepperd. The most lovable dog you ever met. Whenever we would go see him as kids we would always play with that dog. Grandpa lived a couple states away you see.

Anyway, as I got older, I realised from stories that it wasn't just one dog. Grandpa had lost one dog because she got loose from her dog run, and unfortunately living on a high speed roadway cost the dog its life. Very sad. He lost another because someone stole the dog out of his yard in the night. That's a long upsetting story. Truly sad once more. The third was the one he had at the time when I made this realization.

They were all wonderful, beautiful German Shepperds with the best personailities you could find. And it never bothered me really that my grandfather preferred this breed or that he gave every single one of these dogs the exact same name as the one he had loved before it was lost.

But then again, that was my grandfather. He was a hard working man that had survived the depression. He lost a great deal in World War II as a soldier. He's led a long and difficult life. And while he may not be the most creative person in respect to naming his pets, he loved and cared for each of them very well.

So no, I do not think it is weird at all. I think it is just how he lived. Simplicity and practicality was best. He knew how to train a German Shephard. He knew the dogs limitations. He wanted a good guard dog that was not going to pose a threat to his family. It just made sense to him. And even if you do think its weird, I want to say thank you for stirring memories I don't often think about.

If they expect it to be an exact replacement of their former dog, I think it could be a problem. Even if they look the same, there are going to be differences. If they try to treat the dog the same way they did the old dog, that will mean not recognizing the new dog as an individual, and so they might not connect in the way they would otherwise.

I think it's kind of weird... but then again my mom says I only like brown eyed dogs because the dog I grew up with (who was also a "shepherd mix" at the same shelter I got Missy at) had brown eyes... nothing to do with the large number of brown-eyed dogs...

I think it's weirder when they name it something like "Fred II" or something. Unless it's a name like "Dog." Then it's fine to say "Dog III is my third dog. Obviously."

dear miss teacup irish doodlehound, i do find that weird. i have had mutts before, and they are always different. i now own daphne { a ..teacup english slimeless mastiff ..} and diamond { a rowdy rhodesian giant ridgeback } . i do not know what i will do, if anything happens to them. i am in love with the traits of these breeds. i would most likely pick different colors, but i prefer females. i guess you never know...

a great form of canines do a similar. canines have a prey instinct (she probable likes chasing squirrels and stuff too?) and tend to act on it in various ranges. it is no longer so extraordinary with the face licking, some canines are basically extra sparkling minded than others.

Nothing wrong with liking a certain breed and colour. I think the major problem is with people thinking dogs are humans and they are not. Dog are for a purpose.

yea that is kinda creepy we had a black lab for 15 years and i could not get another one just because i would always compare them. i would pick another breed.

yeah it is kinda weird, sometimes unavoidable depending on the breed as you said but definitely creepy besides why not try a new breed? there are so many out there to just limit yourself to one

I couldn't do it! It's ok for those who prefer copies but to me, I have to have a different looking dog. It's like starting with a clean slate.