[Jamie & Odin]

Great post, German,

I definately have a pet companion. Odin is a rescue, and in no way is capable of defending. He does alert us when someone is on the property, or comes to the door, but that is as far as I want to take it.

However, he does have other "jobs", granted they are just for fun now, but excercise both the mind and body. Once we are through with obedience classes, I will train him for carting, and look into therapy work as well. So, he may eventually be more than a pet companion, depending on his abilities.

I am always surprised when people want their rescue dogs to guard. I am sure some are capable, but my feeling is that the likelyhood of obtaining a well-bred dog of any breed is not spectacularly high in the rescue world, as ethical breeders take back dogs who are no longer wanted, and people who have done their homework in finding an ethical breeder are generally not the same people who wantonly give their dogs up. That certainly does not imply that rescue dogs don't make good pets, I know they do:D.