Lol, yeah. With paps you have to bend even further. Short little guys, they are.
Love shelties, they have a special place in my heart since they were really my 'childhood dogs'. I grew up with them as my best friends and they truly were. I think Paige feels the same way about her old sheltie as well. Our male sheltie has been a work in progress his entire life. He's a sweet dog, but has quite a few issues that I'd rather avoid which is why I probably won't have another for a long time.
I have been fortunate enough to have had lots of papillon interaction. I don't even want to start trying to count how many Papillons I know, lol! In fact, I've only had the breed for 4 years. I've had shelties much much longer. It's kind of funny. I always assumed shelties were 'my breed' as they were the ones I had for so long. Well.... papillons weren't a breed I'd have ever even glanced at (not my 'type' of dog) had my mother not wanted one and now look at me. Many papillons later it's kind of funny the way things work.
I can definitely buy having a 'heart breed' but heart dog, I still don't think I understand. I can't say I'm closer to one dog than another. Nik does have a very special place for me, though. But then again, I start thinking and so do the others.