Cool idea for a thread!
So, how have you changed since you've gotten into the dog world/into dogs? Are topics you've loosened up on? Gotten more adamant about?
umm. I think I started getting into the dog world when I was like 8 years old, SO, a lot. I think as an adult (or teenager-adulthood, basically since I've been responsible for my own dogs), I've learned A LOT...I used to have these conceptions that a well socialized dog wouldn't be reactive or aggressive, mostly. Everything else I had a pretty good idea of. My access to dog training resources was pretty limited to ancient school library books, so I did have these ideas that you could stop a dog by jumping by stepping on it's back feet or stop them chasing cars by flipping them over with the leash...thankfully I never proceeded with that.
Have you gone from one type of dog/breed to another? Have your focuses and interests be in sport, pet, training etc. changed? How so?
Not ownership wise, but interest wise...I used to be more interested in herding breeds (mainly aussies and BCs) because of my sports interest. JRTs too. I still like those breeds, and would like to own at least some of them one day, but I've realized I'm largely way too busy and probably wouldn't do great with a BC, so for now I'll learn towards less "insane", intense, drivey breeds (to some extent). I was also interested in many guardian breeds, like rotties, and also thought with socialization theyd be fine, but now I realize it's not really fair to have a dog like that when you entertain and have tons of people in and out of your house. I became more involved in rescue in a hands-on way, particularly with pit bulls, so would lean more towards the dogs I deal with in that environment than originally planned (where I wanted working, sporting dogs and breeds).
What's the biggest difference in your past self (as it relates to dogs) and your now self that you see? Probably that I have a more realistic view of my available time/energy/exercise resources regarding a dog and I no longer want competitive sporting/working dogs. There are just other areas of life I'd prefer to spend my time/money than traveling to trials or spending hours each week formally training
Any predictions on how you'll change and evolve in the coming years? What way do you see your type dog dog/sport/interest progressing? I kind of see it eventually, long down the road, going back to where it used. I can see as a retired person or when my children are older, wanting to be more involved in sports, or with a more intense, needy dog. But in the near future (15 years or so, maybe even longer), I see myself wanting LESS of that in a dog, since I'm having my second child and hopefully have more, and be advancing in my career, volunteer work, etc. I think I used to be willing to fit my life around my dog's needs, and now I need it moreso the other way around. In the far future, I can see myself getting more dedicated to specific breeds or even purchasing a dog, and eventually at some time in my life I would really like to participate in PP sports, but I don't know if that will ever happen....certainly no time soon.