Like I said, I'm prepared to wait. The oldest dog in my mother's house currently is 9, which is getting old for a Chessie. They are large dogs and usually 13 is about the max. The old Chessie also has diabetes and is completely blind, so I'm thinking she may go sooner. The two youngest dogs are both 6. So I'm not looking to get her something immediately... I'm thinking maybe after the oldest dog is gone. I'm just wanting to wade through breeders and check things out so that I can be prepared, and then get on a waiting list once I find a breeder that meshes well with me.
I'm very aware of what a bad idea puppy gifts are for the most part. I got my first BC as a gift from my step-dad on my 17th birthday. I was furious (I wanted a Sheltie... Apparently he thought they were pretty much the same thing, and bought the psychotic puppy from a national sheepdog trial). I just lost that dog at almost 16 years old in April. From a psycho puppy to the dog of my heart. I've seen so many dogs turn up in shelters after a bad "gifting".
Luckily, I know my mother VERY well, and she's been pining for a blue merle for a very long time. She's the kind of person who doesn't buy herself things though. She can't justify spending money on herself. Whenever we see Shelties in public (which is rarely), she is drawn like a moth to a flame. My mother doesn't travel. She has dairy goats and a bunch of poultry that need to be taken care of daily, and she prefers to spend her time at home, working in her garden or spending time with her animals. Her only real reason for not having the dog of her dreams is that she feels guilty spending money on things she "wants" rather than on things she "needs". She is an absolute FOOL for puppies. I know, I know... The rescue worker in my head sees this post and says, "Or so you THINK! I'm telling you, puppy presents are ALWAYS a bad idea!" I know exactly where you're coming from.
