[Marc Spilkintin]

I definitely understand where you're coming from. It gives your brain something to do if you're planning a new dog, instead of focusing on the loss.. I can sympathize

I wish Jolene had drive for any of the activities you (and I!) want to do. But I've spoken with a lot of Am Staff people, and she's very typical of the breed in her mentality... which is pretty damn lazy. I do know of a handful of Am Staffs that don't fit that bill, but from what I understand.. it's not the norm. My guess is, when you breed out DA, you breed out most any other drive too!

I have yet to find a breeder that is THE total package when it comes to bulldogs... who has sound dogs, who competes in everything, etc

I really like the other breeds you listed... I absolutely fell in love with a Brittany spaniel I used to show. He was fun, outgoing, always ready to play... just an amazing dog. I've always loved GSPs... a good friend of my father's raises them for hunting, and I grew up playing with his dogs. I've always said I'll get one... but I've always said I need to get into fowl hunting first Standard poodles have really caught my eye recently... they really do seem to be an all-purpose dog, if you can stand the look! I personally don't like how they're built. And now that I think about it... I don't know that I've seen one do weight pull. Not that one couldn't... just don't know of any off the top of my head.