Fiat's MX-5 Miata-Based Spider Gets A Name

Yeah, small terriers make me happy. 

We are heading to Virginia to hike, Roanoke to be exact.  I actually really like small dogs! Plus one for a Border Collie, kind of a high maintenance dog though. 

I grew up with cats and dogs, we had 'barn cats' that lived in the barn and they'd come around the house occasionally.  We had mostly big dogs when I was growing up (German Shepherds from age 7 onward, Doberman Pinchers when I was very little), and a Miniature Schnauzer when I was very little. Decades later, my sister had a pair of Siamese cats that got along well with her pair of West Highland White Terriers.  Spending time with her in AZ got me into small terrier breeds--from the Westies to a Silky and an Australian Terrier to a series of Yorkies, with inexplicably a Chi mix and 2 more Australian Terriers over the last ~17 years.

This is a tough one. Growing up, we never had cats and dogs simultaneously. We had an all black medium coat female and she had a great personality because she grew up with kids handling her and playing with her. Then we had an Australian Shepherd that lived to between 11 and 12 years. She weighed in somewhere between 35 and 40 pounds. I was her person in the household.  I was spoiled by having such a breed of dog because she was so intelligent and easy to train. It was a blast to be able to take her along in the car to many different places.  She was also very attuned to who was visiting ... she knew when there was an elderly person or a child visiting and would give them a lot of space.  She also had a good read on who the turds were and she was right. That dog got along with other dogs very well.  I didn't sense that much of a prey drive in her, so I think that she might have been able to coexist with a cat.  Just a hunch. I know that a cat would be easier to take care of, but I'm a real sucker for Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, and Shetland Sheepdogs.  But then I like those big goofy stray dogs that might have some Anatolian in them that roam the streets of Istanbul and freely interact with people.  I've bought dog treats on occasion and gave them to these dogs.  The most amazing thing is that they were "mannered" in taking the treats, but also careful enough not to hurt your hand and fingers.  Of course you have to study the situation each and every time.  

The savings on one auto rental done through Costco Travel can pay for the price of the renewal of a simple individual Costco membership.