For your lifestyle, can I recommend a retired racing greyhound? We have two and have fostered dozens over the last decade. They are very calm and gentle – and they seem to know they are retired and act like it. People think retired racers might be hyper, but these dogs are sprinters. A good run around the yard or a nice 10-15 minute walk and they are ready to come home and nap for the next couple hours. I often say it is like living with large, affectionate thorw pillows.

There is a very fine rescue group called Almost Heaven (http://www.almost-heaven.org/) that works in the WVa, Kentucky and Ohio tri-state area (tell them Bookdragon referred you). Or there’s Shamrock in Louisville, Ky (http://www.greyhoundsofshamrock.org/).

Compared to the cost of most purebreeds, greyhounds are inexpensive – rescues usually charge only the cost of spay/neuter and shots. And with short hair and low dander they do not require much grooming.

However, if you are set on a Scottie or GSD (also very fine dogs certainly), try searching on Petfinder.com
A list of Scottie rescue organizations in your area can be found here: http://www.stca.biz/rescuelist.asp#KY
there’s also http://www.scottiekingdom.com/

For GSD’s rescues in your area are: http://www.fablesgsd.com/ and
http://www.steppingstonegermanshepherdrescue.com/contact.html

It should be perfect for post-evangelicals, as it’s a nice immersion in tradition with none of the theological expectations. :-p

http://www.australianshepherds.org/kelly.html

Drug sniffing, handicapped, military, police, tracking, watchdog, shepherding, all include the German Shepherd. Good with children and older people alike, I as a longtime owner highly recommend that breed.

They vary in size from 75 – 120 lbs. Our present dog Rudy (Notre Dame) is already 104 lbs and is 10 1/2 months old. They will live anywhere from 10 – 13 years. Good luck with your search!