The pet I want

(Now, before I type out my 'I wanna wanna wanna' post here, let me point out that I know I still have to move and learn and get a job before I'm anywhere close to acquiring a pet. I know pets need care, attention, food and things that cost money.)

My last dog, my mom picked. It was the art of compromise: I wanted a dog, she liked only one breed, so we got a red, female English cocker spaniel.

I want something that's lazy indoors, but energetic on walks. I want something big enough to pet and play with without risking that I'll fail to see it and launch it four feet into the air or squish it. I want something grown up, so at least some of the rough edges will have been taken off of it. I want something bred to listen to commands.

I want a sighthound.

At first I thought a greyhound or a whippet would be relatively easy to find in a dog pound, but Germany hasn't got a dog-racing culture. So I looked on. Germany does have Spanish greyhound (better known as galgo español) rescues. The dogs get taken from a shelter in Spain, where they have limited means to take care of all the dumped hunting dogs, and put in host families in Germany to be rehabilitated. They have a temperament similar to a greyhound and look eerily like them, even though it's fairly sure no greyhounds were involved in the creation of the breed. They have the needs of all short-haired sighthounds and they're tall enough to not be overlooked. And they're trained for hunting, which means they're trained to obey.

I think they're adorable. They have these warm, soulful eyes, these pointy, floppy ears, these faces that seem to express emotion so well and sleek, streamlined bodies. They want to lie in a warm, soft spot indoors and go for long walks outdoors. They come in a million billion coat colors and variations. Their hair isn't ruined forever and ever and ever if you fail to brush them one week. They like people they know, but aren't agressive to strangers.

Then again, I have to be realistic.

I need to keep my eyes out for a dog that can be alone for a few hours a week. One that doesn't expressly need other dogs around, because the apartment is small. And while both the boyfriend as me are animal lovers, I'm not sure if we could take care of a dog with a chronic disease or a disability.

And I still don't have a job, so I'll have to put this particular dream on ice for at least another few months.