Neo the Dog

Dog or Cat

We wanted a dog for a while, and we finally got Neo. Dan is a born dog lover, but I used to be a cat lover. I had several cats when I grew up. We used to argue whether we should have a dog or a cat after I graduated. Rocket and Leo (two famous LCS dogs) finally converted me to a dog lover. So no more debate, but a lot of research for the right dog.

Research

I started my dog research in August 2004 (as part of my thesis avoidance effort). A month later after I left MIT, I made my pick out of hundreds of AKC breeds: miniature poodle. Poodle is the second brightest dog for working/obedience intelligence , does not shed, and can be bathed often.

Finding Neo

We waited for another year to find Neo. As always, I made the pick, and dan cut the deal. On an idle Sunday afternoon, Dan had the impetus to shop for a puppy. He checked out the AKC webpage, and made several phone calls. We decided to visit Robyn. Robyn's profile matches well with that of a reliable breeder. She breeds show dogs. She only breeds another litter when she needs a dog to show. She had a litter of three and would keep one. We liked her a lot and paid the deposit during the visit. I already liked Neo, the smallest of the litter. He's the quietest one. Unlike his brothers, he didnot whine while I held him. But Robyn had not made up her mind which one she'd keep. After two more weeks' of waiting, she told us she'd give us Neo.

The Name

We picked the name Neo out of the movie Matrix, both because we like the movie and because Neo's long face and almond-shaped eyes remind us of Keanu Reeves.

The Pedigree

Neo's mom is Sera, and his dad is Sparky. Sera is a champion dog, and his dad is going through his championship. According to Neo's pedigree, nine out of his fourteen ancestors are champion dogs. So no wonder he is a handsome boy. According to Robyn, one of Neo's grandparents is Ch. Parade Kiss and Tell, the greatest miniature dog of all times. :)