Hi I have been debating on a dog breed and want to make the right choice. I lost my beloved sweet furbaby a Akita/Chow/lab mix in 2009, she was about 13 1/2 years old, she was the most perfect dog and my dream dog. I adopted her when she was a about 9 week puppy and I was 13. She was Beautiful, very smart, very loyal, very protective, playful and loved to talk like chewbacca, she also was very tolerant and gentle with our cats and a wonderful and serious watch dog. She had all the qualities I'd want in a dog. I have been debating on on either to getting a full Akita or full German Shepherd. When I was a toddler we had a white German Shepherd and he was a wonderful boy!! I'm totally confused on which breed to get now, I have gotten many akita books and german shepherd books but still am even more confused now hehe. I want a dog just like my babygirl, I am still having a hard time with her loss! I have heard many things about pure breed Akitas attacking other people pets or that they can't ever be off lead even when they have been well socialized and that concerns me and makes me wonder if a german shepherd would be a better choice instead. I want a large breed that is talkative, very loving, very loyal, very protective, has a sense of humor and that can be around other cats and dogs. Can anyone give me any suggestions? Do any of you guys german shepherds talk or woo woo? Can they be off lead? Do yours get along with other dogs and cats? Do yours get a close bond to one person? Thanks so much for reading my post!!! Any help or info would be really appreciated! Thanks so much! ~Fuzzy~