I have two dogs, they are both shepherd mixes and very attuned with my behavior
They sound like big dogs. We have a small Chi-Terrier. He is a companion dog for our son.
Toy breeds make good companion dogs because they are smaller and used for company unlike larger, working dogs
He is the perfect size to curl up on his lap and lets us know if our son is in trouble and needs help.
That's amazing!  One of mine is an Australian Shepherd mix.  They were developed on ranches in the US in the 19th Century
We had a shepherd mix on the farm when I was a kid. Loved him.
They're incredibly smart.  They were developed from a beed from Basque country in Western Europe and brought to America
Most Americans have no idea that many dog breeds started in Western Europe.
That's very true.  Many of the more classic breeds originated in Europe
When I bought my first home, I got a Rottweiler. Her mother was from Germany.