they're right, getting them to let ya have the first is the hardest, after that its smooth sailing, lol. i've not got my own dogs yet, but i had this same battle when trying to convince my folks to let me get into gamecocks. first ones i got lucky i found them cheap and convinced my folks i was gonna hold them for a few months then turn around and sell them for a profit (which of course i didn't) then the next ones were "for an experiment in genetics and color" still got that line too. the more info i showed them on the birds and the more they helped me out with them during chores the more the