Francis,

Just my experience, I adopted a senior GSD 1.5 years ago, he was house-broken, crate trained, and knew his basic obedience commands. He was not dog reactive, just overall a very calm and easy-going dog. He was obviously someone's pet at one point, but the rescue found him as a stray. Who knows why someone would abandon a dog like that?

We have 4 dogs, and he is the easiest one to care for, very very low maintenance dog (but we still walk him at least 2 miles a day to exercise his joints/muscles).

I understand that you are not going to get a puppy right now, but if you are gone 10 hrs per day, how is the puppy going to get potty breaks?

As far as life span, it is hard to predict, dogs can get tumor, cancer, develop other health issues, regardless of age.

 Quote: francis daigle

I'm not gonna lie, if I get a dog I'm not going to dedicate 3-4h a day giving him 100% of my attention throwing balls and frisbees. I very well understand that a dog requires a commitment, but I was under the impression than some dogs/breeds can be okay with less activity. I've seen several dogs in my entourage that just enjoy themselves hanging around with their owners. This is the low profile kind of dog that I am looking forward to get for my family, not some high drive beast that will be the next king of Schutzhund.

You're describing a well socialized adult of calm breeding (could be a mutt from 2 different easy going breeds...). If you get a puppy, even if you choose just the right one, it will STILL be years till you get the above behavior. A puppy will be adding another "baby" to your household...

Personally, I'd be looking at shelters or breed rescues. As was mentioned, and I'll second, third, fourth the opinion - SO many dogs end up homeless because their families can't, for whatever reason, keep them anymore - a LOT of these dogs have basic training, many come from homes with children, and there are plenty that are only a few years old, which means you'll still get a lifetime of enjoyment from them. Maybe this pertains to my location, but I've known more phenomenal adopted mixed breed dogs than I have purebreds, by FAR - and I've known some wonderful purebred rescues as well.

~Natalya

 Quote: niomi smith

It's not that you can't find a dog that could live in your situation, I guess my question is, what makes you want a dog with your current situation? (not trying to be smart here, I am actually curious)

Probably the fact that I just lost mine and I'm missing a canine presence. I always felt a family was incomplete without one.

What I am understanding from this thread now is that even the calmest and laziest folk will be a handful for at least 1-2 years, and this time can be "skipped" with a rescue. This is definitely something worth consideration when viewed in this angle.

But for the 100th time don't worry, I'm not going to rush to my local shelter tonight. I'm not stupid enough to put my self in this "situation" you mention. I said I planned to get a dog in the summer, but not THIS summer. Soonest would probably be next year.

I'm no hero; I don't plan to raise 2 babies with 3 working dogs that require 3h of biking per day, 5 cats and 3hamsters. But my house feels empty now that my dog is gone. That said I'm responsible enough to know this couldn't be a worst timing to get a new dog, especially a pup.

I must thank you guys for making me consider shelters though. I will definitely give them a chance when the time comes. When you think about it, it's much better to get there and see if they have "the right dog" than "find a puppy of the breed with the best chance to have the right dog".

Absolutely a misconception that dogs that end up in shelters are messed up, badly behaved or abused. When I volunteered at the Anchorage shelter, where there were a lot of military families, moving was by far the #1 reason dogs were given up.
I'd go find a nice 1-year old, pre housetrained, mellow hound, (basset hounds come to mind as well). There are lots of them in shelters, they are good with kids, and they usually love people. But don't limit yourself by breed or size. There are dogs with the characteristics you want in any almost any breed or mix.
Bulldogs and short-nosed breeds in general have a lot of health problems. I wouldn't recommend them. Also, bulldogs can sometimes be an aggressive, dominant-type dog.
I'm slightly prejudiced against small dogs, but I generally find the bigger dogs to be better balanced, calmer, and less reactive.

Even if you don't go to a shelter, there are great rescue groups that do a fantastic job of matching dog to family.

What Dennis said.

I agree that rescue dogs can be grreat dogs..but I have had a lot experience with dogs that were not properly screened by the rescue group in question.

Soultion:find a trainer that has a great rep that can help you pick our a young adult.
I have 4 kids.
You don't want any parts of puppies with young kids...trust me.
You don't want any parts of annoying punk teenage dogs with young kids.
Get a young adult that has been screened by your trusted trainer...when the kids are out of diapers.

I will suggest a great Pyr..(suprise suprise)
The reason is that when raised right, they are really good with kids...(Has any one seen how annoying baby goats and sheep are?...they were bred for this sort of thing)
They are basically lazy.....AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A JOB.
Job is easy...train them to cart the kids in a wagon for evening walks.
Their nick name is "Mat dogs" because they will lie for hours on their owner's door mat when they aren't tending livestock.
One of the main problems is that they can be really alpha and unpleasant to strangers if not socialized correctly....hence the waiting till they are young adults and having the trusted trainer pick one out for you.
Cold isn't an issue......heat can be, but its manageable.

When my children were young, and I was working full time, we had a basset hound,
Tudor. My kids loved that dog, she couldn't jump up or paw a small child, she mainly slept. By 2 years of age she acted like a 8 yr old lab. The worst thing she ever did was shed, and throw drool-boogers on the walls. With age she required almost no exercise and she was just sweet with all the kids friends. She did eat all the Easter candy and all the Halloween candy..... The baby sitter backed over her (she was sleeping under the car) and the kids were broken hearted....