Which breed would be best for me?

First, once you pick the dog breed, bookmark this link and read it before searching for a breeder. If I had known this before I got my first dogs, it would have saved me a lot of heartache, thousands of dollars in vet bills, and constant headache from all the health, temperament, and strucutural problems the poorly bred BYB dogs often have. http://www.honeydachs.com/breeders.htm

As far as dog breed suggestions:

It sounds like your all set to go, and can provide enough exercise for a dog with medium energy levels (nothing like a Border Collie, German Shepherd, or Husky). First avoid herding breeds unless you have the time and money to start competitive herding, agility, schutzhund etc. with it, as these breeds need a ton of mental and physical exercise or they get very destructive and bored. Here are just a few suggestions, but research each breed carefully on your own before making the big decision.

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

American Eskimo

Miniature Schnauzer

Cairn Terrier

American Staffordshire Terrier

Norwich or Norfolk Terrier

Cocker Spaniel

Basenji (known for not being able to bark)

Greyhound (consider rescuing an x-racing dog for this one, they are so sweet)

English Cocker Spaniel

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Curly-Coated Retriever

Poodle (standard)

Norwegian Lundehund

Samoyed

Border Terrier

Scottish Terrier

When you are looking for a new dog, the one thing you should NEVER do is base your decision on the breed of the dog. All dogs have individual temperament and personality. There are calm, submissive Pitbulls and aggressive, dominant Chihuahuas. It really has nothing to do with breed.

What you should really look for in a dog is LOW ENERGY vs. HIGH ENERGY, and then as DOMINANT vs. SUBMISSIVE. Obviously, a high energy dominant dog will be a lot harder to take care of than a low energy submissive dog, so you should choose an energy level that matches your own. The higher the energy level of your dog, the more exercise they need. However, all dogs need training, exercise, mental stimulation, and socialization to remain happy, well-rounded dogs, whether its a hyperactive Pug, a laid-back Rottweiler, or a lazy Chihuahua.

And don't let people tell you that certain breeds have certain "personality traits." Growing up, I had a Pitbull that was as friendly and laid back as any Labrador (I also have a very friendly Pittie now), and then I had a Beagle that would foam at the mouth and snarl if you got too close to it, and we finally put it down when it almost ripped my Pitbull's leg off and he had to have surgery to put his kneecap back together. PERSONALITY AND BREED ARE NOT RELATED!

IF YOU DON'T JUDGE A HUMAN BY THEIR RACE, WHY WOULD YOU THINK JUDGING A DOG BY ITS BREED IS ANY DIFFERENT?

I breed birds. Well my birds breed, which ever way you want to look at it. All of my birds have come from someone who has bought them and no longer wants them, except my tame budgie (he will never breed, he is mine). Some I paid good money for some I paid little. I love the little suckers, and I am a sucker for birds. I have approx 35 aviary birds. I do supply them with breeding boxes and have a good knowledge of bird breeding. I am in touch with the Bird Society of or area if I ever need any help. Phone rang it is Mum on the phone, I will have to finish this later. I will be back. OK so I do breed them but I only let them breed enough to supply my sisters produce store and her being a bird lover also I know they will only go to good homes. I have orders which far outweigh the birds that I breed and the orders are orders from the produce store. Most birds are hand raised and I do not pull them out of the nest until days before fledging and I have no trouble training them as I feel I am very bird savvy. Bird breeding is in no way easy and the time and money that I put into these birds far outweighs my debt at the end of the day. Any bird that I breed I would pay to have it back if it became unwanted as I have absolutely massive natural aviaries. Just because I love to brag about them I have budgies, cockatiels, bourke parrots, rainbow lorrikeets and green cheeked conures. It is my hobby and I can see nothing wrong with it nor can my local bird society. I don't feel that birds are as over exploited as dogs and cats are here in Australia. I search the RSPCA for birds on a regular basis as I would give any bird a home. I haven't found one yet ready to be put to sleep.

puppies are great but they need soooo much time, if you really want a puppy i would wait untill you have some more time on your hands (meaning at least a year...) What i would get though seeing as you think your ready and you have a couple of months is a slightly older rescue dog that is already house trained. Not all rescues are aggressive, infact they wouldn't be up for adoption if they were. Bascally there just a group of mistreated, abandoned dogs looking for a home :) they are still playful and they still will need a bit of training and exersice it's just that they will be okay to sleep at home whilst your at work and you have them few months to get to no them and for them to get to no you :) you didn't really say what size you wanted so it's quite hard to say a pecific breed BUT i do no how you can find your perfect breed :D go on google or youtube and type in 'dogs 101 *breed of dog*' and it has videos for almost every breed and can give you stacks of info on them and which ones can suit you also if you type in 'dogs 101 perfect puppy' it helps you find the perfect breed and sometimes the perfecct rescue puppy.

One more thing...not everyone likes them but PUGS! :D they are awesome lil' dogs! most people see pugs as coach potatoes, that are fat and do nothing...WrOnG I breed them and they are perfect i think, they dont need loads of grooming and they're great attention grabbers as everyone seems to love them. they are happy to sleep whilst you are away and they're are happy to go on long walks or trips out i take mine down the beach and they love going in the sea and they can run for hours! but they do take long naps after lol ;) they are great little dogs and if i had to recomend a breed to anyone in your situation it would be pugs! and they are not fat they only reason a pug would be fat is the same reason a border collie would be! because there owners over fed them and didnt exercise them and most people get pugs and think they dont have to execise them but ya do :D

hope i helped and good luck! :]

research breeds and their requirements

figure out what you can provide

puppies are 24/7 work till trained

shouldn't be left more than 2 hours at a time

older well trained ones can go longer

exercise is all up to breed, some cna get by with an hour so need over 6 hours daily.

If you want a little dog go for a shuitt zu whole your gone for those 5 hours all it will do is sleep there lazy friendly cuddly dogs ! Easy to train and love attention ! I have one that has only barked about

3 times in it whole 8 years but thats just mine. If your looking for a big dog i would say German shepard if you like protective dogs are a lab sweet friendly dogs ! :)

1

A puppy wouldn't be right with you gone so much. I'd suggest you adopt a short-haired, medium size mutt from the shelter, perhaps one that is about six months of age. This is sufficiently old enough that it's probably already potty trained, and it's old enough, mature enough, to catch on to your house rules quickly..

Whatever you do DONT get a beagal they are very lound and are not ment for apartment or flat life. so please listen to me the people who were answering your questions are only picking their favorite breed not a breed for your lifestyle I would personally suggest a greyhound. the only thing a greyhound really needs other than food and water is to run. these dogs are great for apartments, and are perfect for people who don't have enough time to take care of them. You should get 1 right after its been weened because it will get use to you to form a better bond.

Rough collies seem like the dog for you as they're easy to train and are very clean dogs only shedding when they're not groomed during the summer. They get on great with other dogs and people always praise them. Just search them on wiki!!