What breed of dog should I get?

Dalmatian or Doberman Pinscher. Both are happy to be active but can also be couch potatoes as adults.

I completely agree that those breeds may not be suitable for an apartment. Especially the Australian Shepherd. You may be able to get away with a retriever, but with plenty of exercise and stimulation ESPECIALLY during puppyhood. Have you considered any smaller or medium sized breeds? Are you worried about shedding? There are dog quizzes online that may help. You could visit your local Paws or shelter and see if anyone steals your heart. This (usually) avoids the trouble of puppyhood (it's a full-time job!) and you'll be rescuing a dog in need of your love! Either way, given your situation these are my rough suggestions.

Avoid: Huskies, Malamutes, German Shepherd, Border Collies, Australian Shepherd

Good for you: Bernese Mountain Dog, Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Samoyed, Poodle, American Eskimo Dog, Akita, Most Terriers

These breeds (once adults) usually have medium energy levels, so the apartment wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but still active enough to go on hikes.

Doggy daycare through puppyhood? Doggy daycares don't take young, unhousebroken puppies. YOU will need to housebreak the dog and YOU will need to comb home every three hours to let the puppy out.

You don't around like you have time for a dog. Adopt an adult shelter cat.

That's also bull there's no breed restrictions in your condo. Surely they ban dangerous breeds which includes the German Shepherd because if they allow them they can't get liability insurance.

the breed that suits you and your way of life...

In answer to your question, I agree a breed choosing test might be better at least to narrow down your choice to 3-4 breeds, them come back & ask specifics.

And I agree with your family that NO large breeds especially of HIGH energy (and even more so if coupled with HIGH intelligence or high protective instincts like the -GSD) need to be living in an 800 ft. condo, with close neighbors.... practically on top of you.

The Aussie & Border Collie are very similar medium-sized dogs and are almost "NON-STOP" herding dogs who were BRED TO WORK - NOT to be a "pet". They have an obsessive-compulsive NEED to work. The few that are not herding but are happy - work at airports or golf courses running Canada GEESE off the runways or golf courses such that they CANNOT LAND (for HOURS and HOURS a day). Or they -live in competitive obedience & agility homes where they are DRILLED (for hours on end) to get PERFECT SCORES at Obedience & Agility TRIALS. (You are not going to provide that, or anything like that.) Super high energy dogs, are often HIGHLY intelligent and that means ABLE TO PROBLEM-SOLVE (or think for themselves, in a given situation.) So when they get BORED (and they will since they are SMART DOGS) they will find something TO DO, you may not like....and you will not - have prepared for.

Many can and will out-think (at least once or twice) their owners. This is the type of dog who can OPEN refrigerators, make the ice dispenser work, open doors, (open crates-from the INSIDE!) Or get into your kitchen trash, despite any lid or supposedly dog proof container you have it in.

Many simply "active" breeds can still do hikes & walks but ALL dogs or especially a puppy or juvenile would have to be "acclimated" to any sort of distance, as well as heat and humidity (for a good while) before being able to do say, 5 miles.

Puppies cannot be left more than TWO HOURS at a time between 8 and 12 weeks if you are housebreaking them. And do NOT fall for the SCAM "pee pad" product. It confuses the puppy and will only delay or ruin all efforts at actual house breaking as it TEACHES the puppy it is actually OKAY to POTTY IN YOUR HOME - the EXACT OPPOSITE of BEING house-broken!

(Read all the complaints on yahoo under pee or wee pads - subject matter). Puppies are NOT cats. They do not LIKE going on a target or in the same location over & over. The absorbent material IN the pads is actually TOXIC if a puppy chews on and INGESTS it (while left alone.)

So, you need to also decide if adopting a HOUSEBROKEN, CRATE TRAINED (already FIXED & fully vetted) purebred adult dog from a purebred rescue group, might not be a better FIT for your lifestyle than a puppy. It will be able to start being exercised on longer hikes/walks much sooner than any puppy. It can still be obedience trained, but will NOT have the short attention span of a demented gnat - that most puppies do.... for at least 6 months. And it will be a LOT more affordable, if you still and to provide day care or a dog walker.

Greyhound! I have three dogs, one is a greyhound. He's amazing. Read about them. They're perfect for your home and lifestyle. And best of all you get to rescue it. Trainers "dispose" of lots of dogs from ages about two years upwards. My boy was in a racing yard, but never raced, so his bones and joints didn't go through that kind of abuse. He's loving, funny, intelligent, great with other dogs (and I've yet to meet another dog who doesn't like him - he seems to give off some kind of vibe), he'll go long walks or settle for short ones, and when he's not out he's sleeping on his sofa. Oh, you will have to dedicate a sofa to a greyhound. Although he also loves to join me and other two dogs on my sofa for cuddles and snoozes.

Besides all of this he is stunning looking, everyone wants to pet him and get to know him, and he's a great guard dog and protector. Although as I've explained to him lots of times he doesn't have to worry about protecting me, and I'll protect him to the death. I've had several dogs in my lifetime, and my only regret in adopting a greyhound is that I didn't realise sooner what amazing dogs they are.

There are rescue charities everywhere - look one up, read about greyhounds, and get in touch with a rescue centre.

To the person who said dogs are pack animals and shouldn't be kept in isolation: some dogs like to be the only dog in the house, others like doggie company. My boy was tagged as needing a home with other dogs to show him how to be a pet. Other greyhounds will want to be the only dog. And they are in a pack whether they're the only dog or not: because they have you.

Every dog food manufacturer, every KC and lots of other websites do " which breed suits me" where you can narrow down suitable breeds for your lifestyle/time/experience etc..... use them, then do some more research on breeds suggested.then comes the serious research in finding a good quality breeder to health checks anf cares about where their pups go

German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, or Australian Shepherd.all very different needs, all working breeds, all need lots of exercise and training my personal advice would be a GSD is not suitable as a first time dog, they are brillient however need experienced handling

It would be cruel to keep a large athletic animal in a small condo. Two walks per day is not enough activity for a large, active breed, and being alone 8 hours per day would be like jail - the animal would go stir-crazy. You're only thinking about your own needs, not the needs of the animal.

Dogs are pack animals. If you can't be with the dog all the time, it should have a playmate. That means another dog, or at least a compatible cat. I don't think you're ready for that, or it would have been part of your scenario. Think about it. Pack animals should not be kept in isolation.

labrador

There are web sites (free and you don't have to enter personal info) that will narrow it down for you through a questionnaire.