So I've been pondering getting a dog...

I love that you are considering a rescue. We are a cat household so I can't comment on personal experiences with dogs, but we have friends that adopted two basenji dogs and they seem like great dogs. I don't know how common it is to the breed versus specific dog personalities, but they are quiet dogs and well behaved. Might be a breed to look into.

If you already have a shelter picked out, I would take a look at their dogs online to get some ideas about available dogs and either call or visit to hear what the workers have to say about the dogs. Tell them your home situation, what you are looking for, etc. and they can make recommendations. You should be able to spend time with different dogs (and make several trips if you need to) to hopefully get a good fit. Shelters get animals from a variety of situations and getting backstories on dogs might help you narrow down a dog that would be a good pet for you.

Good luck! And if/when you get a dog, we are expecting pictures of course.

I have become a dog person, rather late in life. BF has a huge German Shepherd. He is the sweetest, most well-behaved dog in the house. Outside, he's a rabbit chaser, and because of his size and the country residence, I can't walk him because of it. He literally pulled me off my feet and dragged me one time.

He sheds a ton, but is a dog who loves people, other dogs. He ignores the cats. Great temperament for a dog people use as police dogs!

We will bury her on our property and plant a dogwood tree over her.
We had a cat that pooped everywhere. We buried him in our septic drain field. The goldfish is right next to him.

Yes, the vet can take care of it for you if you have nowhere to bury them. I chose to have my Barq's cremated, so he sits in a pretty box on my mantle.

I did not read all the posts, but I wanted to add. If your chosen dog has some issues, please don't give up on him/her too quickly.

It takes time and patience to overcome some things. Especially a rescue dog. You don't always know what they have experienced in the past. They can't tell you, and you can't tell them that everything will be ok now.

Rescuing a dog is great thing to do. We got our first dog from one of the Humane Society's in our area. She was a shar-pei and we adored her. Losing her after almost 10 years to cancer was devastating. I still miss her everyday. Shar-pei's are a great size, and so damn cute, but they are a lot work, and cost. Definitely do some research if you are interested in them. I would love having another one though, Abby was amazing.

We have Senna now. Totally different dog, but we love her too! We got her from a rescue, and was living with fosters, not at a shelter when we got her. She's a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, and weighs about 52 lbs. She is very smart, so sweet and affectionate (she's curled up against me sleeping right now), and has so much personality. She's not quite 3 and still pretty naughty. She can't be left unsupervised, she gets into stuff and eats things that aren't hers. It gets frustrating! She is so damn cute though! And really, really cuddly. She starts out on her own bed on the floor every night, and then at some point gets in our bed, under the covers between my husband and I. Sometimes she'll curl up down by our legs or feet, but a lot of times she stretches on her side with her head on a pillow.

Training classes are so worth the cost. We went to one at Pet Smart also, and the trainer was awesome. We also use Banfield as our vet, and we have one of their wellness plans. Good quality food also, we probably spend close to $100/month on dog food. We have to switch up her food all the time too, or she won't eat it. She either gets bored, or she's just spoiled, I'm not sure which, but it makes feeding her much harder. Abby ate the same thing everyday for pretty much her whole life and was fine about it. Senna wants her food and treats switched up, constantly. Ornery little beast!

My nephew and his wife have 2 Cairn Terriers, and they are awesome little dogs. Every time I go back home to visit, I threaten to steal their little old lady, Tink. She's going to accidently end up in my carry on bag next time!

I have a feeling you've already decided, I can't wait to see pictures once you find your baby!

I am pro-dog. Some friends gave me a dog after 9/11 and it was life-changing in the best ways possible. I don't think my life would be what it is today had I not had that dog. I learned so much about myself and my world because of her. Her life was cut short by illness (the downside of having a pet) but I continue to remember the lessons she taught me. I don't want to sound cuckoo, but it was a profound experience.

Now I have the little beast in my picture. Not so much a teacher as a taker, but I love her anyway. If you want companionship and unconditional love, a warm greeting when you walk in the door, and a wagging tail when you wake in the morning, then a dog will be perfect for you!

It is great that you are giving this a lot of thought. I know having dogs has enriched our lives a great deal, but it isn't for everyone. It sounds as though you are being realistic about what you can offer and what you need.

It is good that the shelter comes highly recommended. And calm, smart, quiet, medium-sized dogs 'do' exist in shelters. Remember though that most dogs end up in shelters for a reason, for some issue or the other. Many times the shelter does not know much, or even anything, about the dog's history. Also note that many dogs appear quiet and calm at the shelter because they are in an unfamiliar place, unsure, recently removed from the only home/family they have known. etc. Their behaviour in that situation is not necessarily going to be an accurate barometer of their true nature.

Mixed breed dogs tend to have the characteristics of whichever breed they most physically favour. Greyhounds have been suggested, but bear in mind that they have high prey drives (like all sight hounds and most terriers) so if you have a cat (or bunny. etc.) or neighbourhood cats tend to frequent your yard, it is something to be aware of.

Smaller dogs have smaller bladders and cannot be left home alone all day accident free as long as a larger dog can. So you will need to consider how long people will be out of the house for work (if that is a consideration). 

We have gotten rescue dogs from the SPCA and from a private shelter. The private rescue had their dogs all placed in foster homes, which was an advantage when it comes to knowing about a dog's true temperment, behaviour, potential issues, etc.  I don't know if this might be an option for you.

Ask the shelter what kind of an assessment they do. Do they test for aggression towards other dogs? Do they test for food and possession aggression? Do they handle the dogs extensively to see how they react to being touched on different areas of the body?

Better quality food is more expensive, but the dog needs to eat less of it, and poops less.

Some dogs will come home from a shelter and be happy and loving and fit right in. Others will need time to adjust to new people and surroundings. 

Best of luck in your search!

Mine is smart and quiet. In the house he is calm and naps until he senses you might move towards the kitchen. When he gets outside he is a different dog. He loves to run and chase anything. The nice thing is he will stop on a dime when you call him. We got a pound puppy one time and he was adorable and submissive. However we found out he hated other dogs and it was just too much. I couldn't trust him around little kids either. I cried when I had to take him back, but I needed a dog that I could trust and knew that training him to behave would take a lot of work.

Same for us. We had the vet take care of our hamster but we have our dog Kenai cremated in a box in our living room. He passed away in May 2013 and even our 16 yr old makes sure he is facing the correct way.

Oh, yes please Mystie.