[Breeds] What should we be looking for?

Introduction1) Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?I grew up with dogs, and have been surrounded by them my entire life. With that said, I have not personally owned one as an adult.2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder?Breeder.3) Describe your ideal dog.Active, highly trainable, can be still when necessary.4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?Based on a bunch of research, and various online surveys, we've collected the following list, so far: Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Miniature American Shepherd, Welsh Springer Spaniel, German Shorthaired Pointer, English Cocker Spaniel, and Basenji.5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?Walk and run off leash, hike, camp, etc. Sit, lay down, stay, and Ruby on Rails.Care Commitments6) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?1 hour of exercise per day. Training would be more interspersed throughout the day. We have a dog friendly office, so I'd like to get it to the point where it can come to work a couple days a week.7) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park?1 hour. We have three different parks in our immediate area. One is up a big hill, and has great running trails, and open areas for playing off leash.8) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?Brushing a few times a week would be fine.Personal Preferences9) What size dog are you looking for?In between small and medium would be ideal.10) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?Medium.11) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?That would be one of our goals.Dog Personality and Behavior12) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?A little snuggly would be nice, but not necessary.13) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?I'm not sure what the difference is.14) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors?Friendly but protective.15) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?I'd rather it be friendly.16) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?NoLifestyle17) How often and how long will the dog be left alone?Most likely a few days a week, but we would have a dog walker come by on those days.18) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?My wife and I have a similar mind in terms of what we're looking for. She will be equally involved in caring for and training the dog.19) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?We have a 10 year Maine Coon cat named Hugo. He has spent several years in the past living with dogs, with no problems.20) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?No.21) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?We rent, and we have no restrictions.22) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?San Francisco, CA23) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?Summer - 70 Winter - 55Additional Information and Questions24) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.N/A25) Feel free to ask any questions below.N/A via /r/dogs http://ift.tt/2si6Ggh