-just to add something: for anyone even remotely considering getting a dog (or other pet for that matter), give some serious thought to how adequately caring for that animal is going to impact your life.

My wife had wanted a dog for years before I finally relented and while I can't imagine life now without the critters, it definitely curtailed some aspects of my lifestyle, particularly my travels which used to be frequent international endeavors without much thought but now require taking the animals into consideration.

We have a neighbor who got a puppy six weeks ago, they are now taking it back to the humane society as it "too drastically affects their lives and their ski schedule". It's unfortunate to put an animal through that attachment/detachment simply because the owners hadn't really thought it through adequately. If your weekends in Aspen and jetting off to Cabo are going to be adversely hampered by getting a pet, don't get one! There are dog parks in every town and most pet owners are more than happy for you to pet their dog.

Pet's should not be a fashion accessory that you have simply to tick that box on the chart of possessions, only get one if you intend to spend time with it. Dogs are social creatures and should be treated accordingly.