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Finding the right dog
We are thinking about adding a puppy/dog to our family in the new few months, and I am so excited! We definitely want to go through a rescue /shelter and I have been actively looking on multiple shelter websites.
We are not in any hurry and we want to make sure that we are making the right decision so we can really be the dogs forever home. I am having a really hard time knowing what dog would be right for us though! Our cat just showed up to our house as a stray so it was easy, he picked us 
The dog search is not turning out to be that easy!
So my question is how did you know your dog was the right dog for your family, and why? Did you have any criteria when you were looking for your pup or did you judge based on first meetings?
TIA!!
Re: Finding the right dog
We did a lot of research on dog breeds, which ones shed, how often they need walks, amount of grooming needed, good with kids, protector, etc. We found about 3-4 breeds that worked with our lifestyle. We wanted a dog that could handle at least a 45 min walk 5-6 days a week, little grooming, and medium to light shedding. We searched for dogs that were a mix of breeds that fit our lifestyle. We found our dog in a few months.
When you get a dog from an animal shelter or rescue, you really never know EXACTLY what you are getting. A lot of dogs appear to be a mix of certain breeds, but there are often other breeds mixed in as well. 3 years after we brought Tuukka home we did a DNA test to find out exactly what breeds she came from. We found out she was actually German Shepherd/Lab/American Stafford Terrier with the DNA test. When we picked her up, they told us she was just a German Shepherd mix. I wouldn't trade her in for the world. She is my baby and my best friend (after my husband of course).
Good luck!
I would actually focus much less on breed.
Consider your family, and your current activity level. Do you go on family hikes on the weekend, or hang out at home? Or somewhere in between?
Do both adults work outside the home? Is anyone home all day?
How much time and work are you realistically willing to put into training?
How much grooming are you willing to deal with/able to pay for, if needed?
How old are your children? How energetic/loud are they? How well do they follow direction?
Consider these questions when going to a shelter or rescue. Tell them what you do/do not want regarding the above, and let them guide you to dogs that meet your wants/needs.
Ditto RHB. While each breed will have general personality traits, each dog really is an individual and can vary from the "typical" breed behavior quite a bit.
Case in point is our Boxer. She's certainly playful and energetic and smart, but she's typically also quite happy to laze around the house and snuggle up with us; she doesn't have the typical nonstop hyper streak of most Boxers though.
GL finding the perfect dog to fit you and your family/lifestyle! It will be such a rewarding experience to bring home your pooch!
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
I agree with all of the above posters who have said to focus less on breed and more on the dog, especially if you are getting a rescue dog. We have been looking for a rescue dog for awhile, and their personalities really vary and many are mixes of unknown breeds.
In our search, we've put together a list of questions...maybe this (or a similar list suited to you) would help in your search.
1. How much exercise does this dog need every day to be happy?
2. What is the dog's medical history? (note: we found some rescues have this information but don't share it unless you ask, so it's a good idea to ask!)
3. Is this dog crate trained / housetrained?
4. Is this dog a "velcro" dog, or more independent?
5. Does the dog get along with new people and new dogs, or is he/she frightened of them? (For us, we live in a place where the dog would constantly see new people and other dogs, and it's important for us to get a dog that would enjoy that...this may or may not be the case for you, but something to think about).
6. How is the dog with children? (We don't have kids ourselves, but my nieces and nephews visit and it's important for us to have a dog that would embrace them).
7. Does the dog have separation anxiety? (Important if you work during the day and dog would be alone).
8. How are they on car rides?
9. What is the dog's history? Are they an owner turn-in, from a shelter, etc.?
10. Any destructive chewing?
11. What training has the dog had?
12. How long has the foster been caring for the dog? (Sometimes the foster has only had the dog a few days, and so they don't have much history with the dog yet.)
...I think you get the picture. I'd also recommend trying to interact with the dog as much as possible. Take them for a walk on a leash (this was *very* telling for me, so bigger dogs pulled too much and I didn't think I'd be able to control them so I was glad we tried this). Some dogs also totally ignored us when we were on the leash, and we didn't like this as we thought they would be too hard to train.
We also think it's a good idea whenever possible to see the dog in a natural setting, at home. Sometimes they act very different there than they do at a dog adoption event where there are lots of people. If they're at a shelter, most have a room where you can visit with the dog privately.
We also came across some rescues who wouldn't let us even walk them on a leash outside or see them in a home setting. In these cases,we moved on to a different rescue, it was more important to us to really see what the dog was like since it is a lifelong commitment.
First off....I would find a great rescue organization, so do your research! Ive adopted cats from a shelter before and it was great...I had a not-so-great experience with a dog from a different shelter-it was awful actually. People had their heart in the right spot but the place was terribly run and it wound up being a disaster.
Our current pup was from a rescue org and it was the best experience! Often rescues use the help of foster homes for the dogs they are adopting out- the beauty is that you get a great deal of information about a dog..temperament, training, energy level. When we adopted Abby we knew everything about her, the transition was so smooth b/c we picked up right where her foster mom left off.
A good rescue also wants the match to be successful so they will ask you questions and help you find the right pet! You can certainly seek out purebreds but mutts are wonderful too! Think size, energy level (this is a big one...dogs that are under- exercised can be nightmares) our girl needs quite a bit- we're talking 1-2 hours A DAY. How much time can you really dedicate to walking a dog daily? You can find some lovely couch potatoes if that's what you want...grooming needs, are you looking for low maintenance or do you like a dog you can brush? Has the dog been around children? Do they have any training? You may not want a high energy dog that still jumps around your little ones...Lastly- $$$...that goes with food (bigger dogs eat more) hairy dogs need more grooming...it adds up. Good luck!