Tulip-there is no perfect dog. To get your dog fix, and get used to them, maybe you could volunteer with the group to help walk dogs. I started walking a dog that belongs to a nursing home after my dog died in June 2007. We finally got a dog this year when the boyfriend found the one he wanted. He insisted on this being his choice, and since I chose the last four I couldn't argue too much. So now we have 'Crash' Jasper, a not-too-hyper German shorthaired pointer that came from the Humane society. And I still walk the nursing home resident dog.

Don't be discouraged when you bring your dog home and it has a hard time settling at first. That is natural and no reflection on you.

Jasper turned out to get carsick; I bought a wire crate for car rides and he is much more at ease.