Doggie Dilemma!

[TsPoet]

Shelter dogs have baggage. All dogs will need trained. Especially for a shelter dog, I'd suggest CGC training.
In general, dogs have a 'fear period' between 6 and 10 months of age, so be aware that at that age, his/her personality may change and you will have to deal with a fear period.
I have 2 shelter dogs, both with issues. I became a dog trainer (volunteer with a club, not professional) due to having to deal with them. i also hate to admit it, but I now have a well-bred pure bred dog from a very good breeder. I was too tired to get another shelter dog.
If you go with a breeder, avoid a back yard breeder and a puppy mill with all your might. PM me or post more questions and I can help send you down the road to a good breeder - generally, though, you need to pick the breed or a few breeds first.
Shelters are pretty good with honest evaluations of their dogs, an older dog, say 1-2 years will have been evaluated by a rescue and you may have a better idea of what it will be like. Speaking of that - shelters are good places and you can find a good shelter - there are other types of rescue orgs as well, many work through fosters, so will definitely have suggestions for you about dog personality.
I know this has been scattered, but here is another scattered thought - while shelters guess at breeds, breed characteristics are very real things, so thinking of a breed, breed characteristics, might help pick a personality type.
What type of dog did you foster? what personality traits did you like? hyper? calm? snuggly, aloof...? Many (most, or all) people pick a dog by looks - sounds like you are smart enough not to necessarily do that - so instead go in with a list of what you like/want and ask them to help you pick.
I have an aloof, and incredibly smart, shiba inu- mix
A tough little reactive tank of a doxie-mix
and a scatter-brained, hyper, extremely fast and not very trainable, purebred Italian Greyhound
- all of their personalities are surprisingly close to "breed" characteristics, good and bad.
The last thing is gender - many many people want females because they aren't aware that dogs are opposite of humans - males are easier and nicer and generally the calmer and quieter gender (often with more potty issues), females are more apt to be dominant and domineering and more pushy. (or maybe that is more human like, LOL)

[PamNY]

Two suggestions: find a good rescue group, and do some reading before you get a dog. Authors I suggest are Jean Donaldson, Karen Pryor, Ian Dunbar, and Patricia McConnell.

[Biciclista]

a lot of rescue groups will take the dog back if it doesn't work out. I don't agree that all shelter dogs have issues. SOmetimes all they need is someone who cares enough to be consistent with them. So many people get dogs on a whim and when they realize they take a lot of work, they dump them..

[Kiwi Stoker]

Or get a shelter puppy. Yes I know that an older dog is less likely to be adopted but you also have 2 cats to think of. You are better off socialising a younger dog than an older.

[smilingcat]

You might want to check out a rescue group. Rescue groups have dedicated foster parents for the dogs.

You can ask the fosters about the nature of the dog and if the rescue group is reputable, the fosters will give you an honest assessment of the dog.

It is also in their best interest to tell you honestly and to best of their ability to say what the dog is really like. They want to match the dog to a right family so the dog isn't returned.

As suggested, figure out what are you looking for in his/her personality? Once you figure that out, and know what kind of dog you want, check with rescue groups. They should help you match the right dog for you. You do have the last say in which dog you get.

yes we used to foster dogs too and not just cats.

One more thing, since you have senior cats, you do need to check to see if the dog has lived with a cat. or is okay with a cat. Jack Russel are too hyper for a cat so not recommended. Goldens we have fostered have never given any grief to our cats. We are biased obviously toward golden retrievers.

Wish you lots of patience in finding a right dog. It is worth to be patient to find the perfect one. And you will find him.

best wishes,

[NbyNW]

We found our dog through petfinder.com. The rescue orgs that list through them seem to do the best they can to provide the dog's history, and whether they have specific needs regarding their health and behavior. For example, they will indicate whether a dog would get along with other animals in the house or not, or whether or not a dog would be good with children. I think they try to be thorough in the interest of finding a good fit.

Breed rescue might also be something to explore. I don't know much about it, but if you are interested in a specific breed, there are organizations that specialize that way as well.

[westtexas]

I second all the opinions about finding a dog who has been in a foster home. They are actively being trained and someone is living with the dog to know its personality. I have seen some dogs who are absolutely disastrous in shelter situations (read: CRAZY) but when they get home, they are mellow, obedient and sweet. Or the opposite - sweet as pie at the shelter (read: freaked out!) but you get them home and they eat your couch.

I also firmly believe in adopting older dogs. Baggage can be overcome. All dogs are trainable. Have boundaries and rules in place that you and your husband agree upon before bringing your new dog home. My first dog was a 3 year old train wreck former research dog who was afraid of the sun when I first got him. He would literally cower outside if a cloud went across it and it took 5 or more minutes to relax him before we could move on. Before he died from complications of immune-mediated disease, he was pretty "normal" by doggy standards. And because of all the trials and triumph we went through, he was truly my heart-dog. Older dogs are mature enough to listen and learn quickly - no puppy ADD stage. And many are ready to just relax and cuddle and aren't looking to you for entertainment 24/7. A puppy between 6-10 months is still downright obnoxious, IMHO (I know, I have one, and he's exceptionally good).

So to sum up: Find one in foster care. Go older.

Good luck!

Edit to say: Socialization occurs at all ages too. I found it was much easier to train my older dog to leave the cats alone than my puppy who think everything.is.just.so.exciting.can't.concentrate.on.training.around.kitties.