[Breeds] Any breed recommendations for a college student looking to adopt a medium-sized dog?

Hi r/dogs! I am a huge dog lover but have been having trouble trying to decide what type of dog I want to adopt. I volunteer at a local shelter and am constantly falling in love with my foster pups. However, I am hesitant to consider adopting any of them because I usually fall for those who are going to grow too big or might be too energetic for my lifestyle. If you have any breed recommendations for me they are welcomed and appreciated!

Introduction

1. Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs? *No! My first dog was a Shiba Inu, although it was a family dog and not solely my own. I have, however, single-handedly fostered 13 dogs of various ages/sizes/breeds in the past year (ranging from newborn Chihuahua to full grown Husky.)

2. Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder?

• Almost definitely looking to rescue

3. Describe your ideal dog.

• I want a dog that is attached to me and affectionate. My favorite fosters have usually been those who were relatively mellow and could snuggle in bed for hours one day and go on a long hike the next.

4. What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?

• The dogs that I'm usually drawn to are typically those that I doubt I would be a suitable owner for. I'm not terribly active and live in a 1 bedroom apartment yet I constantly fall in love with the puppies will grow up to be on the larger and more energetic side (ie. the GSD mixes, aussie mixes, huskies, ect.) I also love my pit bulls/pit mixes but can't currently adopt any due to the term of my lease. Although I'm clearly not sure what I'm looking for, I do know that I don't want a small fluffy lap dog (like a havanese, bichon frise ect.)

5. What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?

• Basic commands + walking off-leash if possible

Care Commitments 6) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?

• I would want to enroll my dog in training classes but also continue training at home over time. I usually am only gone from home around 4-5 hours at once so I can devote lots of time to my dog.

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?

• I usually walk my fosters (depending on breed) around an hour a day and play at least an hour a day as well. Dog parks and bike path are also an option

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?

• Open to regular bathing but would prefer lower maintenance in terms of shedding/grooming

Personal Preferences 9) What size dog are you looking for?

• Medium (could possibly be persuaded into a smaller dog as well)

10. How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle? *Would prefer a dog that doesn't shed too much or that has shorter hair. Excessive barking and slobber are not my favorite

11. How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?

• Would be nice but not a deal-breaker if impossible

Dog Personality and Behavior 12) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?

• Snuggly

13. Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please? *Either is fine

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?

• Just friendly I guess.. a guard dog isn't of huge importance to me

15. Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?

• Probably not

16. Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?

• Yapping/excessive barking, separation anxiety to the point of destructiveness, excessive chewing/scratching.. stuff like that