If you get a puppy you will have added work. Older dogs, at least two are far less hyper and less work depending on the breed. All breeds have good points, all breeds have bad points. Currently we have a wonderful lab/bassett mix. Looks like a small lab but with short wrinkly legs and splay feet of a bassett. Also the oily smelly coat of a bassett but with the gentle quietness of a lab. There used to be a web site called "Select a Breed" and you typed in the qualities that you wanted, activity levels, care levels, etc. and it would match you up with 3 or 4 breeds that would best suit your wants and needs.