Mike would be at work weekdays and home on weekends. I would be the one home alone so obviously, I would have a lot of time on my hands to train a dog. I think it's the right time for me to go ahead and look into breeds - I wouldn't mind a mix if it came down to that. Wouldn't matter to me. My aunt had a Bernese Mt. Dog - but she was prone to running away off leash - she eventually got hit by a car. I've always liked German Shepards - always met nice ones - nothing against them at all. So I recently did a breed matching quiz - Obviously, the top 3? Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Go figure! I absolutely love Labs - I'm constantly around them - Mike has one, his brother has two, his cousins all each have one or two at least. It's a constant type of breed they have in the family. I am thinking to go bold and maybe go with a Golden Retriever? I DO NOT MIND HAIR at all. We would have wood floors - so it wouldn't really be a problem.