A few breeds you mentioned:
Westies: VERY Active. Though they may look cute, white, and cuddly, they're terriers at heart. They thrive on play and work. They're intelligent--much too intelligent for the novice/beginning owner.
Papillons: The Border Collies of the Toy breed world. 'Nuff said.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: While I don't know much about CKCS' temperaments, I do know that the average lifespan of a CKCS is pitiful. Think 8-10 years. Double digits, if you're lucky. Why the short lifespan? I have no idea, but many MANY CKCSs succumb to tumors and cancer. There is a kennel in California that produces extremely linebred and extremely healthy Cavs (think 16+ year old Cavs!). It's amazing what selective breeding can do.

Spitz type dogs are usually independant and prey driven. At least, this is from my own experience. They need to have a leader (the owner), and once they begin to respect the leader, training should not be hard. They're opinionated and love to question the leader's motives. Again, I wouldn't recommend Spitzy type dogs for beginning/novice owners. Keep in mind, they're not aggressive from birth. ALL dogs should be socialized from pups, and this is especially true with Spitz types. Not to mention, gradual desensitization, training, and discipline. If given these, a Shiba or Eskie or whatever should not display aggression.

If you're not willing to go to the groomers monthly/weekly, then I wouldn't recommend a Poodle. If not brushed in the 'hard to reach' areas, the non-shedding fur quickly begins to mat. It's like human hair. Brushing stimulates the oils in the skin and pulls dead hair away from the body. When you skimp on little areas, the dead hair becomes mats and you've got yourself a whole lotta trouble. If you do decide on a Poodle, Please do not buy directly online unless you know the breeder very well. Please also visit the Poodle Club of America and go to Breeder referrals, or adopt. Just steer yourself away from bybs and puppy mills. This is highly important if you're interested in CKCS.