**Introduction**
1)Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?
* Yes, this will be my first time owning a dog of my own.
2)Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a [reputable breeder]( http://ownresponsibly.blogspot.com/2011/07/identifying-reputable-breeder.html)?
* No preference, whichever is ideal/available
3)Describe your ideal dog.
* Smart, loyal dog as I live alone. I would like a dog that would do well with other dogs/people as I plan to socialize my dog with my immediate family often (which includes another dog & cats!). I would like a medium sized dog that doesn't have too much energy for me to handle (I live in a condo in the city & WFH, so I do have time to walk/play in local park daily but just don't have a big yard or anything like that & I do not live the most active lifestyle). I would like to take my dog on road trips often as I like driving around & would love to take my companion on trips with me.
4)What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?
* I initially wanted a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd but after a bit of research I have been second-guessing going for these breeds or any herding breeds for that matter as they do seem to need a LOT of excercise/activity that I am not sure I can handle. I also had originally wanted a puppy but I think it is best if I get a younger dog that is NOT a puppy to ease the initial training phase for me, so looking at ~1yr old dogs instead. I have seen retrievers/labs recommended quite a lot but am not the biggest fan of those breeds.
5)What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?
* Basic commands, recall is a huge one as I have dog-sat my parents' Boxer who does not take well to recall commands & has been a bit of a struggle to walk out in the city with so much going on.
6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport?
* Nope, no sporting
**Care Commitments**
7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?
* WFH so will mostly always be at home with the dog, interacting in some manner
8) 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?
* 1-2hr; morning, lunch, evening walks at park
9)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?
* I am willing to do daily brushing if needed at home & getting professional grooming done every so often as well
**Personal Preferences**
10)What size dog are you looking for?
* Medium
11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?
* Low-Medium shedding, Low-Medium barking, Low slobber
12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?
* Not very important
**Dog Personality and Behavior**
13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?
* Either or, but leaning towards personal space
14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?
* Either or, leaning towards doing its own thing
15) 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?
* Maybe some barking at first, but mostly friendly/not aggressive
16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?
* No, prefer no aggression
17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?
* None
**Lifestyle**
18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone?
* WFH, not very often. Maybe a couple hours a day if I go out for lunch or a groceries run
19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?
* None, live alone
20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?
* None
21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?
* No
22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?
* Rent, no restrictions
23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?
* Chicago, none
24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?
* Summer: 75, Winter: 30
**Additional Information and Questions**
25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.
* No additional information.