JConneJ
Have you decided what to do?
I miss having a dog, my last one died in 2001, but I live in a flat and it isn't really an ideal situation. My two moggies keep me busy.
There are good arguments for getting a puppy from a breed that you think is suitable and also good arguments for rehoming one from a rescue place (this is where I got Robbie). Use your brain and not your heart - something that is easy for me to say but is never so simple to do.
Good luck. If all else fails I could post a cat to you - she is long haired and beautiful, she is also fierce and stupid. I love her to bits though.
Susan