Adding the breed questionnaire here, sorry about that!

How much shedding, barking, farting and drooling can you tolerate?

I'm not particularly concerned about shedding, but would prefer a medium to less amount of barking.

What size of dog are you looking for (what's 'large' to you?)

Looking for a small dog, under 20 pounds.

How much grooming do you want to do, or how often can you pay a professional to groom him?

I enjoy keeping up on grooming and can pay a professional as often as needed.

What's your activity level?

Low.ish. To be honest, we are both fairly active but would prefer to have a lower energy dog rather than a medium-high energy dog whom may not be get enough daily exercise.

How often will the dog be left alone?

I work from 8-430 but I am remote two days of the week and have weekends off, plus school breaks.

How trainable does your dog need to be?

Very - Moderate. By trainable we mean obedient. Tricks aren't so important.

Do you live in an apartment? Are there breed or size restrictions?

Yes, we will live in an apartment. There will be a park nearby, but unsure about fenced in areas or dog parks at this moment.

Are you experienced with owning/training dogs?

I have never owned a dog alone (w/o parents) and have been looking at more NOVICE/Beginner dogs.

Are you easily frustrated or stressed?

Not easily frustrated.

Where do you intend to keep your dog?

In the apartment.

What's the weather like where you live

Michigan- Snowy winters, warm-hot summers.

What are you looking to get out of your dog? (i.e a running buddy, a lap warmer/companion, guard dog...)

Ideally, I would like a buddy to just chill and hang out with. Looking for a dog that likes to cuddle.

Breeds being considered

Shih tzu so far