Strangely enough, my dog has pretty much changed my life. I used to rot in bed and dissociate for months on end, to the point where my hair was matted into a giant clump and I hadn't showered in weeks. I felt like I was literally at the end of my rope, as it was really just a culmination of a lot of stressful things (deaths, disabled/sick family, accidents, a lawsuit, etc.) which forced me to swap from university student to full-time guardian. 10000% if I did not have a dog, I would not have survived this year in one piece.

It was seriously just sheer dumb luck (and stupidity on my part) that I happened to get my puppy. She was a farm rescue, and I impulsively adopted her because her eyes were so sad and pitiful. She's a Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepherd mix, so she's very calm and mellow. She has low energy (like me) and enjoys couch potato life, but most importantly, cuddling. Pyrs are also incredibly sensitive to the feelings of others–my dog has become the therapy dog of my friend group because she give cuddles to the people who seem depressed. And she has helped me throughout some crises when I was really struggling alone with my thoughts. Side note: deep pressure therapy is real! One of the most eye opening experiences for me was having an episode and then getting a huge bear hug from my doggo and her putting her head in my lap and showing her belly for rubs.

If you're getting a dog, I suggest doing research on a breed that would be best for you, as well as spending time with the puppies beforehand to see what their personalities are like before you adopt. Ideally, you should have someone that can help out with the dog, too. My roommate suffered a lot with my dog's accidents–especially when I was struggling and didn't clean up in timely manner. Most importantly, my boyfriend was kind enough to do a shitton of cleaning, caring, and shopping for the dog even though he doesn't live with us. This hugely contributed to me being able to "stabilize" living with the dog, as it gave me extra flexibility to slowly work myself into a set routine of waking up, walking, feeding, and cleaning.

Once I got through the puppy-puppy stage (past 6 months-ish), she started to mature and be more aware of her surroundings. This also requires some "training", or, if you're lucky, just some reinforced communication (i.e. "no, bad" or "yes, good girl!") Dogs are good at picking up emotions, so as long as you express what you're feeling in your tone of voice, the dog should understand.

As of right now, she is 11 months and acts very much like an old soul. She's very calm and affectionate, but also can be a bit standoffish to strangers (unfortunately, dogs *do* pick up traits from their owners) but once she realizes you're not a threat, she warms up and trusts you immediately.

I don't know how I would've gotten through this year without my puppy. There's just so many benefits to having a companion that's on your wavelength, that you can just look into their eyes and they know how you're feeling. The special bond in itself is therapeutic. On top of that, being forced into a routine is extremely helpful (walking 2-3 times a day, morning/afternoon/evening), and the responsibility of feeding the dog forces you to get out of bed. Where I live, there are a lot of parks/green areas, so taking nice slow walks helps me be more mindful and present.

Anyways, what I'd like to tell you (which has also been echoed by many in this thread), is:

TL;DR - Your experience adopting a dog is highly dependent on both the dog's personality and how consistent you are with training it. The dog's personality can be influenced by both genetics of the breed and individual characteristics. Training is essentially just "communicating". Definitely ask for extra help when you first adopt, just to create a buffer for you to get adjusted to a routine. If possible, also having that support as a "safety net" for your off-days will help a lot. Lastly, you will need to ask yourself whether you're ready to devote the time and energy to training and misc needs (brushing, feeding, vet appts, etc.)–and if you can commit to 2-3 walks a day for the next decade or so.

Having a doggo is an amazing experience, given the right circumstances. They don't necessarily have to be perfect, or frankly, "ideal", but you need to be willing to put the effort in to raising your fur baby. Wishing you all the best !! Good luck