How are you at handling death? If not good at it, don't get a dog. They're the most loyal creature's ever, always by your side no matter what. If i leave the apartment to take the trash to the garbage shoot, literally 10 seconds I'm gone. i come back and they act like i've been gone for a year, they're so excited to see me again.
When they die, it's literally like getting your heart ripped out. Well for me it is. I had a dog when i was a teen, said I'd never get another one.
Now i have two little half Pomeranian, half Chihuahua brothers. They're so awesome, yet i spend half the time sulking over the fact that someday they'll die cause they don't live forever. I've had them for a year now. I don't want to go through the period where the die. On the other hand, i think if i didn't own them, they could have ended up in a back yard on a short leash with no life and full of fleas and just a shitty life. So in the end, I'm glad i have them.
And you start doing weird shit, like going to the dog section of any grocery store or target, wal-mart etc... Seeing if there is anything cool you can get them, even though you've been there before and know there is nothing extraordinary. But you just have to check again to be sure. You have second thoughts about what to make for dinner, you start thinking.... hmmm, if i make spicy food tonight, i can't share it with my dogs. i guess i'll make steak instead, LOL! Well at least that's what i do now.