I have the best dog in the whollllllllllllle world! Her name is Lily and she is a strange-- yet wonderful breed--she is a chihuahua/shitzu! So adorably cute--weighs 9lbs!! I never suggest getting a dog to anyone if they are going to be caged for long periods of time-- but I can understand you wanting a dog since you have never had one! I cannot suggest a specific breed, but as long as you are getting a little dog that is good! A big dog needs excercise and more time to play-- where honestly when I get home from work all Lily needs is a short run around the yard (she has tiny legs and is a little pudgie so that is all she can handle
) and then she is content laying on the couch with me allllll night!
My parents dog is a shitzu/yorkie-- he is a pain in the ass but I do not know what part of his breeding that is! He still is not fully potty trained and he is 3 yrs old!! So look into intelligence as a factor-- and overall training for the breeds you are interested in!!
My biggest suggestion although I hate to continue to see them suffer (and I honestly think they should be banned), do not buy from a petstore-- they jack up the prices!! Take your time and look in the classified ads in the paper and get a good price in mind before you buy one!! BUT BELIEVE ME-- ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD CANNOT BUY THE LOVE YOU GET FROM A DOG!!
GOOD LUCK! Let us know how it turns out!
PS: I had a Lhasa Apso-- I do not suggest getting one of them-- although they are easily trained-- they can get mean!! And do not get a dog with/grows long fur-- to much maintenance!