I always had relatives' dogs around growing up but never had my "own" until a few years ago. My then-girlfriend had a rescue dog named Nena who was terrified of men when I first met her. We ended up bonding quickly though and I became her favorite "pet parent" until she moved away. I have a small back-yard but my neighborhood is very walkable and dog-friendly with a pet store just over a block away. I also live near Delaware Park and could drive your dog there if they need more room to run around. (At least in the summer.) I work better with quieter, more relaxed dogs and also should note that I rent the upstairs apartment out as a vacation rental so there could be more people around than just me.