Dogs are the best! I’ve raised a lab, a pit bull and now a lab mix from puppies. My childhood dogs were a lab and cockapoo so I’m used to large and medium dogs. We enjoy taking ours to the dog park on the weekend. She loves getting her bath afterwards. I’ve now been peed on twice at a dog park, most recently by a Great Dane! 🤣 My 12 yo son (who wants a dog of every breed!) would help give cuddles and playtime on the weekends. I used gentle training methods (and lots of cheerios) with my puppies. Last year, we took the PetSmart training course with our lab mix and that was really helpful. Our home and lifestyle are best suited for larger dogs. I teach high school full time but am home on the weekends, extended breaks and all summer. I’m flexible if your dog is used to waiting 9 hours to be let out. I live close to school so I’m home by 4 usually. Dogs need play time and connection as well as their own little space. Whatever they’re feeding schedule is, I would stick to that so it feels as close to their home life as it can. We never feed human food and do not allow begging from the table. Our neighborhood is safe to walk if longer jaunts are called for. The door to the back porch and to the fenced yard are open when we are home. Some dogs enjoy digging holes and chasing squirrels on the fence line! The perimeter of the fence is secure and all dogs come inside when we leave the house. They just have free reign to choose when they go out and come in if we’re here with them. We have tennis balls, a frisbee to play fetch and ropes for tug of war. Occasionally, a sock is sacrificed to the game. Whatever your dog’s schedule is, we can accommodate it and they’ll be in the cuddle pile with us anytime they want. I have two crates I can set up if they prefer personal space. Dog feeding time and space will be private so there’s no sneaking food or territory issues.