well, i just happened to "come upon" both of my current beasts.
my first dog was obtained before i was born - i believe he came from a shelter. he lived to be almost 18, and the dog we had after him my mother found running loose at work. she brought him to AC, and after a week went to pick him up. after him, she got us a black lab from another shelter. her current dog came from a shelter, she wanted a dog after splitting up with her husband, so we went out and she adopted the only puppy they had there. which is how we ended up with the loudest hound mix on earth (who had ALL her littermates returned to the shelter for barking).
my grandparents currently have two GSD - one is the blood donor for the seeing eye (once he is done, he will be their permanently), so he is always on call. the other is his littermate, who was kicked out of the seeing eye for her bad behavior
my grandfather works/trains/cares for the seeing eye breeding dogs and the dogs in training, so he gets almost first dibs on them
bowie, well some of you may know his story. he came into the clinic i was working at (which is also a shelter for local ACO's), on the end of a rabies pole with a police officer and an ACO. he picked me out of everyone there (i had always loved dobes) and decided i was his person. never looked back.
mya, i took out of pity. i posted about her recently - she was a sick dog who needed a place to die. she shows no sign of dying right now, which is ok by me
my requirements in a dog? not necessarily what i have here, since i took what i could (though i adore bowie). i want a big dog, prefer one with not a lot of fur to brush. want drive, determination, quick learner, naturally suspicious, ability and willingness to protect, ability to think on their own, agile, cuddly with the owner, gets along well with my other pets. wants to be with me all the time, but is ok alone. a sense of humor. gives kisses. doesnt leave tumbleweeds on my floor. friendly but not "stupid" with new people. good appetite. loyalty.
so, a doberman