I have owned border collies. I tell everyone not to get a border collie as a pet.

If you want a dog as a HOBBY...i.e., you want to do obedience, agility, flyball...they are great dogs. But they are not pets. They are working animals that need a job.

Also, make sure you make a plan for if the dog has to be rehomed. You could die. You could become profoundly disabled in a car wreck. And while yes there are pet friendly apartments, I have known people who HAVE had to permanently or temporarily rehome a dog because the alternative was literal homelessness....because they needed a new apartment on very short order and there were zero pet friendly units available within any reasonable distance of their job. Or your partner could become abusive and dangerous towards the dog as well as you and most DV shelters will not take pets. If at all possible find a friend or family member who will take the dog for you if anything happens and give it back when/if your circumstances improve. One of my father's dogs came into the family because the owner died and made no provision for the animal. He was traumatized and borderline dangerous and it was very clear the trauma came from being dragged away from his owner's body by animal control officers and put in a cage. Make provision for your pets.

And get the right breed for you. I know somebody who decided to get a dog to get him off the couch. He didn't do his research. He got a pitbull. A lovely, lovely dog (the vast majority of pitbulls aren't dangerous despite their rep). Unfortunately, it joined him on the couch...pitbulls are low energy dogs. If you want a dog to get you off the couch, get a lab ;).

Oh, and Pomeranians bark. Pomeranians *bark*. One lives opposite us and we have become familiar with her cute little voice ;). We don't mind, but some people might.