Unless you have a massive yard and heaps and heaps of spare time go with a good security system and a cat.
One thing i hate is the number of dogs cooped up in yards less than half an acre with owners who don't find the couple of hours a day to properly look after them.
Not saying this is you but be sure about it before you do it.
I'm with you on this one. I might have mentioned previously that my wife does work for the RSPCA and the number of cases we've come across where you just want to to beat the crap out of stupid owners is endless (again, not saying this is you). Bottom line is don't buy any pet unless you have the time to dedicate to it every day. When a dog becomes destructive, 99 times out of 100 it's because they're bored. But most owners just dismiss the dog as being stupid. It's not the dogs fault.
Also only get a dog if you're going to treat it like a real member of your family. As far as buying a dog
DO NOT buy from a pet shop. Most pet shops buy from puppy mills which are basically backyard breaders who keep the adult dogs in cages and then bread over and over and over again just to supply the stores. It's disgusting and should be banned. Buy from a pound or RSPCA shelter. The turnover of dogs and cats at the RSPCA is huge and if you don't find something you want one week, just try again next week. Also you can buy a dog from a shop for upwards of $1000 and all you get is a vet check and it's shots. you can buy from the RSPCA and it's been vet checked, had it's shots, been desexed, microchipped and you can help give a beautiful natured dog a second chance who may have been neglected or mistreated, all for about $220.
Whatever you get, have it desexed. It will improve it's nature around small kids and in female dogs it can also increase it's life span. For every litter a dog has the chances of getting cancer are multiplied.
By the way we've got two maltese X and they are the best guard dogs. They hear a strange noise and they're ready to attack. It's funny seeing a small dog thinking thy're a rotti. But at the same time they're real people dogs.