Sir Alec have you thought about a rescue dog, when you are ready to take on a dog,every breeed[well most] has a rescue, last year I managed to find a very elderly lady a Jack Russell because hers had died, if you google the breed you want and rescue something should come up and there will be dogs there that are used to cats [ took out rescue dog and my cat Violet Elizabeth Bott took two years to become friends !]sometimes theres a waiting list -my pal waited 18months for a tiny Maltese terrier rescue bitch.
What worries me is all these "Essex girls" who now have these rugrats in their arms as trophies one day the craze will end and all these little dogs will be abandoned jusy wait and see.
Dee