[CORed]

If you're going to be gone 4 months of the year, don't get a dog. Also, never buy a dog from a pet shop. These dogs come from "puppy mills", breeders whose sole objective is to crank out as many puppies as they can without regard to quality, and they often keep their breeding stock and puppies under horrible conditions. If you want a purebred, you should get one from a quality breeder. It will cost more, but the pet shop dog is likely to cost you far more in vet bills (and heartbreak) than one from a breeder. Better yet, get a mutt from the shelter. Mutts and crossbreeds are generally healthier than purebreds. Even purebreds from good breeders are highly inbred, and prone to genetic problems.

But again, if you are going to board the dog 4 months of the year, don't get one.

Barking and shedding come with territory (although some breeds, such as poodles, shed very little). Barking can be controlled with training, but not completely eliminated.