short hair vs long hair may not really have an effect on his allergies. What does tend to is shedding- some breeds are known for shedding a lot- including short haired breeds like Labradors and German Shepherds. Some long haired breeds- like Maltese or Yorkies do not shed and are actually good choices for folks with allergies.
Has DH spent a lot of time around dogs? Do you know the extent of his dog allergy? It would be a shame to bring home a dog and then find out his allergies are more than he can handle. I would recommend having him spend a few hours at least with some dogs and see how his allergies hold up. If you can pet sit a friends dog for a few days, all the better. If he does have bad allergies, some breeds are easier for allergy sufferers to live with than others. Wikipedia has a nice list of some of these breeds here-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoall...reeds#Examples
As far as preparing for a dog, I would check out a variety of books from your local library. They should have a wide selection of books about dog ownership in general. Some of the info- mostly the stuff on training, may be somewhat dated (most general books advise older, punishment based methods, while many dog people are turning to newer, positive reinforcement methods now) however the basics- supplies, care should be fairly accurate.
I've always enjoyed books by Bruce Fogle DVM. He publishes a lot under Dorling Kindersley, which is nice because its illustrated.
I also like TFH's new Terra Nova series. These can be found in most bookstores, and I think Petco carries them in store. Most are breed specific, but they also have "The Happily Adopted Dog by Tammy Gagne, "The Holistic Health Guide: Natural Care for the Whole Dog" by Doug Knueven, "The Mixed-Breed Dog" by Phyllis DeGioia, and "Puppy Care & Training" by Teoti Anderson. I haven't read those titles specifically, but have read other titles out of the series and have been very impressed. Many dog books are put out by the same punlisher and have "boxed text" - its the same in every book, just substitute a breed name her and there. This series has none of that and seems to have good info.
Another book I love is Victoria Stillwell's "Its Me Or The Dog" It gives a great overview, and its very much up to date.
For dog breed info, I would start with a book that lists many dog breeds. your library probably has several. They have a picture and a brief description of each breed. Going through it should give you a good idea of what you are looking for. Even if you want a mixed breed, its a good idea to be knowledgeable. If, for instance, you know that border collies are not a good match for your family, you'll know that you probably dont want to adopt the cute border collie mix pup either. If you know that neither pugs nor beagles appeal to you, its a good bet that you wouldn't be happy with a pug/beagle mix either. There are also many purebreds in rescue and shelters, so if you fall in love with a breed, there's a good bet you can find one for adoption.
After you narrow it down a bit with a big breed atlas, check out some books on the individual breeds that interest, and do some internet research. You'll find out more specific info not listed in the general book and that should help you decide as well. You might find out smaller details that are either deal breakers or make you more interested in the breed.
If you do find a breed or two that interests you, even if you want to rescue, I've found it helpful to talk to some other owners or breeders. Most breeds have email groups or message boards for owners that are happy to answer questions. Even though I knew I wanted to rescue my last dog, I talked to reputable breeders about the breeds I was interested in. They are generally VERY knowledgeable about the breed and now little details you don't read about in books. They also tend to be very involved in dog rescue themselves. I was up front with them- I was looking for a rescue dog in the future and doing some research and had questions about their breed. Most were happy to talk to me, they tend to be concerned about the welfare of their breed and dogs and want to see people choose the right dog for their situation- which meant a few did discourage me from their breed, and that was fine, as the information that someone intimately familiar with the breed thought my family and lifestyle was NOT a good fit saved me from potentially getting a dog that wouldn't work out.
For a family with young kids, unless you're adopting an 8 week old puppy, I'd highly suggest looking into a foster-based rescue organization. These take dogs into foster homes where they live in the house just like another pet. They often have the dog for a little longer and know how it behaves in the house, around other pets, with children etc. They can tell you if its housebroken, what commands it knows, what fears or quirks it might have etc. Dogs often behave quite differently in a shelter environment than they do in a home based one. Foster parents can also give far more info, and more accurate info than shelters can. And added bonus is that the dogs have often received veterinary care.
Has your DH spent any time around the dogs in the service training program? He might discuss your dog search with some of the trainers and see what advice they can offer, and if they'd let him spend a little time with the dogs to see how his allergies are. I'd imagine his work place should have a wealth of information for you to draw on! I would also have him ask about local trainers they would recommend. For a family who has never had a dog before, I HIGHLY recommend taking a training class. Its much easier to get it right the first time, and a class helps you do that.
One big thing dog owners talk about these days is food. Someone else already mentioned raw food, which is a great option. If you want to feed kibble, a good starting place for choosing a quality food is
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ I don't agree with everything on the site, but its easy to navigate for a newcomer. Generally, any food that has at least 3 stars is a good quality, healthy food. There is a lot of factors that go into choosing a good dog food, so if you have questions, the topic would probably deserve its own thread.
But thats a good starting site.
basic supplies for a puppy-
crate
bed
collar
leash
tags
food and water bowls
basic grooming supplies- a brush, nail clippers, kwik stop, dog shampoo, ear cleaner
enzymatic cleaner- this is a special cleaner for pet messes, you buy it at
the pet store, popular brands are Nature's Miracle and Simple Solution
high quality food
small training treats- soft treats normally work best
chews- I don't recommend rawhide- sweet potato chews are nice, as
are bully sticks, cow or pig ears, and various other dried animal parts
And of course toys, for new puppy owners I recommend-
a nylabone- the puppy formula seems to be popular with dogs
a kong- this can be filled with peanut and other treats to keep puppy busy
a rope toy
a rubber toy that squeaks- those by JW pet hold up well, try to avoid soft latex
a ball
possibly a cheap stuffed toy- most puppies will destroy these, but dogs seem to enjoy them
That gives you a wide variety with differing purposes, once you see how he plays and what he likes you can target your toy buying to his needs.
Although they don't do it in a mean way, they just have so much excitement and energy that they're about to burst. Just make sure you're up for a lot of exercise - a couple of walks around the block ain't gonna cut it for a boxer!
