Since we have a Mini Schnauzer, I can attest to their ability to alert you to virtually anything they may think requires notification. We actually stumbled onto ours at a local rescue, wandered in just to look, and took her home that day. Our Mini is in addition to watchful, very loving to anyone she knows, not so much to someone she does not know.

 

I recommend going through a rescue organization.

Check your local shelters as well.
You don't need a purebred in order to get a good dog that will suit you well. Mixed breed dogs are just as likely to turn out to be what you are looking for. The main thing you want is a certain size and a certain kind of character, if I understand you correctly. You can find that in a mixed breed dog.

My young dog, for instance, is everything I could hope for and came from a county animal shelter. I adopted him at 12 weeks of age.

If you get an adult dog (or even a young adult or puppy) from a rescue, chances are the dog has been in a foster home for anywhere from a couple weeks to months and the foster home person can tell you all about the dog. Traits, personality, what it likes or is afraid of....everything. No guess work, no big surprises. It's a very good way to go if you are wanting a certain type of dog. You are far more likely to have success in getting what you want than by buying a puppy who might turn out to have any kind of personality once he or she grows up.

If you only want a purebred, ask yourself why. You might find out that it doesn't need to be a purebred dog after all.
But if you decide on a purebred dog, make sure you first do your research into all of the various disorders and disabling characteristics that that breed can have, and make sure that the breeder you choose is testing for all of those things and can prove the parents of the litter tested clear for those things. Ask for proof....some breeders will lie about this, so you cannot just take their word for it.
A good breeder won't be advertising their puppies online or on yard signs or on social media. They will not need to, as they will likely have a waiting list for their litter.
You are wise not to get any puppy online.

 

To borrow a phrase from the dating scene, it sounds there's a bit of disagreement as whether the dogs you are meeting are Mr. Right or Mr. Right Now. I think I would start with what you want, what you will settle for, and what is an absolute dealbreaker -- for both of you. For example, here's how I and my spouse would differ:

Trait	Me	Spouse
Shedding	ok	dealbreaker
toy sized	dealbreaker	ok
leggy tall dog (e.g. wolfhound)	like	dealbreaker
mastiff type	dealbreaker	dealbreaker
husky type	dealbreaker	dealbreaker
Schnauzer	like	dealbreaker
very timid	ok	dealbreaker
spotted coat	ok	like
highly trainable	like	ok
cuddly	ok	ok
chases cats	dealbreaker	ok
breed specific insurance issues	dealbreaker	dealbreaker

Notice that my spouse and I agree about some things - no mastiffs or huskies - and disagree about others. There's no way I'm giving up my cats, and there's no way he's every going to learn to love a Schnauzer. We're still married because we don't force push each other until we've won Pyrrhic victories.

Some of things people want may have nothing to do with the breed itself; it may be more a question of the emotional need the dog fills. Some people love the challenge of bringing a terrified rescue dog out of its shell. The work of socializing and nurturing this dog is very meaningful to them. Other people love the challenge of bringing a dog into competition. The work of training and conditioning their dog for sports is just as meaningful to them as the rehab work is to a rescuer.

Shop vs adopt is a tough question. There are emotional and practical reasons for each decision. If you select a dog from a shelter, make sure you are prepared to deal with any baggage the dog might have accumulated during its experiences in the rescue system. If you decide you want a dog from a breeder, select a breeder who is careful and knowledgeable enough to give your pup the best chance of growing up to be the perfect dog. Top notch breeders often have wait lists, especially toy breeders, as toy dogs generally have small litters. Be prepared to wait if you want a purebred dog from a good breeder. Sometimes you get lucky. One of my dogs was from a litter of 11, and the breeder had taken only 8 reservations. Another was from a litter of 8, and two of the buyers had backed out. It's a red flag if you find someone advertising multiple Yorkies, or toy poodles, or papillons. Toy breeds commonly have only 2-3 puppies in a litter. You have to wonder why someone hasn't found buyers from them even before they are born.

 

If you are adamant about an ethical breeder of a particular breed, look into that breed club and the local chapter. Look to see what makes a good breeder for that breed, who is on the directory, and what health issues to be aware of. From there, start working your way through the directory, examining the dogs, test results and "feel." Once you have 1-3 you like, go ahead and fill out an application/drop a call and arrange to see the breeder's dogs in person once you get acquainted.a

How confident/researched are you in choosing an ethical breeder? I ask because we have resources that can help if you need them.

 

I ask because we have resources that can help if you need them.

I'm going to link them anyway, the more people who see them, the better.

Buying a Puppy Safely