Make sure you do your research if you ned up finding a purebred dog. Labs produce an oil to help waterproof their coat it makes them very smelly. It would be a good idea to call up a vet and figure out how much their annual visits cost, price of front line and heart guard. If you have roommates you should make sure they are involved in the decision process and will be able to help out with the dog. Boarding can be expensive so once again do research on kennel cost if you plan on going out of town. Puppies can cause alot of collateral damage. It would behoove you to "puppy proof" your house as much as you can. Put away or hide and loose power cords, trash cans, rat posin, and anything else a dog can get into. Always be patient, pound puppies don't always have the best background and require lots of love and training.