Dog days

SO I am looking for a dog. To adopt. I've been looking for almost two months now, and it takes up all of my time. Some would say I am obsessed, but I think it's a good thing to be obsessed about.

I am allergic to dogs, which gives me an added disadvantage in the search for the perfect companion. It basically restricts my search to low-shedding, or low-dander breeds* or to dogs I am just magically not allergic to, which could be dogs from any breed mix.

Here are the other things that have come up, making me feel less than optimal as a dog-mom-wanna-be:
having a low income
living in an apartment/renting
partially - not fully - fenced-in yard
living on a busy street
living in Chicago
no current pets
no current veterinarian (why would I have one with no pets??)
not knowing exactly what food I want to feed the dog before knowing the dog
not feeling 100% sure about whether I want to crate train the dog

Anyway, more updates to follow. It's a big process. I'll have lots to write about as I've learned a great deal since this all began!

* The current 2005 American Kennel Club allergy info page lists Basenji, Bedlington Terrier, Bichon Frise, Chinese Crested, Irish Water Spaniel, Kerry Blue Terrier, Maltese, Poodles (toy, min, std), Portuguese Water Dog, Schnauzers (min, std, giant), Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier, and Xoloitzcuintli (fss breed, which I have no clue about what that means) as "lower dander" breeds.