I want to get a dog and can't decide on a breed!  I'm thinking bassett hound or collie - what do you think?
You can breed one to have specific physical attributes.
That's awesome!  What kind of attributes?
Well that all depends if you want it to be large or small in size, or if you want it to be a certain color.
I like brown and white dogs that are medium in size, with a good temperament.  Can I breed one like that?
Sure, there is no limit when it comes to "man's best friend".
How long do dogs usually live?  I don't want to get too attached to it if it's going to up and die in 2 years!
That all depends on your dogs health. You want to take them to the vet so they can get checked for infectious diseases.
I probably should look into dog trainers because I don't have time for stuff like that - I'd rather someone did it for me!
That sounds like a good idea. People have been hiring dog trainers since Roman times.