I have a border terrier (quite small) and she’s full of excitement and very lively, and can always amuse herself if i don’t feel up to it or nobody is around. She loves people and going for walks (especially a run on the beach) and is no bother at all. When we got her we were advised to get a female as they are more friendly and less likely to run away.

Hope this helps!

You should ask a local vet which dog breeds would be best for you. Then, get a dog from rescue who doesn’t have separation anxiety. It’s really hard on a puppy to be left for 8 hours a day, so if you get an adult rescue dog, it’s already house trained, etc.

If you fence part of your yard, you can provide an outside play area for the dog with shade, shelter and water so it can be outside while you’re at work.

Terrier’s are breeds that you would probably do well with, but there are other high energy dogs you might like just as well.
cw

get a scotty dog there engergetic yet clam and they love familys. but also even though staffishires have a bad boy reputation they are very family type dogs they love company and also very well behaved if your gone for long periods

Those aren’t bad hours. I wouldn’t suggest putting a small dog outside though.
We had a white spitz
when I was a kid that we kept outside, it seemed to work out for her, but she needed a LOT of exercise when we were home, and boy could she run!
If you want a small dog that is going to be really gentle tempered and good with children, try looking at a Havanese.
We have one now, and he is SOOOO sweet! He loves children and adults alike (while my Lhasa is stubborn and hates anyone that is not in her family )
His energy levels seem pretty low though, but he will walk or jog with me. Even when he was a puppy, he’s never needed a leash, because he’ll follow me close by wherever I go. He’s my little shadow

I would suggest looking at Dogbreedinfo.com it will give you a huge selection of dogs to look at and list what each dog is like
A dog is for life - good luck

No matter what your energy level is i wouldn’t suggest a highly energetic dog if you are going to be away for almost 8 hours per day as these breeds do become bored and can become destructive if they don’t have anything to do.
Is this dog going to be an ‘outside dog’ - living outside? I won’t express my views on this but i don’t agree with animals being kept outdoors *with some breed exceptions - rare though.
Being away 7.5 hours a day means you don’t have time for a puppy so you’ll need an adult dog. 8 hours is a long time even for an adult therefore you should also think about having someone check in on the dog during the day for a short while.
There are other things i’d need to know before suggesting a breed - what sort of grooming requirements would work for you, you say family dog therefore i assume you have a family? Some breeds don’t work well with children, size of garden/space for the dog etc.

i suggest you adopt! check the shelters!

I would not suggest a terrier. They will run and bark until they die.

Pekingese are independent dogs, but not very well with family, more of a one person dog.

A beagle will make a great family pet.

Golden retriver - if u have a big house
Chihuahua - if u have a small Apartment

Get one that fits YOUR lifestyle.:0)
Try the breed selector quiz and see what breed(s) show up that are right for you.

A pug for sure. Pugs are very fun to play with and cuddle a lot. They can also be left alone and are good house dogs. The only bad things is that you need to clean their wrinkles and make sure their eyes are not near anything that can hurt them. They also snore which actually rather cute. They only grow to be 10 to 11 inches and 14-18 pounds and are great with kids. You can find some good breeders online in your area.