Excellent idea. Dogs are simple. If you are good to them, they will be good to you. They genuinely like to live with humans and they are the best at communicating with us. They absolutely don't give a shit about how you look (honestly, they have no idea what "good looks" are).
Best idea is to adopt a puppy from a shelter. That way, he will get used to you from the beginning. Best dogs are the street dogs/mixed breed ones (mongrels). They generally have better health and are tough and adaptable. A shelter puppy generally needs to be vaccinated and dewormed. First visit to the vet at around 8 weeks.
For potty training, don't hesitate to be a bit rough. The old routine (nose in the shit plus spanking) works well. Don't go for the touchy-feely methods advocated on many retarded sites. These will prolong the process to over six month. With the old school method, 2 months is generally enough.
Dogs need to be exercised at least twice a day. Best if they can run. Personally, I drive a scooter and my 2 dogs run behind me (I live in a place where you can do that). Neutering is recommended both for males and females. Food-wise, the ordinary stuff you find at the supermarket (Pedigree, etc) is good. It guarantees they have a balanced diet.
