I agree with getting a rescue. It was our first choice but we couldn't find a rescue good dog in the area that was a good fit for the family. If you can't find a rescue, you can look for a breeder nearby with the following website:
Puppies.com will help you find your perfect puppy for sale. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since 2003 and we want to help you find the puppy your whole family will love.
www.puppyfind.com
We got our first puppy this way. The breeder we found had a Facebook account with plenty of references. We visited them before we bought our puppy to ensure that it was a legit place and not a puppy mill.
For a second dog we got a retired breeding dog (Moyen poodle) since we didn't want another puppy. We had forgotten how much work a puppy is.
I also agree that a poodle mix is an excellent choice. We don't have any shedding problems and our dogs are super easy to train.