Help please! Looking for a puppy

Hi everyone,

I hope this is the right forum to ask for some advice.

Sadly, we recently had to have our Shar pei crossed boxer put to sleep. She had been suffering from seizures for around 12 months and unfortunately this became unmanageable with the highest dose of medication. She was an incredibly sweet, albeit very stubborn girl. We rescued her at 2 years old and she passed at 13.

We are looking to welcome a puppy into our home. My preference would be a large breed dog. I like to do my research, and have gone down MANY rabbit holes around various breeds, mainly to check I can meet the individual needs of the dog to give them the best life.

I usually work from home and can get in around 2 hours of exercise with the puppy a day. On days I have to go into the office, they would be going to my mums home (which has a springer spaniel).

I understand that a lot is based on how well the puppy is socialised, but it is very important to me that I pick a breed which can blend into our family ( my close family have dogs and younger children) but also would like a breed that I feel comfortable walking at night alone. Having a dog in the home made me feel much safer, my previous dogs woof would of been enough for someone to think twice lol

As I say, I’m mindful that personality and breed are two separate things and how I raise and socialise the puppy will be a huge factor. I just wondered if anyone had any recommendations on a breeds?

Thanks so much in advance!