Good dogs for first timers  

maybe get a medium sized dog of the short hair breed? They are easier to maintain. I personally like Kack Russels....my first dog was a cocker spaniel though but they are hard to maintain...hygiene wise...with their floppy ears and long fur...ticks and ear infections are hard to detect unless you bother to look everyday

Hello jammyjt.

What kind of bulldogs are they? I've heard that English Bulldogs don't live very long, and you may not want to have to deal with an early death for your first dog. It's a painful thing to experience no matter when it occurs.

I have some Scottish Terriers who are loads of fun, but they're also very smart and very stubborn. You may not want a stubborn first dog. These are small dogs who think that they are big. They are incredibly loyal, but then most dogs are.

I also like Labrador Retreivers. They are great companions and very friendly to all people most of the time. They're a larger dog, and need a lot of room to run.

You need to decide how much room your dog will have. No matter what you get, make sure to care for it and love it unconditionally. That's how your dog will love you.