Looking for the "perfect" breed or breed attriutes....

Bad news for you. . all dogs shed, all dogs bark and all dogs (especially puppies) are going to need consistent attention in order to get them housebroken properly. If you're looking for something smaller that won't leave hair all over your house, look for something with a wire or curly coat, think small terriers or Poodle or Bichon types. Unfortunately, generally speaking, the smaller the dog, the larger the tendency to yap. Quieter toy breeds (from my own experience) are English Toy Spaniels, Affenpinschers, Japanese Chins and Pekingese. Other breeds on the small side, but also don't tend to yap are French Bulldogs, Lowchen, and Tibetan Spaniels. Of course nothing beats researching on your own. Please do not buy a puppy from a petstore, rather research the breed you want and contact the breed club for breeder referrals. Don't forget about breed rescue or going to your local pound and rescuing an older dog. You might even find one that's already housebroken. The quicker you jump into the purchase, the more likely you are to be disappointed, so take your time and research carefully because a small dog will be with you for a decade or longer.

Well first of all, ALL dogs are going to shed to some degree, bark more or less depending on how you raise and train it, and become a part of your family. I'd probably stay clear of working, sporting, or herding type dogs because at any size those are usually more active dogs that need more exercise than most. Also find a dog that doesn't have a double coat or fluffy as they'll tend to shed more than others. If you'd like to avoid the housebreaking and puppy problems stage why not adopt a young adult?