Getting a Dog

My husband and I were discussing lately about the possibility of getting a pet for our boys. We haven't decided yet which one we are getting because of my husband's up coming deployment and the fact that we don't own a house here in California. I am also planning to go back home to my family in the Philippines while my husband is gone. My boys love dogs because every time they see a dog walking in the street or in the park, my eldest son keeps telling me, that he wants to buy a dog. We want to adopt a dog from a dog shelter but right now we are not in the position to get one because of my husband's position and getting deployed soon.