Loyalty at all cost and 4 legs (mostly)

You guys are making me miss my Rhodesian Ridgeback best-buddy, Brady, even more!
I had to put him down last June at 11 years old due to kidney failure. Worse day ever.
He was a rescue that we'd had for 9+ years and was the absolute best of the 3 Ridgebacks we've had over the years.
My wife rescued a Brittany Spaniel runt (only 13 lbs.) a couple of months ago from the local animal control so she could have a lap dog - not even the same as my Ridgeback buddies from the past. And to top it all, I think this dog was abused by males in the past because all it does whenever it sees me is quiver. I don't know what it would do if I got another Ridgeback.