Oooh,my favorite thing to do, talk about breeds!
Hmmm.....lets see. Sm/md sized, non-clingy, energetic but not hyper, stupid and lovable.
Well, I think that describes an english bulldog to a "t".
Or you could go mini/standard schnauzer(although I suppose they do need to be groomed, unless you want the benji look)
-german pinscher (a breed on my future breed list)
-basset hound?
-corgi?
-staffordshire bull terrier?
-amstaff?
-bull terrier?
-basenji?
-pharoah hound?
-whippet? (although I don't know how they do at alerting)
Or shelters usually have a wide variety of mid sized dogs.