training advise

Hi everyone
I am about to adopt my brothers dog . He is in the process of getting divorced and they have a beautiful 1 year old english bulldog that is now alone way to much ( he leaves for work at 4 am and comes home at 4 pm a neighbor lets the dog out at mid day ) and i think my brother resents this dog he is good to her but doesn't love her . It is sad to think of this dog alone all day and not loved so I want to get asap ( i am awake at night thinking about her ) So I know its the right thing to do but it was a challenge to convince my husband . He likes dogs but is a bit of a glass is half empty kind of guy and needs to get used to ideas . This is a dog to love she is so sweet I just fell in love . he is to overwhelmed by her care and sees her as his ex-wifes I on the other hand am home at this time of the year all the time and its the kind of dog you could take anywhere she is just so easy going. In the spring I will be working as a gardener 2-3 days a week but my husband comes home for lunch every day and i have a 19 year old son who is in and out . The dog is crate trained which I have no experience with. I don't think it was ever trained to walk on a leash . ultimately I would like to see if she would qualify to become a therapy dog . she has not been spayed yet and has gone through 1 heat so that will be my first priority .I am so excited! are there any good web sites or books you guys can suggest for training? I had the book "the monks of new skeet " I also have 2 cats but they are young ( 1 1/2 ) I am going to call my brother today I am so excited !
laura