To ask you to select my dog breed?

[Pikaso]

I just can’t decide on what breed of dog I want! (Please don’t suggest cross breeds, I want to be involved in showing and breed specific activities as well as meets for social reasons).

Ok so I want a big dog, one that is not predisposed to aggressive or reactive behaviour. A friendly breed. An intelligent breed that could take part in obedience. Not a massively energetic breed (like a Dobermann) but one than I can enjoy a decent walk with (2 hours) and not have it still bouncing off the walls when I get home. A breed that is generally fine off lead with the correct training (so no high prey/hounds I’m assuming).

My ideal dog would be one I could walk off lead, take to the pub, engage in sports (water sports/agility etc) and generally enjoy. My dog is my only form of socialising.

My current ideas are:
Newfoundland
Great Dane
Irish Wolfhound (but not sure with it being a hound and short life span)
Golden Retriever
German Shepherd
Standard Poodle

Any other suggestions?! I love giant Schnauzers but I don’t want another high risk breed.

Bernese?

I want to be involved in showing and breed specific activities as well as meets for social reasons

I don't mean to be a downer but between this and not having a clue about breeds it sounds like you want a hobby rather than another living thing which will be dependent on you for 10 years.

Are you sure a dog is right for you? Have you had one before or do you have one now? You say your dog is your only form of socialising but it's not clear if you mean now or hypothetically.

I was going to suggest newfoundland & irish wolfhound, love them

I thought all large breeds have a shorter life span? Newfoundland average 8-10 and great dane 6-8!!! I don't know enough to recommend a breed, but some online research might narrow it down. I'd then speak to the specific breed club for more advice.

www.purina.co.uk/find-a-pet/dog-breeds/breed-selector
www.ukpets.com/dog-finder

Red Setter

Most of those large dogs have a short life span. Great Danes often only get to 7 or maybe 8.
I'd go with retriever

Golden retrievers are soft as brushes but quite daft too IME.

Labradors are quite easy?

@Lockheart

I want to be involved in showing and breed specific activities as well as meets for social reasons

I don't mean to be a downer but between this and not having a clue about breeds it sounds like you want a hobby rather than another living thing which will be dependent on you for 10 years.

Are you sure a dog is right for you? Have you had one before or do you have one now? You say your dog is your only form of socialising but it's not clear if you mean now or hypothetically.

I’ve had dogs all my life. I currently have a dog so this is very forward thinking. Certainly not an impulse buy. I want to start getting my research in, I expect to put in quite a few years of research before I go ahead - I just want to narrow down the breeds a bit.

I don’t socialise outside of the dog world.

A setter

We just got a golden retriever and she's adorable. She is still a naughty puppy just now but hopefully she will train well. But we are not intending to show her, just enjoy as a family pet and take for longish walks.

@luckylavender

Red Setter

Oh they are beautiful!

Rottweiler..

OP are you in the UK? Crufts is only a few weeks away. Go along and have a look around - they have hundreds of breeds from around the world as well as breeders and judges who know everything about their breeds.

I want to be involved in showing and breed specific activities as well as meets for social reasons

Don't get a dog. Get a classic car or a model train or take up quilting.
They all have showing opportunities, and social meets and activities specific to the interest.

I mean this in all seriousness for your own sake.

Your notion of dog ownership is so far off beam, you and the dog would be sadly disappointed.

I suggest you contact a local dog rescue and offer yourself as a volunteer. More experience around dogs will help you at least get more clue about breeds matched to your needs.

A working Labrador. Can’t beat them. Clever, friendly, loyal, so trainable. Fit, energetic and lazy in equal measure when you neeed them to be.

Any type of collie fits all your needs.
Border, smooth, rough etc

I'd really recommend a Rhodesian Ridgeback (bitch). Very loyal, family-orientated, clever, loves a good walk but also enjoys lazing around, obedient, and stunning looking dogs.

We've always found the dogs a little more standoffish than the bitches. Ours is 6 now and I still have cars stop and comment on how beautiful and obedient she is. We walk her off the lead most of the time, we've taught her to not cross the road without command, and her recall is fantastic. The pub is her second home 😄 Obviously all dogs are different and I'm generalising on the Ridgeback character but this is what we've found.

Bearded Collie for sure!

The first three have a very short lifespan, endemic health issues, are so huge as to not be take-anywhere dogs (even a dog friendly pub would be forgiven for baulking at a post-walk-damp Newfoundland) and are not promising candidates for agility or obedience. Before anyone ats me yes I have seen all three doing agility but not with any great success or longevity. Go smaller and more mainstream - of that list, golden retriever.

Golden retriever or standard poodle.
Both are extremely intelligent
Poodles are more energetic.
Both have a normal lifespan

Poodles need regular grooming.
Also, English Setter. They are apparently a very rare breed nowadays. They have a lovely temperament.
Irish Setters are lovely but not so easy to train.
Some larger breeds also heavily drool.
Golden Retriever is a good all round, loving dog with bags of character that just loves to please.
Just be aware they do moult.

Not as big as some of the suggestions, but smooth collies are gorgeous dogs.

Flatcoated retriever. Does everything you asked for in OP.

Beautiful, loving, athletic dogs.
www.flatcoated-retriever-society.org/

Slightly smaller than the breeds you've identified but a vizla might fit the bill. Gorgeous looking dogs with an average life expectancy of 12 - 14 years. An unruly nightmare if not properly trained though.

Italian Spinone, not many around but beautiful dogs and meet your criteria

Fair enough, I apologise that I read your post wrong.

I'd recommend something like a borzoi!