To ask you to help me choose a dog breed?

[Landseer]

I’m so conflicted!

We’re in the position now to get a dog but we don’t know what breed to get.

It most be a big dog but with not too much energy, friendly and trustworthy with other animals (such as other dogs and in the countryside) One that will happily stroll for a couple of hours but isn’t climbing the walls wanting to be exercised for hours on end

Any ideas?? Please don’t recommend a Jack Russell - it has to be a big dog

Greyhound. Get a rescue, one that's preferably a failed racer rather than a retired racer as they usually have a much lower prey drive. They fold up small and are the laziest dogs ever, although need a zoomy run every so often.

Love them but they’re a bit too much for me

I work from home and am experienced in training large dogs but I don’t have the energy to keep up with these high drive breeds anymore unfortunately

Golden retrievers and labradors are both high energy dogs.

Greyhounds are rubbish with cats and anything smallish and furry. Great w people though and don't need loads of exercise.

How about a schnauzer ?

Not keen on getting a rescue as I have a small grandchild who stays at my house a lot. It has to be a puppy really

I think there is a big thing to be said about going to reputable breeder if you want a puppy. Seeing both mum and dad

Friend has German shepherd that is the biggest softest thing you have ever met. They meet up with other owns who has siblings and they are all the same lovely temperament.

Ah sorry x post

We had a rescue greyhound and she was the perfect family dog. She loved walks but would happily snooze the rest of the day and she was so calm and gentle. We have a border collie now, they're not for the faint hearted!

German Shepherds are “my heart breed” but I just can’t keep up with them anymore sadly
They deserve a home with humans who can match their energy needs.

Im thinking more along the lines of Newfoundland but worried they might be too much the other way and won’t want to walk anywhere 😂

I have had collies and A Northern inuit- I wouldnt get either breed again, they are high energy ofcourse but imo, collies esp are working dogs. Dp had a German sheppard and has said he wouldnt have one again.
We are considering an Airdale- Though ofcourse a terrier, hopefully not too highly strung (Ive had a JRT too!)
Lurchers are another breed I would love.

My best mate had two German Pointers - beautiful dogs - although very very well trained - I used to beg her to let me walk them - I miss them (sadly passed away within a year of each other). I also really like greyhounds.

Another vote for a greyhound here. I had mine from a puppy, so she is not like the retired ex-racers.

Another greyhound vote.

Temperament? Affectionate, loving, lazy, people focussed.

Breeders often have dogs that have never raced due to lack of drive. Ones that have raced are just as fabulous. Ours was retired off the track at 2, he’s now 4 and the biggest cuddle-bug.

I think a Bernese Mountain Dog would meet those requirements. Not loads of exercise needed and quite chilled with other dogs. They don't have a terribly long lifespan though, unfortunately.
Golde retrievers are not a bad choice because of temperament. They are super friendly usually. They do need quite a bit of exercise though, but are chilled once they've been walked in my experience.

If you want a quiet, well mannered dog , A Whippet or Greyhound would be my choice- as for large size, A Greyhound.
Any large dog will need training-
Sadly far too many untrained large dogs about
they knock children over , so with large size comes responsibly.

A big dog also has a large bore rectum, so the poos will be huge ( Think human sized)
You will need to pick these up.

I have always had large hound breeds for this reason - they don't have a strong desire to find work (collies) or be told what to do (gun dogs) and are very chilled when they're not out tracking down disgusting things to eat walking. The flip side of this is that they're very food-orientated, should be walked on a lead as you can never get a rock solid recall, and you have to approach training in a cunning manner - the dogs I've had have regarded training more as an exercise in new ways to get treats, rather than an innate desire to display obedience skills.

Another vote for a greyhound!
If you want to know more about them have a look at Richard Skipworth cartoons! He captures them uncannily well 😂

Greyhound or whippet is the way to go.

I always had big dogs (pointers etc) and now I’m have a cardigan corgi this is my second one. They are big dogs on short legs, he wears the collar size of a GSD weighs about 15kg and has big dog personality. He has a particularly splendid tail. He will cheerfully walk 8-10 miles or flop around not walking far. They are IMO not overly bright so are pretty easy going always cheerful and happy with few hang ups.
There only failing is that they shed like nothing on this earth as they have a double coat.

OP has grown up with large dogs, she's aware of these facts. It's just the high energy she wants to avoid.

What about a Briard?

Mastiffs are known for not needing loads of exercise, plus they are beautiful big dogs ❤️

Great Pyrenees 😍

We have two labradors - couldn't be more different in energy needs! One we call the whippet because she could run for hours and just runs constantly if she could, the other loves nothing more than a snooze and doesn't run anywhere unless he has the Zoomies.
Big dogs can be much quicker to settle and be calmer at home

Greyhound ticks every box!

My friend has two ex-racers, both are happy to walk/run for miles but also to snuggle up on the sofa and stay there for hours. They thrive on cuddles and are usually very sociable dogs 😊

I’d have one in a heartbeat but I have cats, and greyhounds (especially ex-racers) tend to have a very strong prey/chase drive.

I’ve always had big dogs and always trained them to KC gold level. And I still find poo bags in my coat pockets despite no longer having a dog.

I know how to look after a dog 😂 I just done have the energy for the workoholic breeds anymore