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

I've had a -
Golden retriever- simply the best.
Bit hectic when young and the. just perfect

Springer spaniel- fabulous temperament and wasn't bonkers. luckily!

Jack Russell- gorgeous, small,
big characters but rather needy!!! However i wouldn't swap them

If they are happy to stroll 2 hours when you feel like walking, they will want it often! At least an hour a day proper walk (plus a couple of shorter ones unless you have a substantial garden) is essential for larger young dogs.

That said I have the laziest collie in town who sleeps 20 hours a day

As someone whose grown up with standard poodles and still has them in the family, they are high energy dogs. Ours competes in agility. She does the BEST cuddles though.

My cousin has a basset and I agree with all of this. We considered one, but it's not the right time for us to have a dog. She's an absolute sweetie and while I'd never leave my children unattended around any dog, the only apparent danger from her is being licked to death. She's placid, easy-going, happy with a short wander in the woods or on the beach but will also have fun chasing and running around the garden with the kids. The only thing she's not great on is walking on a lead... I think that's partly a combination of the breed being stubborn and partly because she's not very well-trained. Also, they're prone to back and ear problems so I think insurance is quite expensive.

Akita. Mine loved everyone and everything. One hour walk a day was fine for her.

Saluki? Like and Afghan hound without the grooming and similar to a greyhound/lurcher type pooch

Thanks everyone, I’ve never had a hound before, it’s always been working or pastoral type breeds so not sure about switching to hounds - I would like the dog to have some recall (ideally a solid recall after training)

Bassets are too small, whippets also too small

I don’t want anything smaller than a retriever.

My short list is now:

St Bernard
Newfoundland
Leonberger
Irish Wolfhound
Great Dane
Bernese Mountain
Show line Golden Retriever

What about a Landseer dog?

The thing to remember about working labradors is that they should be equally capable as sitting calmly whilst things are shot overhead as running around retrieving. Ours has always been super calm in the house, if we had to miss a day walking she'd cope, but if you saw her out and about you'd never guess she was capable of being calm!

Portuguese waterhound

We have a golden retriever and a labrador (working lines) and the GR is much more chilled than the lab, although he is also significantly older, so it could just be that and I've forgotten what he was like when he was younger. It isn't so much the walking with the lab - he is incredibly clever and needs a lot of mental stimulation - GR is a bit Tim nice but dim.

Newfoundland? That would mean getting a dog named after my favourite artist … and I could call him Edwin! Hmm I think it might be a calling … 😁

I’ve stuck with springers for 20 years. Someone told me she has 2 and they’re ‘mental’. Of my three, one is very excitable at home, you’d think we”d been on deployment for multiple tours when in reality, we went shopping. 🤣 The other 5 are/were so much calmer, lapdogs but lively when out

Springers are the best...we have a 6 month springer from working lines and she's 100mph when on offlead walks but a calm lapdog indoors...happy to snooze, wander and watch the world go by. People have this widespread belief that springers are nuts but that's never been the case with any I've known over the years. By contrast, cockers are much more high maintenance indoors ime plus far harder to train and recall yet people get them constantly - and shelters are dull do bursting with them in my area ☹️

If you want low energy but large I would think your tipping into more of a giant type than a working breed. The difference in personality between my Leo’s and my GSD is massive. I would avoid working types if you want calm!

@Landseer have you thought about a Gordon setter? Beautiful dogs and the breed is at risk, worth saving!

Hi again OP. I see you have the Irish Wolfhound on your list (and what a lovely breed that is!). That being the case, do also consider Scottish Deerhounds. They are very similar in look, size and temperament to Wolfhounds so I say what I say just to try to give you the extra option! Super dogs. Soft and loving, energy levels sound about right based on what you say you’d like and, to boot, personality-wise all the Wolfhounds I’ve met have been characterful entertainers, enthusiastic when out for a run and very placid and homely when indoors. They don’t react badly to the odd day off from a big walk either.

Good luck and have fun choosing!

Staffy. Medium size. Easy to train. Fairly long lived. Happy to go on a ten mile hike or have a pyjama day.

Second a saluki. Mine is happy to lounge around but loves her run time. She is an absolute character, knows her own mind, makes me laugh a lot and is master of the side eye.

Very good recall, not needy, happy with her own space and easy to live with. She doesn't shed but does love to roll in fox poo.

Came on to suggest newfoundland or a bernese but have been beaten to it.

Still confused about all the people suggesting whippet when OP said she wants a big dog

Here's my golden retriever!

Hes the friendliest dog I've ever had, wouldn't harm a fly.
Yes they're energetic but 1 hour a walk a day and he's happy as anything or even just 2 half hour on lead walks.
He was easy to train as a puppy (5 years old now), never barks unless strangers at the door (which I trained him to do) and loves all people and dogs.

2 cons - shedding and a bit fussy with his dry food but that's it!!

If you want something bigger I've heard great Danes are a good choice and don't need much exercise.

St Bernard
Newfoundland
Greyhound

Rottweiler

likes walks but happy to be lazy as hell

What is it that makes the German shepherd not make the list compared to the other bigger breeds?

Make sure grooming is also being considered. A standard poodle is a huge amount of work to maintain it & expensive as will need monthly trips to a groomers u less you just want a completely shaved poodle ( i used to be a dog groomer & I wouldn’t own one personally) that goes or any woolly coated breeds really.

a retriever might be the best bet if your set on a big dog. If you would consider medium breeds then something like a cocker spaniel as they’re fairly chilled as are schnauzers

Newfoundland or St Bernard