Argh! Going crazy - help me pick a breed

[Itstimetobegin5678]

My Fiance and I are finally in a position to commit to a dog in the next 6 months but I'm really struggling to nail down the breed.

We live in a 3 story house in a village with a small garden (8m x 4m)

Happy with high energy as have lots of time to commit to walking, obedience and agility
Medium sized or bigger
Can live with cats - so controlled prey drive

Breeds we like but have written off:

Pyrenean Mountain Dog - we were set on this breed until we bought this house last year. The odd layout and stairs wouldn't be practical for a breed that should tackle stairs until older.
Newfie/St Bernard - same issue with stairs
Bermese mountain dog - apparently not good with cats
Samoyed - prey drive
GSD - could be good by struggling to find a pup from working lines. Show lines look almost deformed with back so curved.

This is the current short list but I fear our garden is too small:
Rottweiler
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Labrador
Golden
Irish Setter

Any thoughts on our shortlist would be great along with suggestions I've not thought off.

I would recommend a Dalmatian if you have the time for exercise, my Dalmatian is the kindness, she is such fun but also likes to snuggle constantly, she watches over the teenagers and while a bit bonkers is nothing like people warned me about. She needs a lot of exercise but is such a happy fun soul.

Have a look at flat coat retrievers

We have a Lab x Springer (probably not the size you were after) but he's from working lines bred from champion gun dog parents. He's terrified of cats so I wouldn't necessarily rule any out just based on cats, as you never know how they'll be. And if you're getting a puppy who will grow up with them, they will probably get on fine

@CatsForLife

Have a look at flat coat retrievers

Ooh, yes! I always forget about them but they're fabulous dogs.

I met one in town once and had dog treats on me so gave him one (with owners' permission, of course). Now every time he sees me, he practically pulls them across the street to get another

I'd say a lab. I can see now why every other person has one. Mine is the most charming, loving, tolerant, gentle and fun girl.

She's working lines and very fit and active. Labs are a joy to train, being so food motivated. Perhaps a little too much.

She's great with the cats. The cats were here first, one likes dogs, one hates everything that breathes and they rock along fine. She's got a low prey drive and doesn't chase them. She wants to play with them but they give no shits.

Garden size is only important if you are not able to walk/play/train a couple of hours a day. With a big garden you can just fling them out there to entertain themselves but it's not essential.

You might get in well with a springer or if you want a bigger dog with all the lab traits a flat coated retriever. God they are gorgeous beasts.

Definitely my dream dog. They are quite rare but there are a few good breeders. The one in Sheffield is highly recommended by a gun dog man I know who has one.

This - wonderful dogs

One of these! The cats in the house are the best dog trainers. He respects them totally

Another huge spaniel fan here. We didn’t really know what breed we were interested in and rescues told us we were unsuitable (young child, no other dogs etc) and then a relative had a litter of Sprocker (springer x cocker) Spaniels from working lines. We have a lovely boy who is a dream to be around. Very chilled in the house and happy lounging about, lots of fun on a walk or playing in the garden.

I would not recommend Chessies, they are the more challenging, stickier, stinkier of the big gundog breeds. I actually know two people who used to breed and work them who changed to labradors and never looked back so I guess there must be something in that!

@Itstimetobegin5678

They are beautiful dogs *@LostArcher*. I actually pulled off an original shortlist as read they can be cat reactive. Do you have experience with rough hair collies and cats?

Don't have a cat but my rough collie wants to make friends with all the cats! Sadly, they've aren't keen on him.

Get one of these......