What about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, have only met them at shows, not in a home or walk situation.

http://www.chesapeakebayretrieverclub.co.uk/aboutchesapeakes.html essentially they are a working breed.

Just to cover all bases there is also the curly coat retriever . For me their naturally oily coats would put me off  . I've known one curly quite well who used to happily spend his time in the pub his owners ran wandering around the customers.loomi g for titbiys and strokes . not sure if his   temprement was indicative of all though.

Ok so now I'm even more confused my list was flat coat and golden until onetwothreefour said that duel purpose goldens are high energy and might not suit me but now with being told that both goldens and flats are calm in the house I'm starting to think that they are suited to me, I really like the flat coat 100% and the duel purpose Goldens. Tolling duck retriever appeal to but again I'm worried if there to mad?

By the way even though I want a laid back dog I'm by no means lazy I'm a very active person but just don't want a dog who is running all over the place inside or who is always busy my friends Springer just never stops and jumps all over the place in side.

All the retrievers I have met in their own homes have an off switch.  My friends Working line Labrador is very active on her walks, at home you hardly see her, as she is in her den asleep.

My friend is a dog Walker and her bitch gets an hour or so each day and often two, at weekends when there are fewer client dog to walk.

I used to walk a dual purpose Golden for a neighbour every day with my Elkhounds for 10 years,a dn she wa very calm at home, but did go to obedience classes for the social side as much as anything.

If barking is an issue you might want to google 'Toller scream' and just check it out first.

Only had experience with one Toller that came to class but he was constant high-pitched barking but that might have been made worse by the owner

Thanks Cal for telling me about the toller scream found a video and my mom immediately put her fingers in her ears, even I had  to turn it off as it even hurt my ears and I have nothing wrong with my ears

Now I know that retrievers are definitely calm inddors ( which my mom says too, she has showline goldens but she's had show line labs in the past too and a showline lab was one of the most laid back dogs shed ever had but she just prefers goldens)

My mom said the flat coat helped create the Golden is this true? Is there a showline\ working lines devide in flat coats?

Yes in part the fcr was part of.the development of the golden . The fcr it self came from the Newfoundland water dog and wavy coat retriever.u do occasionally get yellow fcr but it's not a colour that is accepted in the breed. Liver and black being   the only colours thay are acceptable by the kc

Fcr are.still dual.purpose and don't have the distinct split that some other breeds like cocker for example have .

Fyi https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat-Coated_Retriever

Wasn't aware of their toller scream.  Nice to know

Wait are we talking the big slobbery Newfoundland?

If the beef created the FCR I'm surprised there not more calmer and surprised people say there hyper if the beed was part of the Newfoundland

No different dog from the one we know  .the st John water dog from Newfoundland. My understanding is it's only the name that's similar and for definitely don't slobber unless u count drooling over my yoghurt pot

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John's_water_dog     correction known as the lesser Newfoundland

OMG, the link says the Newfoundland , awwww I LOVE Newfoundlands and wouldn't even be asking about breed if newfs didn't drool, so FCR having newfs in there blood makes me love them even more as I have a REALLY soft spot for newfs, my heart melted with the pics too , iv been watching videos and mom's fine with there bark and I love watching them.

I'm really starting to lean to the FCR

Oh the link says Newfoundland dog?

This is what it says in the first link.

"Canadian seafarers are thought to have brought Newfoundlands to British ports, and they factored into the ancestry of the Flat-Coated Retriever"

And I clicked on the beef bit and it came up with the beef I thought of

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_retriever a bit more if u go down to the origins of the link between the two breeds. I actually choose the fcr because i didnt feel the Goldie was quite right for me but liked certain aspects of the breed.the fcr fitted nicely

I didn’t know about the Toller scream either until Nikita posted about it. They look lovely dogs but I don’t think I could cope with the noise

Must of missed that .

Generally the larger the breed of dog the less screechy the bark.
Pastoral breeds are likely to be more higher pitched.

Why not a Labrador? Show bred lines or a show bred Golden Retriever?

Generally i wouldnt recommend a Rottweiler to a first time owner. They can be a very stubborn breed and hard to manage if you don't do things right in finding the right breeder and temperament of the parents. And then the correct training and socialization.
What about an Otterhound? They are on the verge of becoming extinct if people dont start becoming interested and wanting the breed.

What about a Bernese mountain dog? 

I'm not sure that going to Crufts and looking at which dogs are barking there is a good way to judge which breeds are predisposed to barking at home constantly...!  Crufts is a very unnatural and stressful environment for a dog, even if dogs enjoy it and it is 'eustress', they are still going to be highly aroused in that sort of location. 

Do you really want a pedigree dog and a puppy? is a better question.  Whenever we get these posts on here with people wanting recommendations and wandering across subgroups of dogs, I can't help but think they would be better off going to their local rescue and having a look at the dogs there.  You know what you'll get, it will have been assessed, and even if it's one of a kind, it's one of a kind that you'll know will suit you.  Unless you have a strong need for a pedigree dog because you are interested in showing or training or a dog sport which requires a particular type of dog, I really can't see why a rescue wouldn't be a much better idea. 

Personally, as a breeder, if I saw a thread like this and then had that puppy buyer approach me, I wouldn't want them on my list, because they are not deeply committed to wanting only my specific breed in a committed and ongoing way.

I wonder if the Toller scream might be a no no.
Have a look at videos of Toller's in full voice. Not all do it though
Really nice dogs

onetwothreefour- I already said in a different thread why the Bernese mountain dog is off.

And I don't really like you saying I'm not committed,

"Personally, as a breeder, if I saw a thread like this and then had that puppy buyer approach me, I wouldn't want them on my list, because they are not deeply committed to wanting only my specific breed in a committed and ongoing way."

I am looking at pedigree dog as I don't want a cross and I am only interested in a puppy for my first dog. I will be committed to the right breed for me but it's going to take time to find which breed is for me , I know what I want in a dog and I have two breeds on my list the flat coat and Golden and am meeting some flat coats today, I just don't appreciate you saying that a breeder should not put me on a waiting list just because iv not figured out which breed to get yet , once I have found the right breed for me I will be 100% committed, going to training classes getting a one to one trainer if needed , socializing as much as I can and doing everything I can to give my dog the best life.

And just because I'm not showing, doing a sport does not mean I can't have a pedigree dog I'm sure there are loads of breeders on here who have let there dogs go to pet homes.

Confused? isn't this how u work out what u do feel is the best breed for you.ask question meet the dogs and work through until u  find the breed you are committed to .pedigree dogs do not all go to non pet homes..doubt there would be enough himes if that were the case
I wouldn't of considered myself anything but a pet home for all but one dog and she is  now a pet and doesn't show if we have to male a division between the two .i have never found any resistance from breeders I have spoken to . All bar one of my dogs have been pedigree

I am beginning to think that the breed for you may not exist. From your posts it seems you are rather young and that as you are still living at home the rest of your family will also have to live with a breed that “suits” them and so they too should have input into any decision.
Even within a singular breed each animal will have it’s own personality-they aren’t carbon copies of one another.
I think you need more hands on experience of dogs in general before you can choose a breed you think will suit you.

I agree that there isnt a breed that exists that would suit you.  You could look at every breed under the sun and still find somereason that its not for you. You wanted a Bernese then changed your mind.  In your original post you said Goldens "do nothing for me" and yet they are now on your list ???

> Do you really want a pedigree dog and a puppy? is a better question.

> I can't help but think they would be better off going to their local rescue and having a look at the dogs there.  You know what you'll get, it will have been assessed, and even if it's one of a kind, it's one of a kind that you'll know will suit you.

> if I saw a thread like this and then had that puppy buyer approach me, I wouldn't want them on my list, because they are not deeply committed to wanting only my specific breed in a committed and ongoing way.

I agree, the beauty of pedigree dogs is their predictability and that you get the look and traits you like, if yoru requirements are not for a specific type then  a unique adult may well be the way to go.

So many of your requirements are not breed specific traits, but individual characteristics of a dogs personality.

> So many of your requirements are not breed specific traits, but individual characteristics of a dogs personality.

I agree, and precisely for this reason I would also suggest going to the rescue (looking at purebred dogs) or contacting the breed club/breeders with the view to adopt a young adult or at least a "teenage" puppy.

While purebred dogs are generally predictable regarding their traits and temperament, the personality of individual dogs can still be significantly different. The most calm and laid back breed can produce a nervous or anxious dog, or simply less confident dog, or something similar, which may lead to the dog having traits you may not wish to live with (bossiness to cover up their nervousness, reactivity, barking for no reason, fear of things and so on). And it really is 90% about nature, and 10% about nurture - you can aid the development of temperament slightly, but pretty much what the dog has been born with will never go away.

In my experience an 8-10 weeks old puppy has only an indication of their personality, you don't really see with certainty how the puppy is likely to develop until it is 4-6 months old and sometimes even older. For this reason you are much much more likely to get the dog with personality that really suits you by adopting an adult or young adult.

There are many spin litters docked - like all gundog breeds generally a whole litter is done if one dog is going to be worked as how do they know which is the one!

awwww I LOVE Newfoundlands and wouldn't

There's one very significant variable missing from all your posts so far, that element is, health problems with any given breed.
.
I recommend you read the post topic Bernese breed and then ask about a breed and that then ask about breeds that breeds health! your posts resemble those of a judge in a beauty competition.
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> What about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, have only met them at shows, not in a home or walk situation.

someone else looked into these and they didn't seem great 'pets'

For starters I don't live at home so not sure what have you that idea , yes I go to see my mom and dad every other day but I own my own house and I work from home.

I also don't understand why your all now saying to get a rescue dog all I'm doing is looking at breeds I like and if there is a reason why I feel it's not for me then I cross them off and I disagree when some of you are saying there is no breed for me or doesn't exist.

The Bernese I thought long and hard about and decided there not for me ,  the flat coat I'm meeting today to see if I'm suited to a flat coat and then Golden I said they don't interest me as I'd only seen showline goldens I prefer goldens who are golden not cream and looking at duel purpose goldens ( which I did not know existed until my mom told me)  they appeal to me more and on paper both the Golden and flat have what I'm looking for and tick everything I said I wanted so clearly some of you are wrong about there being no dog for me.

And I don't want a rescue dog simple as that I want a puppy I can train , socialize myself.

I mean really some of you are saying that if you cross off different breeds you should just go to a rescue then why bother having breeders then. Like furriefriends said this how people choose which dog is right for them by making a list and going through until you find your breed.

I almost feel as if some of you are implying I won't be a good dog owner or that I'm stupid.

> What about an Otterhound?

suspect the drool / beard will put off but absolutely gorgeous dogs and they seem loveable goofballs the ones I've met

Euro- "your posts resemble those of a judge in a beauty competition" what are you trying to imply here as I'm only trying to figure which breed is for me and all iv done is write a list of what I want and the make a list.

Health I haven't mentioned as I will look into health myself to see what issues are in the breed.

> but just don't want a dog who is running all over the place inside or who is always busy my friends Springer just never stops and jumps all over the place in side.

All dogs have to learn/understand the off switch - maybe some of the working spaniels don't quite get that 'settle' thing but from young pup all mine understand that when we are done we are done and it is time to settle!

Active fun energetic dog does not mean you have to put up with that 24/7 :)

Like you have already done keep meeting the breeds - think about can you put up with the grooming, the exercise and do the training - and like you have ask questions to those who know the breed well.

Thank you Rachel , I know what I'm doing is right asking , meeting, today I'm meeting a woman who is a friend of mom's she has owned flat coats for nearly 35yrs and has showed but never bred just showed. And my mom said she asks a lot of questions and will be able to help you decide if the flat coat is for you I was also told to wear good shoes and comfortable clothes as she will be letting me joing her on her afternoon walk so I can get a feel for how strong they are on lead ect..

I just don't get why some are know say no breed exists.

> "Personally, as a breeder, if I saw a thread like this and then had that puppy buyer approach me, I wouldn't want them on my list, because they are not deeply committed to wanting only my specific breed in a committed and ongoing way."

I agree. I personally think you would be better getting a rescue.

To me the dog you have described in your "criteria" is a Labrador.

> And just because I'm not showing, doing a sport does not mean I can't have a pedigree dog I'm sure there are loads of breeders on here who have let there dogs go to pet homes

Nobody has said that, they have merely suggested some breeds aren't suitable as just pets.

Have you considered getting a cat?

> I just don't get why some are know say no breed exists.

I don't think anyone said, that, or at least not what I meant. In fact the opposite what your looking for may exist in many breeds, but not in every example of any breed. 

Some of the specifics you mention are very much down to upbringing and training, or individual character of a given dog.

For example my breed which is required to bark, may have individuals who find it hard not to bark, others much less inclined unless there is something of interest, and the barks may vary from a high pitch like a collie to quite a low GSD bark.

But I cannot abide a barky dog and from puppyhood insist that barking is kept to a minimum.

Bounciness.  When my children were young I insisted on four feet on the ground, never allowed dogs and children to run around together and get over excited, their interactions were for training or quiet times.

These days most of my visitors are doggy, the dogs mostly met other doggy folk at shows, so they are inclined to be invited to jump up, so if you visited you would get jumped on.  For this reason non doggy visitors go in my non doggy sitting room, others get to meet the dog once calm.