Im hoping you all might have some advice for a friend of my partners ( i dont know them very well) my parnters best friend and his wife are still deciding which breed is for them but the problem is that there both so different in terms of there personality that its hard for them to find a breed that suits them both. My partner said its surprising there even together there so different. He said his friend wants a GSD or Doberman as hes suits them more and his persnality suits them but his wife is more suited to Goldens , labs. Hes more reserved and not into social things like meeting his friends or going out and tends to be reserved with strangers or people he doesn't know were she is very social , livley , friendly and bubbly so my parnters idea is maybe theres a breed out there that will suit both of them. So i thought to ask on here is there a breed that is freindly and easy to train like a lab but slightly reserved with people ( doesn't want to say hello to every stranger) like a GSD. Is there a breed out there that is similar to both the GSD and Labrador?

My awnser was get both or a cross of the two but a cross is not what they want and they cant afford two dogs. My parnter suggested a bernese mountain dog or a Boxer. I just want to see what others think.

Gone are the days when GSDs were(in the UK) supposed to be "wary of strangers" because if the poor examples if the breed that were shown in the 1940s/1950s, that it was made part of the breed standard. Along came some good quality German GSDs , outgoing & steady temperaments & the breed is now no longer nervous & fearful, except for those bred by "Alsatian"type fans

Golden Retrievers & Labrador Retrievers can be very full on as a youngsters & do need lots training & consistency. Labradors are NOT easy to train

I would never advise buying a crossbreed of any two breeds, the puppies are very much a lottery.

Perhaps a trip to "Discover Dogs" at Crufts would give them an opportunity to have hands on experience of the very varied breeds they like.

Don't quite understand anyone suggesting Bernese Mountain Dogs or Boxers as an alternative to those the couple like, they are like chalk & cheese.

I see you have dogs two dogs as your avatar are they yours ?

I own a German shepherd and a Labrador. My suggestion was to get both like me but they dont want two dogs.

My partner suggested a BMD or Boxer not sure why as i thought it was a stupid suggestion.

I thought Boxer too I had them before I had Beardies. I also had a friend who had GSDs and I really liked them too. I think Discover Dogs at Crufts would be a good idea.

When my eldest daughter and her husband were choosing their first family dog, he wanted a German Shepherd, she wanted a Golden Retriever. Each wanting the breed they were familiar with.
The mutual choice was a Leonberger. They are now on their third. Beautiful breed if rather large!

> The mutual choice was a Leonberger. They are now on their third. Beautiful breed if rather large!

A Hovawart would also seem to fit the bill, and not as large as the lovely leonberger

A dog is also what you train it to be. A Lab can be very focused on you and not others be it humans or dogs if you don't want it to be. All dogs really should be socialised around people and dogs any way but imo the focus should always be on its owners over anything else.
I think they need to look at other characteristics of dogs too. They clearly like the large breeds and from what you are saying coat type doesn't matter as both have raised a short and long coated breeds with interest.

I think discover dogs is a great idea at crufts next weekend so they can meet all breeds and maybe it will become clearer.
Do they want a biddable breed in terms or training or one with a stubborn nature. Do they want a breed aloof with strangers upon meeting them or a friendly disposition. Exercise levels, some breeds need more brain engagement than others.
Prey drive, some are more prone to chase small furries.
How much can they put into grooming daily, weekly etc.
How vocal they want, some breeds a quite vocal and some will bark at the slightest thing.
Breeds suitable for 1st time owners if they are needs to also be considered too, some are not suited to your average 1st time owner.
How much training can and are they willing to put into thw dog during ita 1st year

Doing the job i do i have some very well trained Labs who don't care for other people, had one which was aloof with strangers so they don't need to think a Lab will run up to every one and every thing if they put the training in.

Thank you all, they have agreed to come to crufts with us ( we go every year its the one place i shop like a crazy lady for my dogs) and they will meet the different breeds i have also told them of the reccomendations on here as well.

Thank you Suejaw for your reply ,  my partners friend is not overly social himself with people and doesn't like talking to strangers and thats what put him off labs as labs tend to want to say hello to every stranger. My kiara is like this just want to say hello to every dog , person, bird ect. Were his wife is the opposite you cant shut her up ( in a good way) she loves meeting new people and talking forever. Were he doesn't.  So ill tell him what you said as well. Also they both have had dogs her first dog was a labrador cross and his first dog was a Belgian Shepherd crossed with a rough collie ( his first was a rescue dog) but he was brought up around German shepherds. This is there first dog together but they both have had dogs themselves on there own.

They do know what there looking for in a dog and have a list of what there looking for and are going to talk to the breeders/owners at crufts to see which breeds fit the list the most.

Ill keep you updated on how crufts goes.

Just to say any dog can be trained to ignore people etc so he doesn't have to interact .infact when u are out with your dog making the walk just about u and your dog is a good thing
I have a reactive dog and appreciate those who do not allow there dogs to run up and play with mine as it causes so much stress. I am that antisocial person who avoids others in my case due to our needs.
That particular trait wouldn't worry me .I also had a very friendly gsd so it's not guaranteed that a dog like a gsd will not want to say hello

Same for a lot of Dobermanns i know they are super friendly with people. A lot is the type of training you instill into a dog and what their focus is and allowed to have happened.

4 out of 5 of my labradors would not go near anyone they don't know by choice. They'd even avoid being touched by anyone they don't know very well. The other one may go for a sniff and will tolerate being petted, but woud certainly not run up to say hello to strangers.