ok here is the type of dog im looking for.

Large, friendly with other dogs, good with strangers, loyal, easy to train, coat lenght doesnt matter too much.

Any ideas which breeds to look into???

How about a dobermann?  Very intelligent and loyal.  THey love learning new things all the time.
And in the case of the dobies I know they are fab with other dogs, so long as they are brought up properly (same as all breeds).  And they are absolutely beautiful! :D

i think you should get a rough collie they are the easiest dog to train and you wont ever find a more loyal one if you need to know more about the breed let me know as i will be only to happy to help

Golden retriever!

Hi, if you mean LARGE, then how about a Briard.  They are lovely dogs, intelligent, loving and mine gives me pleasure just to look at her she is soooo beautiful.  Everyone remarks how lovely she is.  They do have VERY long coats though which require quite a lot of work to keep them knot free.

Fiona

Got to be a Golden Retriever, surely....!!

Hi,

Golden Retriever would fit the bill provided your prepared to train him ,

Golden Retriever puppies as they are by nature,bouncy,friendly,creatures who love everybody.BUT they grow into bouncy strong adults weighing almost 6 stone!!
They MUST be taught to

Walk quietly on a lead
Not jump up at everyone
Not jump all over you all your furniture
Come when called
Go to bed when told
Not to beg or greed from the table

An obedient,well adjusted golden that is part of the family and welcome anywhere is a joy to own and admired by all.However you must be commiteed to training and not just at the beginning although easy going they don't train themselves.

The Golden is not for the too house proud he will Moult.Twice a year but when he/she does they do in style:-).

A golden should be well bred with a good temperament sound hips
(parents should be hipscored and eye tested at least)

If this is a dog you choose and he brought up right he will reward you with many happy golden years together faithful and loyal and great companion friend at your
side .

Biased ,yes I am owning 4 of this wonderful breed with large young family for us there is no other dog that comes close ;-)

Briony :-)

What about a Flatcoat Retriever, English/Irish/Gordon Setter, Scottish Deerhound  ( very large but fantastic temperament !) Samoyed ( bit noisy but fantastically happy dogs) ), Bernese Mountain Dog, Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Newfie. ( all big boned large well coated breeds with steady temperaments) Leonberger ( similar). Rescue Greyhounds are big dogs with lovely laid back temperaments ( usually).

Would not reccomend any of the traditional guarding breeds if you want a guarantee that they will fit all your criteria - some can be fantastic with strangers/other dogs but many need lots of socialising. All the working/pastoral breeds will be incredibly loyal and easy to train but can be over active and need 'some thing to do' ( exception here may be the Rough Collie). Most of the terrier breeds can be a bit 'fiesty' with other dogs and may be a bit small for you.

Personally I would avoid 'specialist' breeds like the Japanese Akita, Anatolian Karabash or Rhodesian Ridgeback although these are stunning dogs they can be very strong willed and need careful handling.

hope this helps

Yvonne