Help me find a dog breed, please

Hi, newbie here
Looking into getting a puppy soon, but I want to make sure it's the right dog for me! Obviously a lot is down to training and socialisation, but I'm sure that will be easier with the right breed.

Firstly - I'm a single female, in my early twenties and I live alone in a flat in Central London. It's a pretty big flat, on the top/third floor (I think this is called the fourth floor in the US) with a small balcony. There is no garden but I'm across the road from a huge 400 acre park, a five minute walk. The dog really needs to be suitable for living in a flat in a big city, I want a happy dog . This is my first personal dog, but my parents have always had Dobermanns (only one at a time) - I helped to train & exercise their current dog so I have some experience. She is very stubborn and dominant, even now she's nearly eleven, so I know all about creative training :lol-sign: I'm willing to put a lot of time and effort into training and socialisation.

Here are some things I want:

- Large breed. I'm not very keen on small or medium breeds. Also my parents' dog is not good with smaller breeds due to some experiences with badly trained ones. They visit with her so bigger breeds are necessary. 60cm/23-24in+ in an adult male is preferable, but I might go a little bit smaller if it's the right dog. Giant breeds are OK too, but the short lifespan and potential health problems would be devastating. Also, I mostly take public transport so a large breed would be a little easier than a giant breed on the tube and buses. I wouldn't mind a dog that looks intimidating, especially as I'm a petite woman, but they have to be a big softy inside!

- I don't mind brushing the dog every day and bathing every now and then, but I don't want anything more difficult or time-consuming when it comes to grooming. Moderate shedding and drooling is OK, but nothing as bad as I have seen in Newfies/Saint Bernards haha.

- Not prone to DA, good with other dogs and cats. I have a small-medium, very playful and affectionate male cat already. I would obviously like them to get along.

- I can walk the dog in the park for a couple of hours every day and get out to other parks at weekends, but I want a dog that has an off-switch indoors, not a dog that needs a constant job. A breed that is good off-lead and lower prey drive would be ideal so they can get some 'free' exercise. I'd like the adult dog to accompany me most places so one that won't mind walking around for a couple of hours a day. I'd like to do some advanced obedience and possibly agility, but nothing competitive.

- Climate is seasonal but temperate, we get a little bit of snow in winter and a bit of sun in summer, but rarely any extreme temperatures. I do love to be out in the sun though so breeds that struggle in hot weather might not be the best.

- Temperament. I want a velcro dog! I don't mind a dog following me around or thinking it's a giant lapdog, and I love to cuddle and give affection. An independent dog is not for me. The dog will be alone (with the cat) maybe 3-4 hours a day Monday-Saturday. They can be friendly or aloof with strangers, but not overly cautious or wary. I'd prefer a playful dog that is easy to train, eager to please and not too stubborn. A quieter dog is necessary, no barking at everything that blows past the window or howling all night! A dog that is laid-back and easy-going as an adult would be good.

- Not prone to a lot of health problems. The Dobermann I grew up with suffered from pyometra and epilepsy and had to be put down aged 10, and my parents' current dog has had a whole host of health issues from quite a young age - a heart murmur, joint problems, skin problems, 2 cancerous tumours, ear infections and haematomas in her ear. And these were both from reputable breeders. I would really rather not go through anything like that again, I don't mind paying the vet fees but I hate to see the dog suffer.

I don't really want one of the really popular dog breeds like Goldens or GSDs, but a breed that I can at least find a good breeder for in the UK.
Obviously as my list is so specific, I'll probably have to compromise a little bit. I have a few breeds in mind, but each of them has cons that I am aware of.

- Great Dane (short lifespan, health issues, giant-sized)
- Rottweiler/Dobermann (major health issues, prone to barking, very stubborn)
- Weimaraner/Viszla (high exercise requirements, probably stubborn and unlikely to be happy in a flat/city)
- Flat-coated retriever (health issues, high energy, a bit on the small side)

Thanks to anyone that can help, and sorry for the essay!

There's not much that comes to mind that would tick off every box you have, barring individual adult dogs. The first thing that came to mind was a greyhound, but they don't always excel at obedience or agility.
Standard Poodle? Would fit your temperament requirements but they do tend to have health issues and require at least a grooming appointment every other month (you can keep them shaved down).
Setter? English/Irish/Gordon.. not all have extreme coat and they do have a mild temperament, although you'd have to find the right breeder that produces or could match you with a lower energy dog. I don't think they are over the top but I'm not sure if they would be more energy than you would like .

First thing that popped into my head was greyhound as well.

I'd reconsider a viszla. We had many at the daycare I worked in NYC, they're quiet popular there, and they do have high exercise requirements and can be prone to separation anxiety, but many live very comfortably in apartments.

I'd also reconsider popular breeds, as a lab or golden is what came to mind first.

If you're willing to adopt, many young adults in rescue fit these requirements, both pure and mixed breeds, rare and less rare. For example, you can look for a breed you listed like a viszla or Weimaraner who is fostered in an apartment or has lived in one, so you'll know they do ok.

I also thought standard poodle, if you'd be willing to get the dog clipped every few months

Honestly a Greyhound checks ALL your boxes except for being able to be off lead. Theyre so calm and so loving and clever, theyre basically the best large breed evar imo. I second a Standard Poodle, since you can put as much or as little into their grooming as you like, and theyre very bright and enjoy training, as well as being good with people and dogs.

I thought greyhound, except for the "reliable off-lead" and "eager to please/easy to train". Not that they're considered a very independent breed, but there are other breeds that would excel more- depending on how important this aspect is to you?

About greys though: If you're adopting a grey from a rescue right off the racetrack, you may need to get comfortable with slow stair introductions, being on the third floor.

A standard poodle was my #1 choice for you... and then I read the comments above me, and there the poodle is. XD Standard poodle seems to hit all the requirements, with the right dog. I find that prey drive is commonly inherent to the breed (regarding the cats), so looking for a young adult with a set and known temperament through a rescue would be ideal.

Even though they aren't as large as your wish list, I think an Aussie would be a decent choice. A bigger sized male could get pretty large.

A smooth collie would also fit most, but they can be quite vocal.

What about a Munsterlander? The large size are between 50-70 lbs, they haven't been so overbred that they're sickly, they don't require an insane amount of grooming, can definitely be velcro dog, but all the ones I've met are pretty friendly.

As for breeders, I'm not terribly certain about the UK. They're on my "someday" list but I haven't gotten past dreaming (I'm also in the US, LOL)