breed suggestion

I know I've done one of these before, but now that we have a house and are a little more settled I think I have a clearer view of our wants and stuff.

What I'm looking for is:
* handler/family oriented. I want a cuddly helper shadow.

* medium to large size. I'd like something 50-70 lbs, but would be willing to swing about 20 lbs either way. I anything much smaller than 30 lbs I'd always be worried a coyote would eat it.

* low shedding. I don't mind some weekly brushing, but I grew up with GSDs and there is way too much hair everywhere. I would like a single coat and I don't mind some fringe.

* trainable. Something that enjoys working with it's people and learning. My poor GSD was such a good sport with the crazy stuff I had him do. Like sit in a lawn chair, he'd speak on command and go louder "What? I can't hear you" or quieter "Shhhh, too loud."

* I would like a general aloofness toward strangers, but not that big of a deal. I just don't want an "OMG, you're my best friend ever."

* Capable of off-leash. We like to hike and there are a few state parks near-by. I'm not sure that their leash policy is and I imagine it's 'all dog must be on a leash' but if we find a place that is off-leash friendly I'd like that to be an option.

* I need to avoid breeds that have a tendency towards SSA & DA/DR. When we go home to visit, my sister brings her dog. A big, goofy pound pup and while keeping them separate would be possible I'd like to just try to avoid any issues there.

* Moderate energy level I guess. We like to hike and there are a few state parks within a few minutes drive. I'd like to play with some different dog sports, but nothing seriously.

* Good with other critters. I have a cat. She rules the house. End of story.

general info: We have about an acre of land, currently none of it is fenced in, but I'd like to fence in at least part of the back yard. I think I'm just going to start off with the old sheep shelter and putting a tall 'gate' on it. It would be totally under cover because I am slightly concerned about keeping stuff out, like the coyotes and I hear that mountain lions and bears are making a come back in this area. I'd love to fence the entire yard in, but that's just not possible, so it will just be part of the back yard.


I have been keeping an eye out on CL & petfinder and am totally willing to go that route, but am just looking for ideas.

thanks

I'd say a Brittany lol

I'm not very good at these... but here's what came to mind:

Portuguese Water Dog ... no shedding.
Standard Poodles?

Don't know much about them, but I think Brittany Spaniels are single coated and don't shed as much as some breeds. Unsure on their aloofness or dog friendliness though.

A Briard? http://www.justdogbreeds.com/briard.html

lol, you posted before I did. But yes Brittany's were one of the first that popped into my mind, though I've met very few.

Hi, i wold suggest Labrador doggies! try reading up this article and it might give you a better idea for those intending to keep both cats and dogs in the house =)

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2130&S=1&SourceID=47

Give your opinions on it!

A lot of gun dogs would fit that bill...

Energetic for hiking, good off switches indoors, trainable, handler orientated... and if you get a puppy, can live with cats easily. There's a lot which aren't total stranger whores too.

There's lots of no fuss sizes and coat types to pick from too.

My personal preference is for GSPs

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys. I generally think of myself as a herding dog person, but I've been eyeing some of the gun dogs recently. A friend back home lost her GSP this winter and just got a weim puppy. OMG the cute in her pictures. And my mom's boss is talking about getting a vizsla after to replace his pointer.

I just looked up pictures of Brittanys. I always thought they had more of a coat to them. I worked at an ESS show kennel for a little while last summer and man do those guys have a high maintenance coat, I always thought that Brittanys had a similar coat to them. Learn something new everyday with you folks around.

Yeah I second the gundog types...just have to find the right dog. For the coated breeds, the working lines tend to have no-fuss coats but can also be higher energy so it might just be a matter of finding a somewhat lower-key working dog.

The right FCR might fit the bill too. Some of the lower key lines. They aren't low-shedding but they are single-coated and shouldn't be as heavy-coated as the other retrievers.

With a human-oriented breed like a lot of gun dogs esp. FCRs, you're not going to want to just let them out in the backyard without you, especially if it's not fenced. And they do need to "do" something every day, even the lower drive ones, especially when young.

Maybe you just want to look on Petfinder-a female AmStaff...

Devoted to family, absolutely velcro bound to their special people

Can hike for miles, great stamina, once they bond to you excellent and happy off leash

Low shedding, easy maintenence, a weekly brushing is all you need, wash and wear fur

Will let strangers and children pet them but not all licky licky waggy waggy either

With dogs and cats they know Amstaffs can be very social, every breed has individuals with DA, but the AmStaffs I know personally enjoy the company and play of other dogs.

My Rhodesian Ridgeback fits some of these pretty well, but I'm biased.

I second the AmStaff suggestion, just depends where you get it. If from a breeder, try to get a dog bred from notoriously cold lines that way you have a much lower chance of getting a dog prone to DA.

umm you want a Mitsu.

Lol, that's true. I do love her. I mean, who doesn't love giant, slobber, glumpy mastiff type dogs.