Alaskan Malamutes and Bernese Mountain Dogs

[K9soul]

Well.. that very much depends on the lab. They can be very high energy actually .

Case in point: http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/charac...gh-energy-dogs

It's just a lot of people go out and get them cause their the supposed perfect family dog and then find out they are not the easiest breed after all.

[CountryWolf07]

Mike would be at work weekdays and home on weekends. I would be the one home alone so obviously, I would have a lot of time on my hands to train a dog. I think it's the right time for me to go ahead and look into breeds - I wouldn't mind a mix if it came down to that. Wouldn't matter to me. My aunt had a Bernese Mt. Dog - but she was prone to running away off leash - she eventually got hit by a car. I've always liked German Shepards - always met nice ones - nothing against them at all. So I recently did a breed matching quiz - Obviously, the top 3? Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Go figure! I absolutely love Labs - I'm constantly around them - Mike has one, his brother has two, his cousins all each have one or two at least. It's a constant type of breed they have in the family. I am thinking to go bold and maybe go with a Golden Retriever? I DO NOT MIND HAIR at all. We would have wood floors - so it wouldn't really be a problem.

[luvofallhorses]

I know, K9Soul. I had one remember? But Rocky wasn't overly hyper, he was mellow. But yeah, people do go out and get the cute pups and then they turn into holy terrors if they aren't prepared for their energy.

They need lots of mental stimulation but there are a lot of pet quality labs in rescues and shelters that aren't overly hyper. It just depends on the individual dog. A lot of labs I have met are total ball freaks and water freaks. Just depends what you are looking for in a dog really. Lab puppies can be hell though. So if you don't want that go with a more mellow young adult.

Golden Retrievers are pretty sweet, too!

[K9soul]

In my experience goldens tend to be a little more mellow than labs but of course it's all individual. If you end up with a lab with field dog bloodlines he/she is more likely to be higher strung/higher energy. Raven is a lab mix of course and she was a wild pup and young adult, though she's mellowed out now more at 5. But both labs and goldens, if they are what they should be (i.e. not wired wrong mentally somehow) just love love love their people and are eager to please and easy to train.

I hope you find what you are looking for.

[luvofallhorses]

Yeah Goldens are a bit more mellow.

[CountryWolf07]

So it looks like we will end up getting a Labrador Retriever at one point or another. I am gonna go find some books on them so I can learn more about this breed. Mike has experience, so, I am not really worried about it.

[IRescue452]

Even though I've been pointing out some of the flaws in certain breeds, like the short short lifespan of berners, I have to say you should get whatever breed your heart is set on. You're an experienced dog owner and obviously dedicated to owning a dog since you're on this site whereas most dog owners aren't actively involved in the world of pets, they just own one. I think you could get past the hurdles of any breed and make it work. Also remember that while generalizations of each breed are based in truth, like malamutes being bad off leash, they aren't set in stone. My friend owns a greyhound who's off-leash trained pretty well. I think most greyhound owners would faint at the thought.

[CountryWolf07]

Oh absolutely! I just think that the Labrador Retriever may be the right breed for us, since he/she would fit our lifestyle. I'm just looking for a companion to hang out with during the day and keep me company at home. I'm just more concerned about how if my boyfriend and I end up getting this house, that has a 3 acres yard, but unfenced. However, if it was fenced in, I would not hesitate on owning another Siberian Husky. It just wouldn't' be right of me to tie up a dog that isn't meant to be tied up.

[Cataholic]

It just wouldn't' be right of me to tie up a dog that isn't meant to be tied up.

What do you mean by this statement? IMO, no dog is meant to be tied up. I suppose putting them out on a leash for 30 minutes is appropriate...but I don't think any dog deserves life on the end of a chain. I can't think you meant that, either...

There are other options then fencing in one's entire yard. Many people fence off a section for their dog(s), and really, it means there isn't poop all over the yard.