Our family has had several different breeds of dogs ranging from the expensive to mutt, but the two who were the most human and loving were Bichon Friese and Boxer. Both the Bichon and Boxer are amazing with kids, great watch dogs but actually cream puffs and seem to know what you’re thinking.
Flat Coat Retriever is absolutely the sweetest, smartest, greatest dog I have ever had or could imagine. If I could find just one employee with his intellegence, insight and leadership abilities, I’d be able to take a vacation (for the first time in five years).
I lost Beave to lymphoma last year. He was eleven…and sorry but I still can’t talk about it, just take my word for it, the breed is all that and more. This link has a lot of good, basic info about the breed.
American Bulldogs. They look ferocious, but tend to have great personalities and are absolutely fantastic with kids.
Dobermans for their brains and beauty.
I also love smooth coated sighthounds. Ibizans, Pharoahs and Greyhounds!
My parents are retiring up north so maybe I’ll get them one…
Good choice.
I like the big dogs, like Labradors, German Shepherds, Newfoundlands etc, but I like to own a rare dog breed like Leonbergers and Coton De tulear or the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever—Actually a breed.
Shelties all the way! Followed by border collies and australian shepherds. I love them all, but I like the sheltie size better.
I love intelligent, easy to train, energetic dogs. I really love dogs that still have a strong herding dog instinct. They’re so eager to please. You do have to work with them and give them a job (or they’ll make up one of their own), but once you train them they’re wonderful!
Jack Russell
I loved the 2 Saint Bernards we had (not at the same time) but doubt I will ever have another one, since they have such short lifespans and break your heart by dying at their most lovable.
Only one other vote for the lovely and talented English springer spaniel??
We are on our second and third: Phyllis and Dottie, who are sisters (but not littermates – Phyllis is 3-1/2 and Dottie is 1-1/2). I don’t think there is anything more beautiful and joyous than the sight of a springer bounding through a field (except maybe the sight of TWO of them 
). They are smart, funny, affectionate, and loyal dogs, and cute as all get-out.
Portuguese Water Dog (my dogs)
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Bearded Collie
Springer Spaniel
MLS
Try English Mastiffs, they are not as overbred as Saints and tend to last longer. I have two, and our grey-muzzled older one is almost ten years old but still ambles out for two walks a day. Mastiffs are the first non-mutts I’ve ever had. They are devoted gentle giants.
I love a lot of the other breeds mentioned, esp pugs and flat-coated retrievers.
Hey, I’ve got one too! Here he is swimming in my pool:
What? A page and a half, and not one mention of Staffordshire Bull Terriers ??
Actually, Buster is a Staffie / American Pit Bull cross, and he is the most affectionate, loyal and protective dog I’ve ever known, although he is a dog of little brain, and manages to injure himself on an almost weekly basis. But his daftness and affection more than make up for the never-ending vets bills!
My all-time favorite is definitely the Weimaraner. They are an incredibly intelligent breed. Next in line for favorites would have to be Beagles and Bassets though.
If I was going to own a dog again (which I’m not), I think I’d go with a beagle. They’re cute, not too big, and they’re pretty nice, so I’m told. My favorite big dog is a lab. Black or buckskin, I adore them.
Grew up around beagles (A Boy Named Sue was my first and then Floyd the Barber). Terrific dogs. Nothing beat getting up on a frosty winter morning and going rabbit hunting with them. Actually, they hunted, I tended to sit by a big oak tree in the sun and go back to sleep.
First dog as an adult was an English Spring Spaniel. Clyde the Glide. Another great pup.
I’ve always wanted an English Bulldog, but the vet bills scare me off.
I had a black lab as a kid, and until recently they were my favorite breed. Rottweiler was a close second (I had one of those in my adolescence, and indeed he was a goofball per Adelita’s comments).
However, when my girlfriend and I bought our house, my parents bought us a dog soon after. When asked what kind of dog we wanted, we suggested a black lab. When asked for a second choice we came up blank, so my Dad suggested a Weimaraner. That’s what we got, and now I have a new all-time favorite. Definitely Weimaraners. He’s an absolutely adorable crazy goofball. Super-intelligent, though comically stubborn. Expressive eyes and face. And best of all, no matter how goofy he acts, he takes himself so seriously that it makes me laugh even more. Oh yeah, and he’s beautiful, too.
Someone earlier mentioned Weims’ “big vocabulary.” I would have to agree, but not only can they understand just about anything you tell them (after just a short while of associating certain things/behaviors with certain words), but they also seem to love making plenty of their own vocalizations–running around the house making all kinds of half-howling, groaning noises that are just hilariously endearing. “Roo-roo-ROO-roooooo!”
My favorite breed is the Italian Greyhound.
And this particular IG is the ABSOLUTE. BEST. EVER.
Gotta chip in for greyhounds. Sweet, lovable, affectionate, clean, and beautiful. They fit in with our lifestyle well, and you get the satisfaction of knowing when you adopt one that you are saving them from possible destruction.
Other breeds I’ve liked: labs, goldens, standard poodles and pugs.