[Mahoney]

I am looking for a dog to get,buy I am trying to decide on a breed.
My husband and I love to go on hikes and long walks, so we want a dog who can handle doing that and wants to be outside running around and climbing. We also need a dog that loves the water, we live near the ocean and go there frequently- and a dog whose fur won't be horrible with fox tails and such things.
Things such as smart, easy to train, cuddler would be a plus to. So far I am leaning to a German shorthaired pointer. Any other suggestions?

[Sariss]

Lab.

[Lucky098]

I own GSPs -- They've very active and will do just about everying that you're requesting.

Labs are good too, however they have a lot of hair and would take forever to dry if you want to do water activities with them..

Personally, I like shorthairs over labs.. Having dealt with both breeds, shorthairs are definitely smarter -- In my opinion...

I would suggest to get an adult dog. You'd have to wait close to a year and a half before a puppy would be ready to do all those activities.

Good luck in your search

[binx44]

I own an Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog. They are a more rare breed but many of them (owned by breeders I know, as my guy is too young to go so far) will willingly run for 5 KM and will still want to keep going. A friend of mine who breeds them bikes with hers for anywhere from 2 to 5 km a day. They are more inactive indoors but have a high energy level when outside. I've also owned GSD's and Carolina dogs both of whom loved hiking.

[Aurora_Bell]

My staffies love doing ALL those things. Great stamina, easy to train. Great family dogs.

[Lucky098]

If you're not afraid of them and they're legal in your area... pitties/staffies are definitely go getters! Maybe something you'd consider even!

[Alty]

I have a lab, they actually have webbed toes because they were bred to retrieve from water.

If you get a purebred lab, you'll likely have little maintenance with the hair. The water doesn't actually absorb through the fur, almost like a duck, it's only the top coat that gets wet, so they dry very quickly. My lab is a mix, lab/border collie, so his hair is longer then a purebred lab, but he has the lab coat in that it doesn't absorb water. Makes bathing very difficult. You literally cannot get the under coat wet. They're almost water proof, so if you're worried about a wet dog after swimming, this isn't a big concern, he/she will dry very quickly.

Labs are also very active dogs, love to be with their family, go for long walks, hikes, and they're very intelligent and easy to train. They're great with kids, very obedient, just love being with their family.

That would be my choice based on the criteria you mentioned. :)

[Aurora_Bell]

Had to spread the rep Alty, but great point on the Labs. Labs do make wonderful family pets. They have a lot of stamina, and as long as they have plenty of exercise, are pretty low maintenance. We fostered a lab for a while, we used to take her to the beach all the time, found she dried much quicker than my very short haired staffy. We used to have to go in and literally drag her from the ocean. She would swim for hours. My one staffy loves the water, he digs rocks and hauls them up on the beach. My female freaks when her toes get wet.

Would you ever consider rescue in your search for the perfect dog? One thing I wanted to mention is that you can foster most dogs, get a feel for them, see if they would meet your life style, and than make a decision.

[Lucky098]

Gsps are waterproof too... it beads off like wax on a car. They also have big webbed toes. Only thing they can't do is swim in cold water for long.

[Emily94]

I'd suggest a lab. I love labs :) My pup could sit, heel, lay down, roll over, "up", and give kisses be time she was 15 weeks :). She retrieved her first goose at 4 months. She LOVED water, I swear she could smell it for miles, if she went missing all you needed to do was find the nearest body of water and you found her. She also ran behind the quad for 7-8 miles and would have done more if I let her. I think a lab would fit your lifestyle perfectly!

My lab was also very protective, one time we were out hunting and I was left alone while my dad walked to the other side of the pond, a coyote was in the field and started walking to wards me (I don't know if it just didn't see me or if it did and that's why it was approaching), my dog ended up killing the coyote once it got to close... She also attacked 2 guys who tried to break into my dads house. My dad and I were sleeping and they broke in through the front window and she ended up attacking both of them. We called the police and it ended up these two guys were responsible for a lot of break ins and they thanked my dog for helping catch them.

Sorry for all the stories, but I had to back up my words :), plus I love sharing stories about her ;)