Update! Possibly found!....What dog breed or mix would meet most of this criteria?

[Color_of_Light]

I am looking a medium to large sized dog that fits most of the following criteria:

A companion who is loyal and protective enough to bark a warning at approaching coyotes, as well as stand up to strangers if necessary

Happy to hang out with my little dog snoozing inside my house while I am working from home or while I am at the office, or hanging out at the barn

Doesn’t pace around the house (for above reasons)

Low maintenance, won’t run off too far, doesn’t destroy things, not inclined to get into trouble

The less shedding, the better

Not a crazy barker or digger

I’m wondering about…Heelers? German Short Hair mix? Poodle mix? Giant Schnauzer?

[Foxtrot_s]

A good dog is a good dog - judge each for its qualities as it may be a mutt.

Add a Dobie to your choices - if you can find the right one. I agree on the hair thing - a single coated short haired dog is my criteria.

Probably a mature dog if you don’t want the chewing and barking and digging…
We have a Boxer pup - she will be a good citizen … eventually. She’s gorgeous, we are crazy about her - BUT she’s a Boxer.

[rockonxox]

For the low shed I would say no to short hair dogs. Sure, they don’t look that hairy… but your clothes will My short hair sheds more than the wire hair. I love wire hair because it is low shedding in my experience. No barker or digger I would avoid the terrier breeds. I love my terrier who is not a digger or yapper, but it is a trait that many do possess. Schnauzers (yes even the giant) tend to be barkers and diggers. However, schnauzers and poodles have low shedding or clump shedding hair. When you add in a mixed breed you never know what you’ll get on terms of shedding.

Other than that a lot of what you are looking at in traits are trainable traits. Keep the dog active and you won’t have them pacing. No running off? Have a good recall. Don’t destroy things? Teach them not to and avoid puppies. Not inclined to get in trouble? Get an older BTDT dog. Any dog with poor to no training is likely to do all of what you don’t want.

[Sswor]

No dog. Pacing, barking, digging, chewing/destroying are behaviors that dogs perform when they are under-stimulated. Dogs need less stimulation as they get older and some breeds/types more then others. I’d say a cattle dog fits the bill but all dogs are a roll of the dice and ACDs definitely shed. All dogs do.

That said I am a fan of cattle dog crosses as my first own dog as an adult was a husky cross and I spent 13 years chasing him across the county. Cattle dogs are said to tend to stick around “the farm” and not wander off and I have found that to be true in the ACD mixes I have owned.

All those demands in a companion; you sure you actually want a dog and not just a cat and a home security system?

[vxf111]

Komondore (not exactly common though). It suits what you want, it’s just that you’re unlikely to find one hanging around

Maybe a mastiff type?

[Hannahsmom]

Greater Swiss Mountain dog?

[SAcres]

Take cattle dogs off your list. IME they are high energy, will run if not well trained with a recall, and definitely shed. I love them to death (have an Akita X acd) but definitely not a breed for someone that wants chill, low energy, easy going.

I would consider a pit, either adult from a rescue that temperament tests or from a rescued litter. Trained right and slowly introduced to farm life, they can be great on a farm. Some will be more likely to alert to intruders than others, but you can easily train them into this with commands.

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=Color of Light;8742579]

I’m wondering about…Heelers? German Short Hair mix? Poodle mix? Giant Schnauzer?[/QUOTE]

These are all high energy dogs. I interpret you to be wanting a more low energy dog.

[Big_Tag]

The dog I had that most closely resembled this description was a mutt, a real Heinz 57 type, but I’d say her largest influence was perhaps Rottweiler. She had some merle to her coat (Australian shepherd or heeler, maybe?), about 75lbs and was a “talker;” she would bark at strange cars, etc but I more mean you would talk to her and she would growl-yodel-talk to you. She loved water also and would retrieve in water but not on land(?). She was a shelter find at 5 months old; we picked her out because she was too lazy to stand up while drinking water (a trait she carried throughout her life). She was always up for a hike, but not at all a high energy dog. She was protective of her family, loved other animals, just the best dog ever.

[Color_of_Light]

Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions. I may have found a dog! I’ve been on the phone with rescues today. I just called a rescue about another dog, but they told me she wouldn’t be a good match to my timid little rescue dog’s personality. The lady at the rescue recommended another young dog who is coming out of a farm situation, just got neutered, and will soon be listed for adoption. He’s an oops. Parentage is verified…mother is a smooth collie working dog, father is the neighbor’s champion bloodlined American Bulldog. The rescue has been placing other siblings from this litter, one at a time. So nice that they are familiar with the family as well as the rest of the litter!

This young dog is very sweet, mellow, quiet, well behaved, is not rambunctious, but doesn’t know how to play a lot, hasn’t been socialized with other dogs outside of his family, so is a bit timid. My little dog has a very similar personality. He has not wanted to play with any other dogs since I adopted him last October, but he likes to play with me.

Only problem is, the rescue is 8 hours from me. They will meet me half way in one of two towns where they drop off dogs if adopted from far away. They offer a 30 day money back guarantee, because they want dogs and owners to both be happy. I can’t wait to see his pictures once he is ready for adoption.

[Color_of_Light]

[QUOTE=Big_Tag;8743095]
The dog I had that most closely resembled this description was a mutt, a real Heinz 57 type, but I’d say her largest influence was perhaps Rottweiler. She had some merle to her coat (Australian shepherd or heeler, maybe?), about 75lbs and was a “talker;” she would bark at strange cars, etc but I more mean you would talk to her and she would growl-yodel-talk to you. She loved water also and would retrieve in water but not on land(?). She was a shelter find at 5 months old; we picked her out because she was too lazy to stand up while drinking water (a trait she carried throughout her life). She was always up for a hike, but not at all a high energy dog. She was protective of her family, loved other animals, just the best dog ever.[/QUOTE]

She sounds wonderful! If she was a male, Heinz would have been a great name!

[Color_of_Light]

[QUOTE=Hannahsmom;8742865]
Greater Swiss Mountain dog?[/QUOTE]

I love Swissies! So pretty! I looked up some breeders today and found that they go for around $2,000.

[Color_of_Light]

[QUOTE=vxf111;8742783]
Komondore (not exactly common though). It suits what you want, it’s just that you’re unlikely to find one hanging around

Maybe a mastiff type?[/QUOTE]

Komodores would be very nice. Hard to find. Unless indoors a lot, they are body clipped due to weeds and sticks adhering to their coat.

[rockonxox]

[QUOTE=Color of Light;8743115]
American Bulldog. [/QUOTE]

I have an ABD and thought of suggesting his breed to you… other than his short hair shedding. Hopefully being mixed will temper that down. Mine is the only one of my three that I bring to horse shows. He is mellow, intelligent but not the kind where if you don’t keep him active he gets bored or destructive, looks “scary” enough people don’t mess with me when I walk him, gets along very well with my dogs/cats/hedgehog, and oh my goodness if you show him a child and a tennis ball he will be entertained for hours. He likes to stick by me too so he gets to hang out with me off leash in my yard (suburbia) and just sticks pretty near me and doesn’t wander off to go play with dogs or humans that walk by. I love my other two dogs, but I am an ABD lover for life.

[Color_of_Light]

Thanks rockonxox! Your dog sounds wonderful! I asked the rescue if he sheds much. She said he hasn’t while he’s been in their kennel for a few weeks. Does your dog shed all of the time?

[vxf111]

The lady who cuts my hair gets her kom clipped every 2 months like a poodle. No hair to mess with. They are RARE

[Sooner_or_Later]

I have a German Wirehaired Pointer who fits your criteria down to the “wire”

She’s not for sale at any price, but this breed has much of what you’re looking for, IMO, if you get one from the right breeder. I’ve known one or two who were amped up but the rest have been quite mellow, low shed, people-loving, and protective.

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=Color of Light;8743118]
I love Swissies! So pretty! I looked up some breeders today and found that they go for around $2,000.[/QUOTE]

Most quality dogs are going to be $1500 and up a rescue/mix is a super idea if you don’t NEED a purebred

[rockonxox]

[QUOTE=Color of Light;8743153]
Thanks rockonxox! Your dog sounds wonderful! I asked the rescue if he sheds much. She said he hasn’t while he’s been in their kennel for a few weeks. Does your dog shed all of the time?[/QUOTE]

Yes, he sheds all the time. He has allergies too so that exacerbates the shedding. I just brush him once a week and bathe every month or two when I have time.

[DogIsMyCopilot]

I am a little surprised at the suggestions here… Most of the dogs that are being recommended (Dobe, Schnauzer, GSP/GWP, ACD) are working/high energy dogs. Most certainly working collie x AB would not be top of my list if I were looking for a mellow, uncomplicated dog. Of course, dogs are still individuals, so it doesn’t mean that this individual dog won’t fit your situation. But be aware that ABs can develop considerable dog aggression as they mature. Not sure how old this pup is, but it should not come unexpected if one day you won’t be able to leave your AB cross home alone with a small dog, unsupervised, for long hours.

So far, you have only mentioned what you don’t want (digging, barking, pacing etc), but what DO you want? What are you expecting to do with the dog? How much and what kind of exercise will he/she get? Few dogs are suited to be left alone at home for long hours without regular exercise. The most suitable for that are probably the classic small companion breeds (Maltese, Bichon, Peke etc). Out of the larger dogs, I would probably look into Golden Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, maybe Leonberg or Newfie depending on how large you want to go.