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Rescue greyhound? Great Dane?

Have you talked to breeders and/or vets? I've found that invaluable when trying to decide on a breed. They can give some great tips on temperament, potential health issues, special needs, and all sorts of other things you might not necessarily find in a book/website.

bull mastiff rehome from a "show" breeder
 

I'm going to second the rescue Greyhound suggestion.  They're extraordinarily calm and relaxed in the house, love to be with their owner (hence the "velcro dog" nickname []), do quite well with a good walk each day but don't have excessive exercise requirements, are readily available at the age range you're looking for, and can be quite wonderful with kids (provided the kids are well versed in how to respectfully handle a dog, though that goes for any breed).  Not to mention they're just drop dead gorgeous.  And you'll be rescuing a dog who needs a home, which always makes you feel good about yourself []  The only thing I can think of that doesn't quite fit your requirements is the 'protective' part - I'm honestly not sure how a Greyhound would fare in that category.  Hopefully some of the Greyhound owners out there will be able to help you out on that one

I'm not positive, but I think that a single half hour walk wouldn't be enough for a Vizsla or a Weim, though you might be able to make it work if you make that half hr/45 min filled with some more vigorous form of exercise like a jog or an intense game of fetch.

Definitely not a Weimaraner or a Viszla. They're very active dogs that need a lot of exercise; you probably already know that though. []

I'm not sure exactly what kind of dogs you like, but I had a Shar Pei before (from an animal shelter I was working at) and he fit all of your criteria. As long as you have a backyard, Shar Pei are content to spend some time outside watching things going on, chase a few squirrels and go for a walk once a day. Mine was protective, without being overly so (basically a watchdog), loved to play and was very goofy with a sense of humor. He also spent a lot of time napping on the couch and was good with kids. There are lots of Shar Pei rescues and the dogs are in foster homes so they get to know a lot about their temperament.

Here's a quiz to match you up with the best breed for you:
 
[linkhttp://www.k9country.com/perl/dogBreed.pl]http://www.k9country.com/perl/dogBreed.pl[/link]
 
 

I'm going to second the rescue Greyhound suggestion. They're extraordinarily calm and relaxed in the house, love to be with their owner (hence the "velcro dog" nickname ), do quite well with a good walk each day but don't have excessive exercise requirements, are readily available at the age range you're looking for, and can be quite wonderful with kids (provided the kids are well versed in how to respectfully handle a dog, though that goes for any breed). Not to mention they're just drop dead gorgeous. And you'll be rescuing a dog who needs a home, which always makes you feel good about yourself The only thing I can think of that doesn't quite fit your requirements is the 'protective' part - I'm honestly not sure how a Greyhound would fare in that category. Hopefully some of the Greyhound owners out there will be able to help you out on that one

Well as a greyhound owner, a volunteer for a local grey rescue and  a placement rep for a rescue,  I can say that as a rule they are NOT the best for protection...THAT SAID every single one of mine would have protected me if there was a direct threat to me and several of them have decided that they felt someone was a threat and actually started to pull me toward the person almost in attack mode and the stranger wasn't doing anything that I could perceive as a threat.  When DH is gone I find that I feel far more secure having them around.

So I guess it depends on HOW MUCH protection you want.    Most are between 18 months and 3 years when they come off the track, they are very quiet (most never even bark), they are low energy (the amount of walking you are suggesting is adequate for most of them) and they are people loving velcro dogs as Nikki mentioned.

SO perhaps this might be an option for you.  I would be happy to answer any questions you have about the breed should you decide to research them further (you can pm me if you prefer).

Best of luck to you on your quest![]

Shelly

You might look into English Shepherds, actually. 45 minutes of exercise is enough for some adults (especially if you'll throw the ball for a little while outside of that), and while they're not typically *considered* protective, I've known a number that WERE in bad situations. 

when you say protective, do you mean a dog that will protect you or a dog that will alert you to say someone at the door or something like that?

i like having an "alert" dog. amelia has a mean sounding bark, and if someone pulls into our driveway or comes to the door. we know it! actually, we have had salepeople get back in their cars and leave without even coming to the door when they hear her. i really like that!

all that said, i would never expect her to try to protect us. that job is for me and browning.

When you said protective and good with children, Great Pyrenees, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, and Bernese  MD, immediately popped into my head.
 
Might also consider a Staffordshire Bull Terrier....not a pit or a Bull Terrier...but a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. They are referred to as "The Nanny Dog" in their native England. Lovely manageable sized dog...a LOT of dog in a smallish package.

I agree with the Staffy Bull.  They are wonderful little dogs who love their families!

danes are great family dogs...