Would you suggest the breed of dog you own for the first time dog owner?

 Siberian Huskies and German Shepherds I would say no.  In my opinion a good first time dog would be one that is passed the puppy stage and the fun teenage stage.  The breed would best be determined by the families life style and activity level. 
 

Norwegian elkhound, yes, for the right person. They are generally calm and VERY trainable, can be barky but some are, some aren't. They are HAIRY. The dog hair in my house has TRIPLED since getting Ole. It's UNBELIEVABLE. [8D]

Hairiness aside, they are WONDERFUL dogs. Medium sized (contrary to what most people think) rarely over 48 lbs. VERY smart so you have to be an alert owner to keep them out of trouble. But I'm sold. I think Elkhounds are the bee's knees. [sm=clapping hands smiley.gif]

As for Sofia, she's 1/4 elkie, 1/4 coyote and 1/2 Siberian Husky. That's a RESOUNDING NO! I don't believe hybrids should be created in the first place (she was a boo boo from an irresponsible owner letting the Siberian run loose in the mountains). But huskies are way too energetic and devious for a first time owner. Heck, for MOST owners! Not to mention the special coyote behaviors she has....I've posted about this before. No. No and NO.

Normally I would say I would not recommend a dachshund for a first time dog owner, but then again a dachshund was my first dog.  But I am the type of person to do tons of research, enroll in training classes and I don't consider myself the average dog owner.  So I guess I would say I wouldn't recommend a dacshshund for a first time, average dog owner. 
 
They are extremely stubborn, very difficult to housebreak, and chew your belongings well after puppyhood.  They have a very loud bark, and tend to use their loud bark with strangers.  Mine cannot tolerate being alone unless she is in her crate.  I cannot envision a day where I can give her the run of the house while I am at work - I would come home to pee, poop and torn and chewed belongings.  This is what you would expect with a puppy, but she is 2 now and very little has changed! 
 
Breeds I would recommend for first time owners are well-bred versions of the following:
 
Poodle, Beagle, Cocker Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Pug, Boxer, Shetland Sheepdog, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu, Golden Retriever, Bull Terrier, Greyhound, Boston Terrier

Good question.  I couldn't honestly recommend a pitty for a first timer.  Although they are great dogs, they require a lot of time and attention.  Both as puppies and as grown dogs.  They need to be socialized from the get go and they can be "bull-headed" as well as, dog aggressive.  My recommendation for a first timer would be a Basset Hound.  They are laid back, generally lazy dogs!

I pretty much feel like everyone else. If you're dedicated to owning a certain breed, you can do it. Now, i do think that some breeds are easier to own than others. I've owned a beagle for 14 years and while she's an easy dog to own, don't even THINK about letting her off of her leash!!! Kaiser was my first very own dog. In a sense i was a first time owner with my parents being the main caretakers of our past dogs. He was definitely a challenge, but i stuck with him and worked with him a lot to make him a good dog. I think being able to handle a large german shepherd with aggression issues is the main concern here.
 
As far as ridgebacks go, i think they're alright for a first time owner. I've had 3 and most are really hard headed and stubborn, but so easy going and laid back.

I couldn't honestly recommend a pitty for a first timer. Although they are great dogs, they require a lot of time and attention. Both as puppies and as grown dogs. They need to be socialized from the get go and they can be "bull-headed" as well as, dog aggressive. My recommendation for a first timer would be a Basset Hound. They are laid back, generally lazy dogs!

I don't mean to pick on you personally b/c both of your points are good, however, I think one reason why many people won't recommend their breed for a first time owner is because there is this assumption that first time owners wants an easy, lazy dog.  I'm looking for a pretty intense, smart, loyal dog that will focus and excel at competitive events.  I want a dog that I have to keep up with, not one that has to keep up with me.  It just strikes me how many dogs are not recommended for first time owners and they are typically smart, driven, active breeds with jobs.  If I'd taken the recommendations of many (in general, not speaking just of iDog), I would have ended up with something like a pug, retired greyhound, or basset, and I would likely be very disappointed.

I'm looking for a pretty intense, smart, loyal dog that will focus and excel at competitive events. I want a dog that I have to keep up with, not one that has to keep up with me. It just strikes me how many dogs are not recommended for first time owners and they are typically smart, driven, active breeds with jobs.

 
I don't think you are the average owner. Every circumstance is different. I usually recommend an adult dog when people ask, because puppies are so much work (and money)  and if the work is more than the person expected it can turn out poorly. With the right choice of an adult dog there's a little more leeway and a person can then say, "Yes, this is for me" and choose a puppy. I went with a friend recently to select a shelter dog. She wanted a dog with a good temperment that would do well with her three children ages 10-17 and their eight year old lab. She also maintains a very clean home and would be upset with destruction. They have 17 acres and a pond. The dog I had in mind was a one year old lab/aussie with some training. She ended up selecting a five year old GSP/Lab also with some training and couldn't be happier. I feel terrific about it because often a five year old dog is passed by. In my mind, she's much more the average pet owner than you. You specifically have desires for competition etc, where she just wants a nice pet. There's nothing wrong with either.
 
We also recommend from our personal preferences and experiences. Floyd was a terrific adoption for us. He has tons of energy but can also chill out for a long period of time. He was about four.  I personally would probably not adopt a Malinois that was under two, so it's hard for me to recommend that to people who are not extremely energetic and committed.

I own a rough collie. I would suggest it. But only if they were willing to give the dog good mental stimulation and lots of excersise. Willing to put up with dog hair brushing and lots of barking. They are great dogs. Easy  to train.But I dont think should be in a loud/angry type of household. They are shy dogs and sensitive and are easily upset. But on the other side are great and can take alot. Tey are tough dogs IMO.

I don't think you are the average owner. Every circumstance is different.

But what is "an average owner"?  No one in my extended family has ever been interested in conformation or competitive dog sports like rally or agility, but none of them would be happy with a quiet, lazy house dog.  They are just normal dog people.  They really don't care about nutrition or advanced training or dog behavior and learning theory, but they certainly don't want a small dog that just lays around the house and does a few laps a day in the yard.  So I guess for me, Dobes, pointers, Rotties, GSDs, and high-energy labs are the norm.

i'd suggest a golden retriever,they are playful and
loal as can be,most are somewhat protective and very lovely []

ORIGINAL: fisher6000

I can think of a few dogs that are better than others for your average first time owner:

Beagles
Labs, brittanys, or Flat-coated retrievers (if FTO is an active person)
Standard Poodle
Pugs (if FTO is a patient housetrainer)

I might make the hardcore Brittany people cringe, but I'd totally suggest them for a first-time owner.  Just NOT A PUPPY.  []
 
That being said, many "high energy" dogs would slide onto the recommended list if disclaimered that they be at least past the doggie teens, or (even better) even doggie middle-aged. 

KCSO, my first dog was/is a 2 y/o Brittany/Boykin Spaniel mix (I say was because he stayed with my ex husband in the divorce, but he is alive and well). He is a really great dog. More active than my shelties, but I couldn't ask for a better dog with my kids. Very stable and calm. I don't know which breed he got his temperment from, but I'd recommend both.

I think it all depends on the person and their personality. Also, not only the breed of dog but also the age of the dog is something that should be taken into consideration.

6 years ago my boyfriend at the time and I decided to get a dog together. I'd never had a dog before but he'd had dogs all his life so I trusted him when he told me that he wanted to get a Beagle. I thought they were cute and that it'd be a good idea. I'd done no research on them before getting one all I knew was that he'd had one before so I figured everything would be okay. Long story short we got a puppy and I was very frustrated because the dog just would not get housebroken. It was SO stressful to me. I ended up hating that dog and dreading going over there to let her out and spend time with her.

Fast forward to now. My current boyfriend, who's had dogs all his life, and I want to get a dog. I've been doing  nothing but researching breeds, different training techniques, and coming to web sites like this one to familiarize myself with what I may want to do. My boyfriend and I have come to the conclusion that we'd like to adopt an older dog from a rescue group. This idea makes me happy because not only will we be saving a dog's life but it will be less stressful on me since the dog will already be obedience trained and housebroken.

God help me if we ever have kids. *LOL*