picking out a breed

Question
We were thinking about getting a dog and I would like to know what are some different kinds of breeds we could look at. We have had a collie mix, boxer/lab mix,and a basset hound before. We live in the country and have a farm that isn't fenced. We wanted a medium/large dog that's good with children, cattle, cats, and a neighbor dog and doesn't bark too much. Could you give us a few breeds of dogs that would be good for us?

Answer
    Some breeds to consider are traditional hunting breeds, like retrievers (Labrador, Golden, Flat Coated, Curly Coated, Chesapeake Bay), setters (Gordon, Irish, English), and some spaniels (Brittany, Springer). Many different dogs in these groups have breed profiles that fit what you are looking for. These types of dogs are bred to work closely with humans, and are reputable for being good all-around family/ranch dogs. They are typically good natured around people, kids, and animals. Of course, this is just a sampling of popular breeds to start your search with. You might also consider some mixed-breed dogs, my best ranch dogs probably had a mix of at least 5 different breeds in them.
    Keep in mind that much of what you're looking for comes with training and genetics. You might find a Labrador Retriever who is a constant barker, hates animals, and isn't good with kids. Just because it isn't typical of the breed, doesn't mean it won't happen. Select a few dogs (or breeders) to evaluate, and choose the best temperament that will suit your needs. If you get a puppy, you will be able to train it from a young age to be good around kids, other animals, etc. However, if you neglect the training, you may end up with an unruly dog. Keep in mind the amount of time you have to put into training before you decide on a puppy. On the other hand, an adult dog will already have a developed character. You will have a better idea of the dog's personality, their reactions to kids and animals, and their barking habits. However, they will still need some training to learn your rules and adapt to your lifestyle.
    If you want to rescue a purebred dog, check out petfinder.com. You can search by breed, age, and temperament with kids and other animals. You might also consider dogs at your local animal rescue, in rural environments many dogs at the local rescue come from farm backgrounds. If you purchase from a breeder, make sure they have had the puppies tested for whatever genetic diseases that breed may be subject to. Also, make sure not to bring the puppy home until it is at least 8 weeks old. Even better if you wait until it is 10 weeks old. Dogs go through a fear period between 6-8 weeks old, and do best if left with their mother and litter mates until they get through it. Certainly, not all dogs will develop behavior problems if brought home earlier. But 80% of the dogs I've trained who have behavior problems were brought home before 8 weeks old, so it's something to consider. Good luck finding a new dog!