I like Labradors personally. Our old dog Sam was stupider than a rock trying to take an Algebra test, but he was so sweet. And he was such a big dog, that when he saw you, he'd either knock you down, or hit you in the gonads, with his wagging tail. After being in my life for more than 12 years, he died in May.
We had then gotten a new puppy, we named him Fred (we say it though, as Fread, kinda like Bread... lol), and Fred is the smartest dog I have ever met. We haven't trained him, but he'll get stuff almost on the spot. I can bring a treat, tell him to sit, then make a circular motion with the dog treat, and he'll run around in circles till I tell him to stop, and stay and what not. And I never trained him for anything else except to sit. BUT, he's very hyper, since he's half Lab, and half Border Collie.