Good dog to live with ferrets?
I'm looking for a puppy and I'm concerned with getting a breed that will treat my small animals gently. (Ferrets, perhaps a hedgehog.) I don't like caging my ferrets all the time and want to be able to let them run freely most of the day when we buy our own home. Is there a type of dog that would be a good housemate with them, and I wouldn't have to constantly watch? Or is this too much to ask? I left them alone with my cats all the time, as they were extremely gentle and pretty aloof. I would hate to have to pen one or the other up so they can play.
My favorite breeds are Australian Shephers and Golden Retrievers. Would either of these make good partners that I could trust? We don't really want a small dog like a Chihuahua or Corgi, adorable as they are.
Thanks!