I want a dog that is comfortable going to the beach (water friendly) with an very friendly personality. Ideas?

Yellow lab!

or a labrador retriever

black lab too!

golden retrievers are also good

If you like border collies then go for one of those. These dogs are great and smart. If you raise them and train them around the water, you will have a water loving dog. My pit bulls love the water b/c I've taken them swimming since they were puppies. Labs and Goldens make great beach dogs too, but they aren't as medium sized like the border collie. I know a border collie breeder and these dogs are major working dogs, so they really need a lot of exercise and mental things to do. You definitely can teach a border collie to fetch and catch frisbees. They are also great in agility.

I've also seen border collies in the great outdoor adventure jumping off the docks with the big dogs.

I have 2 black lab mixes from an animal shelter. They LOVE the water and the beach(we try to take them to the doggy beach as much as we can) they are also very calm and sweet. But I would definately reccomend labs for the water.

Oh, to add to that we were once trying to figure out what my dogs were mixed with besides lab, and we were pretty sure it was border collie, so border collies could be good in the water too, maybe.

Border collie would work well for you as long as you are committed to exercising it every day. They are medium sized dogs that excel at frisbee and most dogs sports. Some are into water, some are not.

I also love golden retrievers - a little bigger, but would meet your needs perfectly. They looove fetch, water, and people.

Of course I used to have a border collie/golden retriever cross - now she was one awesome dog that had it all!

Those are nice dogs..but a lab is a great dog for all the above as we have friends who have labs and are very playful like that. There are some med size breeds that are great for that as well. But the Border Collie are a very smart and fast dog even the black and white ones that hurd sheep..you see them all the time in shows and what they can do..I have a Rottii/Lad and he loves the water alot

Good luck

Labrador Retreiver, Golden Retriever, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Portuguese Water Dog

Border collies are great dogs, but for a water loving dog. There is nothing better than a Labrador Retriever. These dogs were bread to be good swimmers. I have a black lab, and he loves to swim. He will spend all day in the water if I let him.

Well I was going to suggest a Border Collie! They are great dogs-- BUT require a LOT of exercise toehrwise they can get destructive...

I myself have a Flat Coated Retriever, and she is exactly what you are describing you want-- friendly, water loving, plays like a maniac, etc.

Check out the Purina website, they have a breed selector tool on there to help you make your choice...

www.purina.com

Border Collies are great, but a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, or any Retriever for that matter is the dog you want if you want a water dog! In fact, you'll have a hard time getting them out of the water!!

All the other dogs posted are great choices! If you want something smaller then a lab try a Nova Scotia Duck Toller. They love the water andfetch and are very friendly. They are not small dogs but on the smaller end of medium.

Labs are water dogs that's why their toes are webbed but mine has never liked the water. I used to have a sheltie that loved the water and loved to play fetch. I think it will just depend on the dogs personality.