We have 4 dogs. A Golden retriever, a husky chocolate lab mix, a black lab and a coon hound mix. I also teach dog training obediance classes.
The coon hound is very hard to train to come and stay. They get the nose to the ground and go! They are very smart though. If they hound is Beagle it would not be as big a problem.

Labs are very obediant and easily trained, as are the Goldens. They just want to please.

I have also found that shepards are as mean as the owner wants them to be depending on the treatment and the praise they get for being either friendly or mean.. I have had shepards in the past and they can be very friendly and also protective. Protective does not have to be the same as mean.

If you are looking for a cuddly I love you dog...for the most part I would avoid the hounds. They are more independent.
Do get help with training. Mostly it takes time and patience.

Good luck. If it were me and I was not looking for protection and wanted companionship and love I would wait for a golden retriever or a lab. Just my opinion though.