After working as a vet technician for 12 yrs., I've seen it all! In my opinion, the majority of Labs and Goldens are hyper for most of their lives. Often to the point of bouncing off the walls. Many small breeds are hyper - especially the toys. Of the large breeds, I'd say Great Danes are one of the calmest, as are St. Bernards and Akitas. But some Akitas can be aggressive, so not recommended unless you're an experienced dog owner. Depends so much on what you are looking for, and where you live. Fenced yard? Short or long haired breed preferred? Do you want a large, medium or small dog? Jack Russells are notorious for being super hyper, as well as most terrier breeds. Many Boxers are crazy hyper, but when you find a calm one, you've got a darn good dog. I have a Boxer that is about as calm as you can get, and intelligent to boot! Our two pugs are opposites - one is hyper and one is calm and relaxed. So its not all just the breed (although generally your chances of getting a hyper dog are much higher in breeds known for this). The individual can be either calm or hyper, as there are exceptions to every rule. I love Whippets - they are calm in the house, yet they can run like the wind. Most sporting breeds will be very active because they are bred to hunt all day long. The same for husky types. Samoyeds, spitz, Siberians and Malamutes have too much energy to spare due to being bred to pull sleds in deep snow for at least eight hours a day. You can't expect a hyper dog to be calm - its just not fair to the dog. They are born this way, and its just better in the long run to see both the parents and spend time with them. Why? Because chances are high that if the parents are calm, the pups will grow up to be calm too. Also remember that ALL pups are very active until mature. Hope this helps!
Randi