I don't think I've ever even looked at Curly-Coats. What are they like?
The ones at the training club are just really nice all around dogs. Willing and able to do everything their owner wants to do with them. This seems to fit the ones I have known, although they are all related:
"The Curly Coat is possessed of an imperturbable temperament. Even tempered, this dog is intensely loyal and will be protective of the family while maintaining unfailingly good manners to humans likewise mannered. Curlies tend to be reserved rather than extroverted with strangers. However, this reserve can be shed rather dramatically when someone the dog knows and loves approaches!
Curly Coats are very slow to mature and this should be taken into account when training them. They are always quick and intelligent, however, so tailoring your training into multiple, short, and interesting sessions will yield the best results over time."
and...
"Are they just like Labradors or other Retrievers?
No. Each of the Retriever breeds, even though closely related, has distinct habits and temperaments, and the Curly is no exception. Curlies are very much loyal family dogs and are reserved with strangers. They make excellent watch dogs because of this characteristic. They are generally a dignified and somewhat independent dog, especially as compared to the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. Like the Flat Coated Retriever, Curlies come in both black and (recessive) liver colors. There have been occasional reports of yellow Curlies, but this has never been an accepted color in the breed and very few if any yellows occur today.
The Curly Coat does share the general Retriever characteristics such as intelligence, keen instinct for hunting and retrieving, an extended puppyhood, and an even and stable temperament."
http://www.angelfire.com/ny/curlycoat/FAQ.html
And your Dutch is gorgeous.
And yes, if I were to look in to any working breed, I would definitely be looking for one that is not bred for hard core sport/work/competition. I need a good family dog, and while I hope to get involved non competitively in sports, this will be a dog that will be around when I'm hopefully married and have children and working the dog isn't going to be high on my priority list when that happens. On the flip side, in the next few years the dog will be my main priority. Which is really why I want one next summer - by the time I'm ready for a family, I'll have a well trained, socialized adult dog that doesn't need all my attention. Lol
It isn't always that simple with these breeds (GSDs, Belgians, Dutchies, most of the herding breeds really especially those which were also used for guarding/protection). Buying from someone who isn't breeding for working temperament doesn't mean you will get an easier version of the breed. I don't think you can get a better family dog than a good GSD - they adore their people and tend to be extremely tolerant of their kids, almost to a fault. Of course, there are exceptions to that and I'd generally suggest going to a breeder selecting for a traditional (working) temperament to stack the odds in favor of getting one with a proper temperament. My GSD Jora was very driven, very protective and intense...but a really great family dog too. Belgians can also be great family dogs as well, although I have known quite a few who've lost their homes with kids due to resource guarding
Both of those breeds can be difficult in their territorial/guardy tendencies, need for proper early and ongoing socialization/training and tendencies towards dog aggression or reactivity. And those traits can be found in working as well as show bred dogs. Dutch Shepherds I don't have as much personal experience with but I suspect it is similar. Some are easy, some aren't...and some of it depends on what you consider easy.