"I personally loved a good german rottweiler from working line, but I now that they tend to get fat when getting older" Only if the owner A) overfeeds and B) stops exercizing the dog. I would agree with your friend on working line Giant Schnauzer adding the Airdale. Both fit the requirements and both are always overlooked in these threads. The traditional sport dogs GSDs, Rotty, & Dobe also would be in my top picks for the right family. Another overlooked breed the Beauceron is worth concideration. I had an Am. Bulldog, I train with a few of them, Obedience, and I've hunted with them. I really like them however, I don't even concider them a [u]BREED[/u], I think TYPE is more accurate. They are just all over the place in structure, temperm,ent, health. They just can't be consistantly reraliable dopg after dog vs. the other mentioned.