Lets all keep one thing in mind. LGD's (I think the name tells it all) have been bred and selected for thousands of years, to do one thing. Guard livestock. On the other hand we have people suggesting a breed that was used just recently for fighting, hunting, bull baiting.... and even suggesting to mix it with something else. So we have a dog that is first generation mix! Another thing, you say people in the south use them as LGDs. What do they guard from? I don't think there are any wolves there!? Coyotes? Alligators? Prey drive... also not a good thing in a LGD. You don't want your dog to chasing the predators. One thing they will eat him, or they will just get the dog away from the herd so others can get an easy kill.