I just joined tonight. I'd like to give you my insight. 1)neo- i love the working class neo but am afraid with the health and weight it woul be to much on that kind of dog. Not athletic or laid back enough for your requirements. 2)presa-simply because of the prey drive id be afraid of it bolting even with a well established recall Athletic as all hell! You would have trouble keeping up on hikes. However, you'll need to keep him leashed as he is not a social creature. These dogs are not laid back and require an expert hand. 3)fila- have to many people in and out of my home to risk a PA dog. Not a dog for "in and out" homes. You'll find yourself losing friends fast! 4)Italian Cane Corso- really leaning tword this one but not quite sure i know enough about it as iv read they can go either way A very sharp and very smart old time working dog. They would suit your needs, but could prove to be a lot of work for you. The Cane Corso is your best bet, so far. They have a brain like a GSD with the power of a Bullmastiff. 5)english or bullmastiff. im alittle fuzzy on the diffrences i believe that the english is a bigger version? i wouldent mind on one these either as i have seen quite a few who look and seem to b very athletic and i think could hold there own on a walk. They are very different. Bully's tend to be sharper and less social than Mastiffs They do best in "one dog" homes. However, a Bully may be more toward your requirements. I own a Mastiff and I can tellyou that here is no more suitable pet. Gazing into your Mastiffs eyes is a bit like looking into your own soul. Mastiffs will not do well on warm hikes over 5 miles, though. They are huge and heavy of body. 6) american bulldog- i love em but think they might have a higher energy level in the house then im looking for and have heard most of em even when properly socialized are still DA. A well bred ABD will give you the same athleticism as the BullMastiff or the Corso. They are awesome dogs, but well bred versions are hard to come by. If I were you, I'd look into Corsos. H