hey everyone ima new member here, just joined a few days ago but probly read almost every breed profile and alot of posts so i figure ill double this as my "hi everyone" post and actually get you guys imput on something if you would be so kind so im the current owner of a black lab who is an absolute nut, sounds like a 200lb monster behind closed doors but hides behind me with a "well whaa?! i let u know they where here" attitude lol. and i gonna be moving out into a more rural area here in the next few months and have beeen really looking to get a puppy. i have ALWAYS loved mastiffs, the size and laid back attitude and loyalty have always attracted me to the breed so im leaning tword a mastiff but need your help. im looking for a dog with a laidback personality in the home and a ready to go attitude out of the home, as i plan on doing more hiking and hopefully training a them to be a service dog. im looking for a breed who will stand there ground and protect me and people with me from person and beast and just be my best friend basically. im not looking for 20 mile hikes but id like a dog who can carry a decent sized pack and walk a few miles and be there to stand guard for a few over nighters i wanna do. im in wooded area tho so i dunno if that makes a diffrence and due to my knees being that of a slightly older gentleman almost all my hiking would be done in the summer maby a few occassional fall trips. breeds iv looking into are as follows (feel free to suggest or eliminate if if you think it is right and please excuse the abbrivaations as its 1am and i cant sleep yet alone spell =P 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. 2)presa-simply because of the prey drive id be afraid of it bolting even with a well established recall 3)fila- have to many people in and out of my home to risk a PA dog. 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 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. 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. these are the ones i can think of now and have really looked into please feel free to suggest a few more or emilinate i really appriciate the help.