• [quote="new2neos"] Boerboel: This is yet another breed my hubby really has an affection for, although we've never seen one IRL. When I saw Patti Labelle's boerboel on Dog Whisperer, I was amazed at how closely it resembled a Mastiff, yet it seemed to have more temperment substance in regard to guarding ability...perhaps? I decided to try and research some breeders of Boerboel, but came up with nothing. Plus, the look of the dog seems to be all over the place...some looking like Mastiffs, others looking more like CCorsos, and some looking "hound-ish", from what I have seen online. ?? Are there no breed standards for this dog, in the USA? How would one go about finding a reputable Boerboel breeder in the USA, to speak with? [/quote] I have noticed the difference in looks in this breed as well. One thing I have noticed with some of the Mastiff Breeds is that while some individuals that have the "type" charicteristics of a show dog may have a very distinct look to them, many of the avg purebreeds look very similar to each other. I have seen Cane Corso's, that don't have their tails and ears cropped, that look like small OEMs or Leggy BMs.. I've seen some Boerbols that look like Rodesian Ridgebacks and others that look like BMs. My wife and I both noticed that Patti Labelle's Boerbol looks so much like our dog that it could easily pass as a male litermate of hers... 8) P.S. I disagree with those that say you are asking for too much. This is not because I think they are giving any incorrect dog related information to you (I think they know a lot more about these dogs than I do). But rather that I think they are reading more into what you want than I am. I think you and your family would be very happy with a nice Bullmastiff or DDB. Yes they have some health problems (same as most mastiff breeds) but they can live 8-12 years with good care and that is longer than what you said you did not want. It is also true that they will not be as vigilant or agressive of a gaurdian as a Presa, or a Kangal, or a Sarplaninic etc, but in my eyes, those are experts only breeds anyways... It does not seem to me like you are asking for a super dog. Just a good, indoor, family dog that will give you some measure of security. And a BM or a DDB can fill that niche very nicely... HOWEVER like the above others have said, the key to it all may be how your little Shi Tzu is with your new dog. Many little toy breeds act out twards large dogs in a mannor that can only result in them getting hurt...Is your little dog good with large dogs and large pups???