i would go for the smaller big dogs .. if its for your son .. most of the larger breed dogs you listed .. live on average of 7ish years .. where the healers (live forever i think ) and shepards live longer .. any of your choices would be fine if you socialize them from the start .. and raise them the right way .. ? My healer Dot (12 yrs old owned her parents ive had her her entire life=) ) use to kill chickens like her life depended on it .. after a session of explaining she couldnt kill my chickens .. she protects them from all the predators around here .. shes 12 and going strong .. since you all ready know how to handle them .. they are what id suggest .. besides .. even though they arent as big.. they are stupid tough .. and intelligent .. (should be .. ive met some poorly bred retarded healers lol) ive seen my dog take on a pair of huge dogs ..by herself and win ... shes killed skunks possums and racoons .. unscathed .. your son would have to be the one to handle the pup constantly though .. and feed it .. and stuff .. or it wouldnt bond to him .. =/ but you know how they are when they are bonded to someone .. deffinatley one person dogs.. lol ..
i love sheps and bull mastifs .. i tell you now mastifs have no place on a farm .. =( to easy for them to take down babys .. ( we had one .. and she did.. out of nowhere .. poor little horse .. ) and i know a lot of rotties that do good on farms .... but alot more that do not .. the mastiffs and st bernards arent heard dogs.. or livestock oriented .. good with ppl .. not herds .. =(
just my personal oppinion.. ( i may be a just a little bit biased to the healers though .. lol .. )
i love sheps and bull mastifs .. i tell you now mastifs have no place on a farm .. =( to easy for them to take down babys .. ( we had one .. and she did.. out of nowhere .. poor little horse .. ) and i know a lot of rotties that do good on farms .... but alot more that do not .. the mastiffs and st bernards arent heard dogs.. or livestock oriented .. good with ppl .. not herds .. =(
just my personal oppinion.. ( i may be a just a little bit biased to the healers though .. lol .. )