Fun to remember how much discussion went on in this thread while you researched breeds for your quest for a new puppy! I learned a lot just by you sharing what you found then going on my own to look up more about all these breeds!
@BG1 - if you read through this whole thread you'll find some very invigorating conversation about genetics and breeding!
Wondering now, if Zephyr is filling the role you wanted him to as he matures. He's certainly a handsome guy and I feel sure you aren't disappointed in his looks. Did his temperament and personality develop as you wished. Being a house dog without acreage or livestock, did he seem to need "more" in any way?
Thanks for asking! Zephyr is working out wonderfully! Do I get frustrated sometimes? Do I have very high standards and expectations? Yes,, but I have to remind myself that I cannot expect from this dog what I expect from a Doberman. That said, he is way more trainable and biddable than I thought he'd be!
His trainer claimed these pups would be "service dog-level trainable," but especially when you're mixing breeds, you can't know that. Either the breeder's goals came to fruition with this breeding, or we have won the lottery. I took a tremendous risk in buying this dog. I have never dealt with LGDs before, and plenty of people say you must not try to keep one as a house dog, and especially not in a neighborhood. Some go so far as to say it is cruel to do so. I need to restate that he is 1/4 Midgard Mastiff and that may be playing a significant role in him working out as a house dog. Well, we are so blessed with how Zephyr is working out for our family and household. He is about 2 2/3 years old now and I realize he will probably change a bit, as he might not be fully mature yet; but he is a very livable dog and an easy keeper!
The issue of barking was of paramount concern for me – especially nighttime barking. That is working out very well! Now, I will reveal something that is probably surprising. We still have a baby gate up, sectioning off the rear living room. Although he basically has free reign of the house during the day, we keep him gated in that room at night. This keeps him from barking. See, my wife has a thing where she does not want window coverings. So, the front windows of the house provide no privacy, and we have windows in our front door, and side lights (windows next to the front door). Zephyr looks out those windows a lot and is on watch. That's good! Good boy! But 98% of what he barks at is stuff he should not bark at. I have worked with him since he was a wee little one on ceasing barking when I command him to; but he still barks frequently when free in the house. At night? I think he'd bark multiple times per night, waking up the household. So, back living room for him. He also seems to feel it's his "cave" and can turn off his watchdog mode to a large extent when in that room. We are tired of the baby gate, and I have the idea of transitioning to a couple of nice ropes across the doorway, then to just one rope. I feel he would honor it. He could knock down the existing gate with one paw swat but he's not that kind of dog, thank God.
To answer
@BG1 's question: No, we don't have any livestock. We're in a neighborhood and in fact the neighbors' houses are some 15 feet from ours.
I am raising and training Zephyr just as I have my Dobermans. I do all my own training and am self-taught. He knows basic obedience, and we have him wait at doorways until we release him to pass through. He sits and holds and out of sight stay for each meal. I am huge on the heel command, and I can use it to have him run, off-leash, next to a bicycle as I ride. I do have an e-collar on him both to handle if he were to run off after another animal (he has not even tried to!) and to discourage lazy lagging behind. (All my Dobes had the opposite problem and just COULD NOT keep from forging slightly ahead all the time.)
But yeah, Zephyr doesn't like to work – at least not work for mankind. Once he realizes he is working, he stops. Hence, he will not retrieve; so that extremely useful tool is not in my toolbox. Oh, he cannot resist the urge to chase and grab something that has been thrown, but he is determined to NOT bring it back to you, I have tried and tried. I understand it may not be in his makeup to retrieve, but I see other instances of him not liking to work at all. Maybe we should be glad he IS driven to perform the most important job: Be protective of our family!
Here is a pic from a minute ago. We took a short bike ride to the park and I also let him off-leash for just a few minutes so he could drop a poo. This is how he looks after. If he does not get at least his base level of being walked, he does indeed get restless, looking at you and even whiny (ARGH!) but... Easy keeper, yes he is.
Or at least talk to you about your dog! He was beautiful! He looked like a black Doberman. Cropped tail and also cropped ears, although not as long as most dobermans. He was 5 months old and almost as big as Annie. I complemented her on how gorgeous he was but said I am not quite sure of the breed. He looks almost Doberman but I know he's not. She said the name so quickly that I didn't quite catch it. But I thought she may have said a Cane Corso. I can't be sure and I knew my husband was looking for me so I couldn't stay too long with her. So I didn't want to ask her to repeat it. But now I wish I would have. And I also wish I could have taken a picture of him. She said it was his first time in the store and I said he's doing quite well! He was not real interested in me although he sniffed my outstretched hand. But then he was busy sniffing at the shelves. He was friendly but not overly friendly. But just very cool looking. 
