Oh thanks for the Mastiff advice and the good wishes, Laura.

I've joined a Mastiff forum as well as Mollosser breed forum to learn as much as I can about life with Marrok. So far he's moved seamlessly into our family in a very short time period. He's reserved but given the opportunity to hand out huge wet tongue licks he's very game for it. Unlike Bella the Lab though he waits politely to be asked to give kisses instead of throwing himself at you (Bella is just really, REALLY sure you want her attention at all times LOL ).

It was an awful thing to get broken into and stuff we saved up for stolen like that. With Marrok in the house though I sleep very well at night even if Mike's on nightshift. His presence is enough I think to put anyone off attempting to enter our home with bad intentions in mind. I'm just amazed the Mastiff temperment. As much as I adore and always will adore Labrador Retreivers I must say the Mastiff temperment is a refreshing change.

I did read a lot about watching how rough the family plays with each other around him and even one hilarious account of a parent trying to spank a naughty child and their Mastiff didn't care for that. The dog in that case didn't get pushy or anything, he simply stood calm and resolute between the parent and child with an attitude of "I'll take the spanks for my kid".