Any breed of dog can go crazy. I took in a yellow lab that was positively schitzo. I should have been certified insane myself for trying to save her. The first month was hell on wheels. My girls walked on egg shells around her. The rule list I put in place for their safety was a mile long. They weren't to touch her, talk to her, approach her, feed her. The second month was better, but not by much. It's been a gruelling job to socialize her.
We've had her now for about 4.5 years. Today, she's a good dog. She barks but it's now a rare occasion when she growls and never at my family. She likes to play fetch with my kids, but only ever wants to bring the stick back to me. She still doesn't like strange men, but responds well to the command "nice" when new people come into the yard. It's a good trait in a guard dog. Three years ago, she saved my black lab/rottie mix from drowning in the flood-swollen river in our back yard. I've introduced two new rescues since her arrival - a dalmation that needed to go to "the farm" and an Akbash that has a serious case of wanderlust - to the herd of dogs and she's quite happy with the ever growing family - as long as she gets fed first. She'll always have a few issues, but I trust her now and she's earned a special place in my heart.
Anyone who gets a dog needs to be extremely aware of their own abilities to handle dogs, the enviroment that the dog will be living in, and lastly and least important, the heritage of the breed they're choosing. Tequia could be saved because she's a lab, but if the other two ingrediants for a successful partnership had been taken into consideration, she wouldn't have needed saving.
Oh, and as for manly dogs, I would highly recommend the Akbash. Amazing, simply marvelous dog. (The wanderlust I spoke of isn't generally an issue with this breed, but of course, I only ever seem to own dogs that have some quirks that make them unsuitable for the general dog loving population.)
http://www.akbashdog.com/content/view/13/32/