My neighbor has recently adopted a lab/chow mix, and I had a lab/chow/german shepherd mix years ago (but I think he had more of a german shepherd personality, and was smart and easily trained).

My neighbor's dog, Girl, is a royal pain. She is very protective and loving of her family and she even accepts my family, but she will ATTACK other innocent children who are across the street -- she has to be watched closely. I don't trust her at all. She is potty-trained and stays fenced without digging -- which is good -- but she is smart enough to open fences or sliding doors if they aren't locked. She is also wild -- they keep her crated when they are away, and she can completely dismantle a large locked crate and escape. When she stayed with us, she fought with my dog and trashed the blinds trying to escape out the window after escaping from her crate. GRRR! And she also doesn't get along with other animals either -- she's tried killing cats and she picked up my neighbor's other dog (a froo-froo poodle) and did some serious damage to him!

I think some obedience training would be good. Not all dog personalities are the same, but it sounds like you'll have your hands full. Good luck!