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I probably would've gone with #2 if I could have found it. #4 was a bit too small, #0 or #00 too few pellets. I believe #1 or #2 is a good compromise: big enough to have mass in each pellet for penetration, small enough to have enough pellets to spread out and do a lot of situation-ending damage.

I used to have all #1 buck in the 12 ga. Then I got to thinking, my dog (75 lb lab) is big on bark, not so big on actually getting physical. If someone gets into the house the dog is going to be in their face barking like crazy but she'll probably stay out of reach. She will buy me the few seconds I need though. ;-) Ultimately I would probably end up shooting past her at the intruder. Not knowing how much separation I can count on I figure a slug is less likely to wing her than a stray pellet. Though pellets are only supposed to expand about 1" per yard of travel I should be looking at a pretty tight group. (confirmed with large paper targets at the range) I figure a slug hit anywhere on the torso should stop a threat long enough for me to step up for a better angle (past the dog) and a followup buckshot center mass or head...threat removed.