"They still act like they've never seen me before in their lives when I'm out in the backyard, but when they can get close to me and realize who I am, they're very loving and affectionate."
They sound like good alarm dogs, then. For a lot of people, a small dog is all they can handle. That's especially true for older folks, who don't have the strength needed to handle a larger dog. But, even a small dog can sound the alarm when a stranger approaches, and that's a good thing.
Cats aren't so good at that. They tend to dive under the nearest piece of furniture when danger appears. Oh well.
Yes, they are great alarm dogs. I've often relied on them to let me know when someone is out behind our houses. The only problem is that they often don't know when to turn it off. Marti is 65 and she can't hear them sometimes when they really get going. It isn't nearly as bad when Sandy, her daughter, is at home. And I've learned to tune a lot of it out, so it really doesn't bother me anymore.