[Skooz]

About 40 years ago I read a study that concluded the best defense against burglary is a small, happy dog.
Better than a big, powerful dog.
Better than any alarm system.
Better than a gun.
A little, yapping dog jumps at the slightest sound and yaps and yaps and yaps until he knows what’s up.

All these years later I tend to agree.

[GingisK]

I hate noisy dogs. It would be impossible for me to put up with them barking incessantly.

From a security standpoint, how would one know if such a dog was barking as usual or because of an intruder, or a fire, etc?

[dragnet2]

I read a study that concluded the best defense against burglary is a small, happy dog. Better than a big, powerful dog.

So when no one is home, and the burglars kick in the door and drop kick small happy dog across the room, small happy dog will be sad, much sadder than big powerful dog.