What RD said is true - most people looking to break into a house don't want to deal with a barking dog. It's going to attract unwanted attention, so they move on to the next target. So in that respect, our Pug is a great protector because he barks at anything out of the ordinary. If someone decided to come in anyway, he'd bark at growl at them but he'd never get closer than 15'. I'm not sure that someone would shoot a dog either. Gunshots usually attract attention. Of course, if someone is under the influence of something, shooting a dog or having a dog barking at them is not going to matter much.
My wife and I were talking last night. Daisy was barking at something outside. She says "someone would have to be nuts to come into this house after hearing her". I agree. And if they did, not only do they have to deal with her (not that she'd bite anyone, but she is very intimidating with her size), then you have Gunnar waiting in the wings. A bicep bite or a frontal bite on the pectoral at the armpit from him is going to tear the muscle right off the bone, and at that point, most intruders are not worrying about anything but getting the heck out of there.
My wife and I were talking last night. Daisy was barking at something outside. She says "someone would have to be nuts to come into this house after hearing her". I agree. And if they did, not only do they have to deal with her (not that she'd bite anyone, but she is very intimidating with her size), then you have Gunnar waiting in the wings. A bicep bite or a frontal bite on the pectoral at the armpit from him is going to tear the muscle right off the bone, and at that point, most intruders are not worrying about anything but getting the heck out of there.