Lawrence wrote:

When you live in the sticks your options are limited. A very large
dog is reccommended. No thief want to tangle with a dog no matter how
big or small. A larger dog is a larger deterrent however.

A watchdog is a better protector than any alarm or even a firearm.
the bad guys are more afraid of a dog than anything else even a
firearm.

There's no reason you can't have both a firearm and a dog.

If you shoot first, the dog will have an easier time putting the bite on the
goblin.

If the dog gnaws on the scrot first, you'll have an easier shot.

They work together.