Shotguns won't wake you up at night when a prowler comes around.

Shotguns won't walk with you around the neighborhood to improve your aerobic fitness and acquaint you with your perimeter.

Shotguns won't delay the bad guy while you get a shotgun

And shotguns won't crap on the floor, vomit on the comforter, and track mud into the kitchen, all of which my pack did today.

Maybe a balanced approach: a dog and a shotgun. Better yet, a dog with a shotgun, carried around his neck like a st. bernards brandy barrel. You would need wide doorways...