Everyone makes personal choices and I respect yours. However, my experience is different. My dog has a keen protective drive. He lets me know if trouble is in the vicinity long before I can see it. He also provides an additional deterrent in the urban environment. Why mess with a 90 lb. GSD with big teeth if there are easier pickins elsewhere. I'll gladly haul around a few pounds of dog food in trade for that any day of the week.
Craig.
Got to agree here. Two trained GSD's make for one heck of a deterrent. Just ask the last fellows hat got into the house having ignored the barking.
Patrol car ride to the local jail's medical facility and then lock up.
celler:
What is really odd is we have the same breed dogs and the same first name.