Dogs are great. As you guys know, I now have two. And yes, in spite of some initial trepidation over Ed allowing some upstart into his castle (he just lets me live here. And feed him...), things could not have worked out better.
World's best "early warning system". Not much chance that an intruder will wind up in your bedroom, between you and your shotgun, with a dog or two in the house. Especially if they know how to fetch the shotgun for you...