Dogs all the way...we have a Belgian Shepherd, and he's a great family dog...but at the same time he's big enough and protective enough to tear the crap out of anybody who tries to mess with my family, which he has done on several occasions...we got him after some loser broke into our house one night. He's a really nice guy to have around in a neighborhood with to much crime. My old dog was really cool, too...she would chase cats and outrun them...the only dog I've ever seen be truly fast enough to beat a cat in both acceleration and top speed...but DANG was she hyper!