A farm just isn't complete with a dog and cat. They have their purposes on the farm, in the past they weren't pets! Panthers and bears are a problem here, as well as the usual racoons, rabbits, rats, mice and birds.
I have a Belgian Malinois, one high-powered (crazy) dog! The main reason I have him so I feel secure at dusk and dawn, when the panthers and bears come out. I get the message from him, he's up to personal protection as well. If he were properly trained, he'd make a livestock guardian, but I haven't managed to convince him not to take down the livestock! I'm not the best at dog-training, and I just don't have time.

A new project is dog-drafting. I will update on that project as it goes. Until then, here are some links:

The cats are a new project as well. The dog isn't that great at catching rats, and they ate my citrus this year! The fruit-eating birds kind of ignore the dog as well. Convincing the dog to like the cat, will be a project, but I've done it before.