On the other hand,.... I have a sweet, alert lab that barks with a loud, gruff voice when disturbed but would do little more than lick an intruder like a popsickle. He's loud enough to wake anybody.

I cut survey lines with a machete for a year or so while learning how to survey and got pretty handy with it. I have a "decorative" machete hanging on a wall in the front room. It was bought in Cartegena, Columbia and sits in a nicely tooled leather scabbard attached to a colorful woven wool belt. Its within handy reach of the front door. It'll shave my forearm.