I thought the same thing until I went out to get the mail last weekend. A growling and barking dog with foam coming out of the mouth started to come at me. That's the only time I have ever drawn my gun outside of the range.Given the fact that there is less than a one in 10,000 chance I'll ever need to draw my weapon, much less shoot to "stop a threat", I really don't give this question much thought.
Had my finger on the trigger and was about to pull when it backed off and ran the other way.
Never saw that dog before or since. Scared the hell out of me.