Bobert - whatever you decide please please please do not buy a puppy. If you want a purebred, you will be able to get one of virutally any breed by simply typing in the name of the breed and the word "RESCUE" into google. Some rescues for rare breeds will even drive a dog to you from hundreds of miles away if you cover the costs.

I am going to suggest a dog I have never owned but one that is good for the size of your land and one that was bred to hunt varmints in a smei-forested area - the Korean Jindo

Jindo dogs share a common ancestor with Japanese hunting dogs but are a nice size. They look a little like an artic fox with most of them being white, beige or blonde in colour. They have a high drive and would need to have room to roam and stuff to do. People who have them in cities often surrender them because they need a yard. They are good indoors but only if they have enough time outdoors. I think some of the over-cautioning about them is a bit extreme sinc ethey are really no more work than your avergae border collie. The difference with Jindoshowever, is they are very protective and do not do well with other dogs. They do well as only-dogs and they may chase cats. if the cats are smart, that won't be a problem.

Think about the Jindo.

I would warn you off Pit bulls, Bulldogs, mastiffs and other such breeds who do get a bad rap unfairly. Their reputation might cause your homeowner's insurance premiums to go up significantly. Talk to your carrier before settling on a breed and make sure they don't have a list of breeds they will not cover.