As others have said, dogs have different personalities and like to "play" different things. You could toss sticks, balls, frisbees... all day for my last dog (Willy) and he would just look at you with a bemused look as if to say "You chase it." Current dog will play frisbee until she drops.

On the barking, I do like the guard dog aspect, especially not having a man around. I got my Willy as a pup and he did not bark. Then existing GF and I actually taught him to bark by having one person ring the doorbell/pound the door and having the other person inside with Willy trying to get him all fired up. He eventually got the idea and went on to become the best dog ever in so many ways (to this day my dog-loving family continues to view Willy as the most wonderful pet ever). He was gentle as a lamb with my then toddler nieces and with the cats. But he was entirely different when someone approached the house or he sensed a threat - he was junk yard dog ferocious. He may have actually saved me from harm. I was living alone, it was about 3 am and I woke up because he was on the couch (something he never did) under the picture window barking vehemently. I looked out and saw some strange guy hanging hanging out across the street - he moved on shortly thereafter. I'll take the bark.