by Josiah Reins

Created on: December 15, 2009

The best way to defend your home against burglars is to make lots of very loud noise during an attempt to break in.  Dogs bark, but alarm systems can be much louder.  Dogs can be more of a friend than an alarm system and they can certainly be fun to have.  Dogs are very loyal to protect their home and their people, but dogs can be shot, detoured with food, sick, away at the vet or somewhere else.  Dogs can't talk so they have a difficult time telling you what may have happened in the event access was attempted through an unlocked door or window while you were gone.  Dogs also have a very hard time calling the fire department in the event of a fire as many systems notify authorities of such an event.

Dogs can be very effective in detouring burglars, but I don't believe they can be 100% dedicated as an alarm system can be.  I have spent many years in the security and alarm system field.  I have also owned dogs that were great defenders of the home.  The modern alarm system is full of features that a dog can't perform.  An alarm system can log everyone that accesses the system, they have battery backup, and they can even be set to sound when phone line continuity is lost.  Small inexpensive cameras can be installed with some systems to offer proof of a burglary attempt.  I guess if we could plug into our dogs and see what went on when we weren't home it would be a big help (or maybe we don't want to know what the dog was doing why we were gone).

Now, if you are interested in catching a burglar in your home, then perhaps a large, trained dog would be your best bet.  Alarm systems don't catch many burglars in homes, but they certainly scare them off and notify authorities and the home owner of the attempt.  Loud sirens can be placed inside and outside of the home offering many decibels of surprise to scare off a burglar.

Whether it is a dog or an alarm system, there are some simple things we can do around our homes to prevent such attempts.  Don't allow large bushes to grow in front of windows.  Close curtains at night to detour burglar window shopping.  Place a small sign in plain view showing that you have an alarm system.  Make a routine check of all windows and doors before you leave or go to bed to ensure they are locked.  Before you go out a by one of those spare key holders that hide your house key, just remember that burglars shop at the same stores you do and they are very aware of what they look like.  You can also be watched when you go to use that key and the burglar can see where you got the key from.  Many times burglars know more about your home than you think; they may have been watching you and your home for a while.

The best defense against burglars is an alarm system, but maybe you should get a dog anyway; couldn't hurt to have double protection.

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