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Alarm

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If looking for defense against burglars in your home it is imperative you have a good alarm system. A dog is a great deterrence, as are security screens for your doors, however, an experienced burglar will work his or her way around these obstacles. When deciding on what is best for you, perhaps keep the following in mind:

a) Will your dog always be home and if so will it be inside, outside or have control of your whole property?

b) What happens when you are holidaying? Will your dog remain home or will it being going to a kennel to stay?

c) Will you have a backup system for when your dog is ill?

d) How does your dog handle strangers? Will he bark at them ferociously or lick them?

e) If a burglar offered your dog a bone or treat, would the dog take it and go off or would the dog still bark and growl?

f) Will your dog be purely for security or a family pet? Keep in a family pet is friendly and playful, a security dog is different.

g) Finally, think about the expense, a dog you will feed every day for it's whole life, plus pay for vetinary bills, vaccinations and a kennel when vacationing. An alarm system you will pay for upfront as well as a small fee if it goes to a control center.

The reason I suggest thinking about these questions is because I have a very large dog who did nothing to deter the burglars we had many years ago. Whilst sleeping one night my home was burgled my dog did not growl or bark but he did come into my room. I had no idea that my home was being burgled nor did I think anyone could burgle my home with such a large dog who would normally growl and bark. Normally visitors are greeted with a very ferocious bark and the person knocking at the door looks quite petrified. I have no idea why my dog did not act in his normal manner when we were being burgled.

Perhaps, they were burglars who were good with dogs, perhaps they gave him some sort of treat. Maybe they had been to the home previously and befriended him somehow or perhaps he was just so stunned that someone could open the door that he just ran away and was scared. I will never know the answer but for this reason it is important to have an excellent security alarm and locks on all your doors and windows.

As mentioned previously, a dog is a deterrent and to a point an alarm is too but these things alone are not enough. If you are concerned about the prospect of being burgled remember to turn the alarm on, close blinds and windows, never have anything of value in sight of passerbys and have insurance. I wouldn't give my dog up for anything but as a security system he failed, as a faithful four legged friend he is a great achiever.

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