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The best way to answer the question is to turn it on its head. If you were a burglar, what would you least like to be confronted with if you were considering breaking into someone's home - an alarm or a dog?

An alarm is a very visual deterrent. It says to the would-be thief, 'We have taken action to prevent anyone coming into this house to steal. If you do so, there is a good chance you will be caught.' Faced by two identical homes, one with an alarm and one without, the burglar would chose the latter every time. The noise created by the alarm going off alerts the home owner, neighbors or passers by and the police, if connected to them. Obviously some 'smart' burglars - if that is ever a correct term to donate to such a person - may be able to disable an alarm.

An alarm, fairly or otherwise, suggests to the burglar that there are rich pickings to be had in a property. If you do not have lots of valuables, would you go to the trouble and expense of installing an alarm system? So, the thief might see an alarm as a challenge to get round.

Many types of dogs are very territorial. They will bark even when a friend rings the doorbell. If a burglar gets into the house, they will bark incessantly and in some case attack. That in itself is a deterrent. Burglars are by nature cowards. Why else would they break into vulnerable people's homes to steal? It follows that they are going to be afraid if they think there is a possibility that they are going to be physically attacked by a dog.

Obviously, home owners need to be careful with dogs. However reprehensible a burglar may be, few people want to see someone badly mauled or even worse in their home, even if the visitor is trespassing illegally. Not only is it something you would have on your conscience, it is also something which could lead to your being charged with a criminal offense. The way to avoid that is to ensure your dog is highly trained. He will sense when an intruder should not be there and corner that person and prevent him from escaping without actually harming him.

The added bonus of a dog is that it can be great company and force you to take exercise, although that may not seem too inviting on a cold, wet night!

Learn more about this author, Phil Hill.
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