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Home Security Dogs Can Fill an Important RoleThe Resource for Everything About Dogs |
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Home Security Dogs Can Fill an Important Roleby Rex Fisher
One of the best things you can do to make your home more secure from crime can also be one of the most fun; get a dog. In many cases, it does not have to be big, expensive, or have special training. Your dog will be a playmate and protector for your kids, in addition to being a part of the security system for your home. Criminals like privacy and secrecy. They feel most comfortable in an environment where they will not be noticed. Do not make criminals feel comfortable in, or around, your home! A dog may be man's best friend, but it is something many criminals prefer to avoid. Dogs bark, which draws attention. There is also the fear of being bitten -- or worse. If your home obviously has a dog securing the premises, many criminals will seek an easier target. Some people advocate getting a specially trained protection dog or an even more highly trained attack dog. While these dogs may be more effective in a small number of situations, they are more likely to be a liability. Are you willing to maintain the high level of training required to keep such a dog under control? If not, it is more likely to injure a neighbor or a guest than an intruder. We have three dogs, and got them all from the local dog pound for free. They are all between about 80 and 100 pounds. The largest is half Shepard and half Great Dane. One is a full-blood German Shepard, and the other is a full-blood Black Lab. None of them have received more than basic obedience training. They are not mean or vicious in any way. But, they do exactly what we got them to do: They make our home and family less desirable as targets for criminals. They play with us and the kids, but make strangers feel a little uneasy. Because of their size, people who do not know them tend to keep their distance. It also helps that they bark at people they do not know who come into the yard. Big dogs are happiest in a big yard. We live on a hobby farm, so they have plenty of room. My oldest daughter, though, lives in an apartment. She has a much smaller dog -- about 17 pounds -- as part of her home security system. While not as intimidating as its larger "cousins," her dog also effectively deters the criminal activity of would-be burglars or attackers. We know this because numerous interviews with criminals reveal that they try to avoid all dogs, whether they are large or small. So pick one that fits your circumstances. Dogs do require maintenance. You must feed and water them. They require periodic veterinary care. And you will need to purchase a "pooper-scooper." Some of this is well within the ability of your kids to handle, after they have been properly taught how to do it. Home security is, after all, everyone's business. It takes effort, but the benefits of having a dog around are well worth it.
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