Too many people treat home burglaries like other events in that their attitude is, “It can’t happen to me.” But consider these stats:
- 88% of all burglaries occur in residential areas
- Property crime accounts for 77% of all crime
- 3 out of 4 homes in the United States will be burglarized within the next 20 years
It’s tough to see how anyone can be lax about their home security or think burglary won’t happen to them once they see these stats. The fact is, home burglaries are common, and you must protect yourself, your valuables, and your family.
In this article, we look at the two most common ways people protect their homes against burglaries: home security systems and security guard dogs. We’ll look at the benefits of each method and help you figure out which one is the best.
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Benefits of a Home Security System
It’s safe to say that when most people think of ways to guard their property and valuables, they think of installing a home security system, and for a good reason. Home security systems offer a variety of features, and the technologies these systems get more advanced every year.
Home security systems have the advantage of allowing you to monitor your home remotely, control your lights, and lock your doors from your phone or tablet.
Another advantage of a home security system is that it never sleeps, gets tired, or distracted. You don’t have to feed it, and it doesn’t require any extra attention. Also, having a home security system can lower your homeowner’s insurance by up to 80%.
Lastly, posting warnings that you have security systems installed does deter burglars.
The key to having an effective home security system is to keep it up to date and to have a comprehensive system that does more than sound an alarm when someone gets in. Attaching it to motion-activated lights and cameras goes a long way to ensure you’re well protected against theft.
Benefits of Security Guard Dogs
While it sounds like a home security system is the best tool to protect your home against burglaries, let’s ask, “are dogs good for home security as well?”
Do dogs deter burglars? According to a recent interview with former burglars, many of them said that dogs, especially large, loud dogs, were a deal-breaker. Many burglars know how to disarm home security systems, but when you have a large, aggressive animal to contend with, most would prefer an easier target to rob.
Another benefit of having a house guard dog is the companionship it provides. Having a pet can be a rewarding experience, and it helps to teach kids responsibility.
If you have a well-trained home security dog, it can be taught to obey only your commands and to not accept treats, food, or other bribes from others. Guard dogs have an extremely keen sense of smell and hearing and can detect would-be burglars as soon as they step onto your property. Also, most burglars scope out the homes they intend to rob and seeing a large guard dog is enough to send them on to another property.
Lastly, security dogs are very loyal and will go down fighting to protect their owners and their territory. Bottom line: many criminals would much rather deal with a security system than a big animal trained to fight and defend.
Which dog is best for home security can depend on many factors, but there’s a reason most guard dogs tend to be German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Bullmastiffs. These breeds are highly intelligent, can be trained to do almost anything and are large enough to frighten off most would-be burglars.
What is the Best Home Protection System?
So by now, you’re probably confused as to which way is best to protect your home, family, and valuables. Both security systems and guard dogs have their advantages and disadvantages; ultimately, it comes down to preference.
To get maximum protection for your home, your best option is to use both a security system and a home protection dog because each covers the areas the other lacks.
An electronic alarm and protection system has plenty of advantages over a guard dog; it monitors 24/7, never has to sleep, never has to be taken out for a walk and protects your home while you’re on vacation. Also, most of today’s electronic systems allow you to monitor your home from your smartphone, turn on and off lights, lock and unlock doors, and even open the door remotely for people you trust. Automated systems detect motion, monitors windows and doors, and alerts the authorities if it senses a breach.
Security dogs, however, are an imposing threat to any potential intruder. Most would-be burglars move on to another home when they see a guard dog; it’s something they don’t want to tangle with. Also, guard dogs have hyper-keen senses and can detect people walking down the sidewalk toward your home. Most guard dogs begin to bark as soon as they discover someone an intruder, which is enough to alert you and scare off any criminals.
Also:
Guard dogs are incredibly loyal to the families they protect and won’t stop fighting until the threat is gone or neutralized.
To get the maximum protection for your home, you need to employ both a guard dog and an electronic security system.
You work hard to have nice things, and you want to ensure your valuables and your family are well-protected against burglars. The best home defense system is both a guard dog and an electronic security system. This one-two combo is a surefire way to keep your property safe, lower your homeowner’s insurance, and have the peace of mind you deserve.
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