Is a Guard Dog Better Than a Security Alarm?

During the current difficult economic times, manymight be. Burglars can be quite charming and while
homeowners are looking at ways in which theythey may lead a life of crime, it is not unheard of
can cut back on expenses. As a result, many arefor a burglar to have a good rapport with dogs.
wondering whether the guard dog might be aConsequently, you cannot always fully depend on
better and less expensive alternative to a homea dog to protect your property.
security system. At first glance, a guard dog canIn addition, there are security features that a
appear to be a good solution to such a quandary,guard dog simply cannot provide to your home
but there are several factors which homeownersand family which a monitored home security
should be aware of when considering whether aalarm would be able to do. For example, a guard
guard dog or a home security system would bedog does not have the ability to contact the
the better option.authorities in the event that a burglar tries to
One factor which many homeowners fail tobreak into your home. Also, a guard dog will not
understand about having a guard dog protect theirbe able to alert the proper authorities in the even
property is that some breeds of dogs which arethat there is some other type of emergency at
known to be 'good' guard dogs are not exactlyyour home, such as flooding or a fire. Finally, a
the family type of dog that would be a goodguard dog will not be able to utilize a surveillance
addition to the family. Many of these dogs maycamera to be sure that your property has round
develop extremely aggressive behavior in thethe clock protection.
future. This can be a problem if the familyIt should also be taken into consideration that
entertains and has friends over on a regular basis.when you are away from home on vacation you
It can even be a problem when someonewill need to decide what to do with your dog. If
unknown to the dog but perfectly secure needsyou will be gone for an extended period of time
to visit the home, such as a delivery person oryou may need to board your dog and that will
repairman. This can result in possible bites andleave your home vulnerable, especially considering
could even lead to liability and lawsuits. To avoidthe fact that burglars wait for just such
this type of scenario, the dog should be properlyopportunities to strike.
trained and that can take several months ofConsidering all of the advantages which a home
dedicated training.security system offers the small cost is really
Homeowners who are considering adding a guardnegligible. A dog can be a great addition to a
dog to their property rather than using a homehome, but should not be fully relied upon as a
security alarm should also make sure theysecurity device.
understand exactly how effective the guard dog