To want a dog for home security?

[goldielookingchain]

We had an attempted break in last night. Noticed handle off back door, looked back on CCTV and they had a good 12 minute attempt to get into front door, kitchen window, then bifold doors were broken but luckily they didn't gain entry.

I have a 3 year old and a 5 year old. It was 3am and we were all in bed. I'm petrified that they will come back.

Our neighbours have CCTV, the burglars spent 14 secs lurking at their property compared to our 12 mins.

We would very much care for a dog as well but I've always been worried about the attention they need re walking etc. Plus we do like weekends away and days out.

Am I just panicking?

[krustykittens]

I haven't read through the whole thread so apologies if anyone has suggested this but if you want a watch animal (rather than guard) how about geese? Easier to keep than dogs, very territorial and make one hell of a racket if intruders come into their space! Might not make you very popular with the neighbours though! We knew people who had them in London and they were very effective! I don't blame you for being worried, it must be so creepy, watching someone try to break into your house for 14 minutes.

[justilou]

A friend of a friend is a detective. He has always said that the best anti-theft device is a BBD. When asked, he said "Bloody Big Dog". Seems to work for us - even though our is basically a couch-surfing carpet with legs.

[lightsandresistance]

Haven't read all thread but our dog would be rubbish if someone broke in.

She bloody loves people and would great intruders most joyfully

[DontTouchTheMoustache]

*visitor even!

[DontTouchTheMoustache]

I received my furry, bedtime let it or again....

[SlottedSpoon]

Completely agree with everything Widdlin said.

I have two quite big and barky dogs (not guarding breeds, nor were they ever acquired with that intention) who bark like crazy things and can seem quite menacing if anyone comes near the house when I am indoors alone and DH is at work or away. It's a pain in the neck to be honest, as they are hyper-vigilent and will also bark like crazy at a passing car or a bird in the garden or a paper bag fluttering past the window.

But on more than one occasion and I have been out and friends who the dogs do not know well have let themselves in and the dogs have barked a lot initially, but done absolutely nothing and laid down in their crates to hide.

[Redglitter]

My friends house was broken into. Both cars were stolen. The dog never made a sound.

Get a better alarm system which will protect your property but still allow your cat to wander

[Stanky]

Just get a few of those beware of the dog signs. Maybe one of those card board cut out police men you used to see at petrol stations. Anything to make perfect feel like they're being watched. A picture of a pair of human eyes, with We're watching you underneath. I think that there were studies on this to say that it reduced theft.

[BertrandRussell]

"They will avoid you like the plague if you've got a yapper grin"

Trouble is, so will everyone else!

[user1469928875]

Avamiah - still a bitchy comment from you though. Telling me to calm down. Was merely giving an example of the (possibly extenstive?!) things people can do if worried about burglary! I just realised mumsnet is boring me now because the type of people i would avoid in real life keep popping up in comments. People are allowed to have opinions that differ to your own - that is the point... watches crimewatch

[Sceptimum]

Dogs are awesome, and my current dog - 20kgs of staffy-x - is exactly what you want in a house dog (barks loudly at people who come in the gate/yard or ring the bell but is soft as and lovely to people once they are in the house). But souping up your alarm and perimeter lights will be a lot cheaper over time. Get a dog if you would love and care for one, otherwise you can get a "beware of dog" sign and a proximity alarm that sounds like one. My sister uses a proximity alarm that sounds off if anything moves in her hall as an additional alert in her house.

[avamiah]

user14699,
There are no words of wisdom.
My house was burgled many years ago when I was not at home even though I had a alarm and it went off.

[user1469928875]

Never watch crimewatch though. Genuinely.

[user1469928875]

Avamia: potentially, but I did warn my burglar fear is irrational and extreme!!!in all seriousness, that is just how i feel about it. I know there is a chance of burglary and in my head those are the things I do to make myself feel safe. We were burgaled when i was a child so i think maybe that has made me a bit OTT. Definitely hasn't affected anyone else in the family as much as me. But like i said, those are the things i have in place so that i can calm down. If i didn't do those things - wouldnt be calm. Am scared of being burgled. Basically. But thanks so much for your words of wisdom!

[avamiah]

user14699,
You sound like you have been watching far too much of Crime watch or similar programmes.
Calm Down.

[TheUnworthy]

user1469928875 if it's any consolation, from what I've been told, unless there is millions worth of diamonds in your mums burglars will leave it well alone in favour of a house with no jrt/alarm pretty much every time.

[user1469928875]

Ps interestingly my mum has a jack russell too she barks for her life if a car or person even blinks at the house! But if someone got in i would literally race downstairs to get her because she is so small and she would probably just try to lick them to death - and they would want her to shut up!

[user1469928875]

I've read a lot of cases where the burglar attacks the dog - I dont think I could leave a dog out / downstairs to man up to burglars who could quite likely stab the shit out of them, kick them or throw them a poisoned bit of meat to throw them off the scent. I have a borderline abnormal fear of being burgled by the way so I really feel for you - but can you get an alarm system where you leave it on downstairs when you go to bed so that if they tamper or try to get in that will set it off? Then lock your bedroom doors straight away and phone police. No humans or dogs near them! Burglars are getting more and more brazen these days I don't think cctv bothers them especially when they normally cover their faces anyway. Your best bet is most amount of noise possible (alarm) and locks on bedroom doors to provide a temporary buffer if they do get in. Also sensor lights in the garden - I sleep with the curtain slightly open so if there is a noise outside they go on I can tell the light has come on - so far it has just been cats but after your reading your post i often wonder has there sometimes been someone out there. Terrifying!!!!!! Basically if they have seen something they want and they want to get in they will - i can't remember the stats but something like 80% of burglaries go unsolved. Makes me feel scared shitless

[Eevee77]

If you want a dog for other reasons and you're 100% committed then yes, go ahead. But for that reason alone it would be ridiculous.
I had a wonderful family dog as a kid and I did take solace in the fact that had anyone ever attempted to gain access to our house she'd have barked the place down. She had a pretty mean sounding bark too. I think a barking dog is more than enough to put off most potential burglars. However had they ever actually gained entry she'd have been their best friend....

[avamiah]

TheUnworthy,
Yes, he's 100 percent correct .
Me and my husband used to jog together and we always ran passed this house were Jack Russell's lived and no matter what time of day it was but as soon as we got to their front gate they would come charging out of nowhere barking their little heads off.
We used to bet each other if we could pass there without them knowing .
We never could.

[TheUnworthy]

Just thought I'd point out that you don't necessarily need a big powerful guard dog op.

I know a reformed burglar (did his time on the straight and narrow now) and he always says a small but loud yappy dog is enough deterrent.

They will avoid you like the plague if you've got a yapper

[WiddlinDiddlin]

Honestly..

From a dog professional..

No. Don't do it.

Someone did some interesting study on dogs people expected to guard the house.

Most of them didn't but let the burglar in and out.

Some ran away and hid.

One or two let the burglar in.. and then prevented them from leaving.

Dogs that put people off tend to annoy the shit out of everyone - dogs that would genuinely bite an intruder or stop them entering will bite your guests and stop THEM entering too.

Dogs that look intimidating but aren't will do nothing, and a burglar determined to succeed might well just kill your dog or let them loose to roam the streets (And then if they cause an accident you are probably liable).

Dogs that are trained to guard property are less of a risk but, must be with a handler if loose and chained up if not loose and you have to have a proper licence for them and signs stating you have a guard dog on the premises.

So get a dog if you want a dog.

Do not get a dog if you want a burglar alarm, just get a burglar alarm.

[avamiah]

Don'tTouch,
That's a great story .

[avamiah]

Essential,
Haha,
Stunning,very strong Rottie head and jaw.