Can an Attack Dog Really Ensure Your Home Security? - Home - Home Security

Dogs may be man's best friend, but when properly taught, they can become his worst nightmare as well. These highly trainable animals are used by the police, the military, and private security organizations for a variety of purposes. They can attack an intruder, or follow the scent of a burglar based on a long-forgotten baseball cap he left behind. They can be trained to detect bombs and drugs. Those who are interested in protecting their personal and home security might have considered investing in training a canine as an extra measure of fortification. Though pit-bull are illegal in many states and municipalities, other more aggressive breeds like German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers are still legal across the country. Buy a purebred animal, pay for a training class, and you're good to go - right?Not so fast. Before you invest in your own personal home security dog, there are a number of things to consider. First, you want to remember that you will be living with this animal. More aggressive breeds are also more likely to turn on their masters. If you have small children in the house, do you really want to run the risk of one of them pulling your newly-trained Rottweiler's tail the wrong way one day? These breeds are also more likely to be randomly set off and attack and a neighbor or a friend, which adds a whole new host of problems. You also want to think about how disciplined you will be as a trainer. Turning a dog into an attack animal is not like teaching it to sit or shake its paw. It's a serious undertaking, and requires commitment and strength on the part of the master. If you're the kind of person who gives up on things halfway through, then this may not be the best plan for you.It's also important to assess how much an animal will really deter the average criminal. Posting a "Beware of Dog" sign on your back fence might prevent juvenile would-be criminals from hopping into your backyard and stealing a bike. An intimidating bark might cause a would-be burglar or home intruder to think twice. But you don't need a lethally trained German Shepherd to buy one of those signs, and a Poodle or a Boxer or a mutt can also bark loudly. From the outside, will the wannabe criminal really know the difference? Once the intruder is in the house, it's true that a trained dog might be able to do some damage. But if the criminal has a weapon, you may loose your investment in all of those training classes pretty quickly. So what's the solution? Having a dog is not a bad idea in terms of home security, but training it to attack might be a bit excessive, especially if you're an amateur who has little experience in managing more aggressive canine breeds. So go to the shelter and adopt a mutt, or find a good Labrador breeder in your area. But if you want to actually protect your home, invest in a good home alarm system, and actually use it. Unlike Fido, a home alarm will alert the police if someone does try to break in.