The end goal of any type of home security is to increase the safety of both your family and property; therefore, instead of thinking of security systems and guard dogs as mutually exclusive alternatives, it may be more advantageous to consider a guard dog to be an added level of security. Even so, incorporating both of these options into a home security plan may not be realistic for some families. If you find yourself debating between a guard dog and a security system, you should carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each choice.
Hidden Costs of Owning a Pet
Before you assume that an alarm system will be more expensive than a guard dog, consider the hidden costs of having such a pet. You may be able to eliminate or decrease upfront costs by adopting, but many adoption agencies also have fees. Guard dogs tend to be larger and therefore require more food than smaller dogs. Additional costs include veterinary bills for regular and emergency care and medicines if applicable; toys, treats, beds, leashes, and other necessities; dog-walking or dog-sitting costs during work hours or vacations; and the potential financial liability for injury to others if your dog unwittingly attacks an innocent person.
Security systems may also have hidden costs depending on your situation: land-line requirements and fees if police are called during an emergency, for example. However, when all of these are taken into account, an alarm system may end up being cheaper - and more predictable - than a guard dog.
Security Protection Even When You're Not Home
Although some security systems can detect loud noises and motion within certain parameters, a guard dog's heightened senses of hearing, smell, and sight will alert you to suspicious activity that may be otherwise imperceptible. But, on the other hand, you may also be alerted to any (even harmless) activity of squirrels or neighborhood children more often than you would like. However, a guard dog can only warn you - and not police, fire, or emergency personnel - which means that if you're unable to call for help (if your life is threatened, if you're not near a phone, or if you're on vacation), the burglar wins.
