Family Watch Dog

You are concerned about the security of your family. You are thinking that a dog could help.

Yes indeed, dogs are faithful and like to protect the family that they live with.

So you concluded that a guard dog will be a good idea, no wait, don't you really mean a watch dog?

What is a watch dog and what is a guard dog?

Watch dogs bark out a warning each time a stranger approaches your home, attempts to break-in your home, climb into your backyard etc.

Guard dogs do the same but may also go further, they may be trained to attack and restrain intruders.

A good family watch dog can be of any size. A guard dog is usually one of the larger breeds, perhaps even partly selected for an aggressive appearance.

It is a serious responsibility to keep a dog that is trained to attack, and may not be legal to do so in some areas.

A trained watch dog, on the other hand, can make a very good family pet. And as the dog is going to be sharing your home with you and your family, isn't that the better option?

A family watch dog need not be a large fearsome dog. Medium and small dogs are very capable of being trained to warn of approaching strangers, and warn off intruders. Criminals are discouraged by the presence of smaller dogs just as much as they are by larger dogs. They do not want a pesky mutt barking and attracting attention.

Your faithful watch dog needs to know when to stop barking. When you signal that the visitor is a friend, you will want to your dog to be silent.

Have you ever been invited to someone's home as a guest and the family's dog barks out a warning about you, not just when you walk up to the front door, but also after you have been ushered in. The dog will not shut up. The owner tells the dog you are a friend but the barking continues. Your presence is a threat, and the faithful dog keeps on with his warning bark. You try to make friends, but the dog backs off and keeps barking. It's an embarrassment all round.

Not large and fearsome, but a good family watch dog that is part of the family.

What you want is for your watch dog to bark out a warning if a stranger approaches, or tries to enter, your home. The warning will be for you and your family if you are at home, or for your neighbors if you are not. The bark will also. in most cases, warn away intending intruders.

Also you do not want your family watch dog to bark each time that somebody innocently walks along the sidewalk in front of your house. That can become tiresome very quickly for you and your neighbors.

So how do you get your watch dog to know the circumstances when you require him to bark, know when you want him to stop, and know when you don't want him to bark at all? Enroll yourself and your dog into a good local dog training course. It's a wise investment.

A good dog training course will not only ensure that your dog performs well as a watch dog, but is also schooled in how to be a good all round family dog.

. . . please think on this. A dog, whether trained to keep watch or not, is a living breathing animal. It is not a collection of wires and components like a burglar alarm. A dog wants to give the family love as well as protection, and will need love and attention in return.

A dog will also need feeding, he will need care, he will sometimes need the attention of a veterinarian, and that could mean large bills.

Of course sharing your home with a pet can be an absolute joy . . . and if that pet also helps protect your family and home then that is a bonus.

Talk it over with your family, let every family member have their say. If you decide that caring for a pet is not for your family, then don't get that family watch dog, get a burglar alarm instead.

Should you decide that a watch dog will be right for your family, consider adopting a rescue dog. There are thousands of canines in animal shelters that would give the right family much joy, many could be trained to be a fantastic family watch dog. Remember a dog does not have to be purebred to protect your family and home.

Keep in mind that you still need a home security mindset even if you have a family watch dog. Just because your faithful canine is likely to scare off the bad guys does not mean you can afford to be lax about the security of your home.

You still have to ensure that you lock all windows and doors before you leave your home. You still have to have top quality locks fitted. You still have to do all the things necessary to ensure the safety and security of your family. Your family watch dog is not a substitute for that but sure is a great supplement to it.

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