Here’s an article on the matter of dogs and deterrence. I would still buy an actual firearm just in case.
Real Home invasions are kinda rare- but they are very real for those few that might be targeted- gamblers known for cash, people known to have other valuable stuff that is small and easy to fence- diamonds, gold etc. If you are not in those categories your risk is some burglar that thinks no one is home in which case, yes a dog is great.
Disagree strongly. If you are one of those cases it is a professional targeting you. They’ve cased you out and a barking dog doesn’t mean whether or not you are home. They are the least likely to be deterred by pets.
My personal anecdote: about 20 years ago, a guy broke into our house and robbed us while we slept. Or, more accurately, I woke up, assuming it was the cats up to no good because surely my dog would bark if there was an intruder. Apparently no. She’d bark at anyone coming in the front door but had no protocol for a guy coming in the window.
The guy was a terrible criminal, and was caught and confessed the same day. It never occurred to this gentleman that attempting to cash obviously bad checks with a uniformed cop in line behind you was a poor move.
Anyway, when they questioned him, he said my dog just followed him around as he did his business. No concern, just curiosity. She barked like mad at the detective that showed up though. Fine work.
I think my dog could really hurt you, if you got slapped by his wagging tail.
Bayliss would wake me up. He did it the time the raccoons were on the deck.
Of course he just wanted midnight play time. I don’t trust his convictions.
If you get any weapon and shoot someone you will be spending a significant amount of time with LE.
Almost anything can make you “armed”. I’m not convinced a hand gun is a good idea for anyone who thinks “I’ll just get a BB gun”. You’re taking your life in your hands.
As our world gets more violent you need to consider what you’re willing to do. I’ve long ago determined they’d have to kill me. I’m long passed being worthy. Now, I would not think twice about shooting a person if they were hurting my near ones.
Ok, I’d think twice, maybe 3 times. But I would do it if necessary. Only I can decide if it’s necessary. That would be hard
That is what I said. Read again
If the dog is anything like my brother’s dog, it would respond to a home invader by wagging its tail and asking for treats.
But really, a dog is just too expensive, too much hassle. With pepper spray, Taser or bear spray or any such device, you don’t need to get a caretaker for vacation, get it rabies shots, feed it, clean up poop, take it exercising, etc.
Ah.
I’d still parse it differently: if you are one of those groups, most likely cased out by an experienced home invader, then a dog is especially ineffective.
I still see little evidence of “great” in any case, other than maybe teens doing something opportunistically. The link provided by @Cmyers1980 is useful. Actual measured impact maybe a percent or so.
Those teens doing something opportunistically? I really don’t want to pull a gun on them. For their sake, and for mine, guilt with a real gun, and provoking irrational action by them thinking they are about to die. Even if it as just a BB gun in reality.